Current Horticulture

Multiple nutrient stress in fruit crops : Road to soil health-mediated quality production

2025-12-25T13:48:54+00:00

Fruit crops by the virtue of their extended juvenility , sharply delineated crop phenological growth stages , and ability to produce biomass per unit use of inputs, higher than cereal crops , are infact more mechanistically tailored to tolerate multiple nutrient stress. Productivity of fruit crops depends essentially on two premier facts, nutrient balance and biological activity , provided optimum soil moisture is maintained . Though , fruit crops are highly microbes -responsive , but combination of microbes-mycorrhizas produced much better crop responses , an indication of nutrient-constraint-neutral production system. Of late, paradigm shift from inorganic to organic manures-inorganic nutrients -microbes mediated associative crop response have aided in developing the far sustainable and climate -resilient fruit production system. Our long term data (2007-19) accrued on response of organic manures versus inorganic fertilizers demonstrated that important soil quality indices like soil microbial diversity, soil microbial biomass nutrient, and organic carbon partitioning displayed significant changes, but without much difference in quantum of fruit yield ( but coupled with a-grade size fruits ) when compared with purely inorganic fertilizer schedule. Combination of inorganic fertilizers -vermicompost -microbial consortium aided in saving 30-40% of crop nutrient requirement without any compromise on fruit yield or quality , besides lower rate of CO₂ release compared to inorganic fertilizers , an evidence of carbon deposited in passive soil organic carbon pool, in addition to reducing the fertilizer doses by 30-40% and elevating the post-harvest shelf life of citrus fruits. We further introduced the concept of “rhizosphere hybridization” to harness the value -added benefits of nutrient -microbe synergy, besides providing better crop responsiveness to microbial consortium suiting to wide range of perennial fruits under both optimum as well as soil water deficit stress. Role of biochars ( more recalcitrant carbon source) and arbuscular mycorrhizas-mediated glomalins (glycoproteins) have to be increasingly brought into the regular practice while addressing the multiple nutrient stress backed up with crop phenology -based 8-10 pulse fertigation schedules . These attempts could be translated into developing a robust toolbox ( catering to 4R X 4W principles ) for addressing multiple nutrient stress on a mutually exclusive basis , provided current methods of diagnosis of soil fertility constraints en-route precision diagnosis.

Advances in Medicinal Plant Cultivation Techniques: Enhancing Yield, Quality, and Sustainability

2025-09-20T02:16:47+00:00

The cultivation of medicinal plants is undergoing a paradigm shift, driven by the dual demands of higher productivity and sustainability. This review synthesizes recent advances in innovative cultivation systems, genetic improvement, and sustainable management practices aimed at enhancing yield, quality, and resource efficiency. Modern soilless systems such as hydroponics, aeroponics, and vertical farming are enabling precise control over growth environments, improving phytochemical content, nutrient uptake, and water-use efficiency. Tissue culture and bioreactor technologies are revolutionizing mass propagation, conservation, and targeted enhancement of bioactive compounds, while molecular breeding and CRISPR-based genome editing are unlocking new genetic potential. Integration of IoT-enabled precision farming, artificial intelligence–driven environmental control, and microbiome engineering offers new frontiers for optimizing plant performance and resilience under climate stress. Concurrently, sustainable practices-including organic farming, integrated pest management, conservation tillage, cover cropping, and circular economy models-are reducing carbon footprints and safeguarding biodiversity. The review also examines future directions such as blockchain-enabled traceability, life cycle assessment (LCA) for environmental benchmarking, and digital twin models for real-time cultivation optimization. These advancements collectively position medicinal plant cultivation to meet growing global demand for high-quality herbal products while aligning with ecological and regulatory imperatives.

