K. Balakrishnan – författare

Panditji Jawaharlal Nehru was noted to quote “Everything else can wait but not agriculture” which shows the deep knowledge he possessed regarding agriculture. It is estimated that there are 30,000 farmers engaged in organic agriculture in India. With second largest arable land next only to USA, a hoary agricultural tradition, India sustains the second largest population in the world. The ancient land has been tilled since time immemorial and has seen the rise and fall of kingdoms and empires. However, agriculture is still the back bone of Indian economy providing succor to 65 percent of the population. The average age of an Indian being 25, the pangs of youth and energy need is manifold. The demographic dividend has to be milked fully if India needs to go beyond the current development rate of 8% through provision of affordable and nutritious food. Dependence of inorganic fertilizers has led to burgeoning fertilizer subsidy thus siphoning off funds that are crucial to develop irrigation potential. Application of organics for supplementing chemical fertilizers and slowly improving soil potential can usher in evergreen agriculture. This book covers the whole spectrum of organic farming starting ancient wisdom to current day research and will be useful to all those who would like to know about organic farming.

The book entitled "Nutritional disorders in crop plants" has been designed to cater the needs of the under graduate and post graduate students and scientists of both agriculture and horticulture. It will also serve as both guide and ready reckoner for the extension officials of both agriculture and horticulture in understanding the principles of crop nutrition as well as in diagnosing nutritional disorders. This book will be highly useful for policy makers and planners in understanding the field problems in crops particularly nutritional disorders. This book contains 22 chapters. First 16 chapters are devoted mainly in explaining the basic concepts of plant nutrition. Four chapters are dealt with nutrient absorption and analysis. The chapter 21 is fully allotted to hunger signs of both field and horticultural crops and the last chapter 22 explains about the remedial measures. The nutrient deficiencies are very well explained and discussed. A sincere attempt has been made to collect, compile and present the text in quickly understandable form. Hence, this could serve as a good text book for under graduate and post graduate students, a reference guide for extension officials in both agriculture and horticulture and a good teaching material for teachers in the field of plant nutrition

The publication entitled "Physiological Disorders in Horticultural Crops" gives a comprehensive over-view of cause, symptoms and remedial measures of different physiological disorders in fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices and plantation crops. The book contains new technological information as well as practical knowledge about the disorders of important horticultural crops and their management. The book will serve as a useful guide for students, scientists, extension workers, farmers and others associated with the discipline of Horticulture.