Status and Strategic Approaches for Date palm Production in India - A review

2025-08-18T12:10:40+00:00

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is emerging as an important fruit crop in the arid and semi-arid regions of India, particularly
in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and to a lesser extent in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Its cultivation offers considerable potential for
agricultural diversification, driven by the adoption of tissue culture technology and introduction of high-yielding varieties.
Prominent varieties include Barhee, Khunezi, Khalas, and Halawy for fresh fruit consumption; Zahidi, Shamran, Khadrawy, and
Nagal for soft fruit purposes; and Medjool, which is primarily cultivated for dry dates (Chuhhara). Despite these advancements,
India continues to depend heavily on imports to meet rising domestic demand, emphasizing the need to expand cultivation in other
suitable agro climatic regions. Research progress in varietal improvement, disease management, and post-harvest processing has
provided a strong foundation for sustainable growth. However, challenges such as limited technical expertise, inadequate irrigation,
and somaclonal variation in tissue-cultured plants remain significant bottlenecks. Future strategies should focus on expanding
cultivation in potential regions, strengthening post-harvest infrastructure, and enhancing both domestic and export markets.
Through strategic innovation, farmer training, and supportive policy incentives, India can reduce import dependency, achieve self
sufficiency in date production, and establish itself as a competitive player in the global date market.

Natural Food Colorants from Fruits: Extraction and Application - A review

2025-12-25T14:01:39+00:00

The food industry is traditionally dependent on synthetic colorants to enhance visual appeal and consumer’s attraction. However, growing health concerns and regulatory restriction have possessed to identify safer natural alternatives. Fruits may be serve a promising source of natural colorants with added health benefits being rich in bioactive pigments such as anthocyanins, carotenoids, betalains, and chlorophylls. These compounds not only enhance food aesthetics but also offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other functional properties. However, challenges persist in their extraction, stability, and sustainability. Natural pigments are often sensitive to environmental factors such as light, temperature, and pH, limiting their commercial application. In response, recent research has focused on optimizing extraction and stabilization techniques to improve pigment yield and stability while maintaining their bioactivity. This review summarizes recent studies, highlighting advances in the identification, extraction and application of fruit-derived colorants in food systems. Emphasis is placed on their dual role as coloring agents and functional ingredients. Overall, fruit-based colorants signify a viable, health-conscious alternative to synthetic colour, though further innovation is needed to enhance their stability and commercial feasibility.

Genetic variability and divergence studies to identify superior germplasm for wine grape under semi-arid condition

2025-12-25T14:12:33+00:00

The present study was carried out during three seasons of forward pruning of 2020–21, 2021-2022 and 2022- 2023 at ICAR- National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune to assess genetic variability of wine grape germplasm. Seventy-five germplasm accessions were evaluated for various horticultural and yield contributing traits. The combined data from two years revealed significant difference among all the genotypes for the studied traits. Notably, germplasm Arka Hans, Arka Shyam, Clairette, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat White, and Petit Syrah performed well across most of the studied traits. The pruning biomass demonstrated the highest phenotypic and genotypic of variability (68.39% and 68.28%, respectively). The horticultural traits such as bunch weight, berry weight, number of berries per bunch, seed weight, bunch width, berry length, compactness and peduncle length exhibited high heritability. Based on Mahalanobis D2 statistics, three cluster were identified with a majority of germplasm falling into cluster I group while cluster II showed highest intra-cluster similarity (3.86 %) that demonstrated maximum genetic diversity.

Evaluation of teinturier type grape germplasms for wine purpose

2025-08-11T10:36:35+00:00

Teinturier type grape varieties are well known for colour in flesh/juice. These varieties are generally utilized for juice making and wine preparation for blending purpose. The blending with teinturier type wines impart dark colour in wines. Teinturier type grapes produce deep coloured wines having bold flavors and distinctive characteristics. Ten teinturier type grapes were evaluated for bunch and berry parameters. Some quality parameters of prepared wines were also assessed. A wide range of variability was observed in the days required for full bloom, days from fruit set to harvest and growing degree days. Results showed significant variations for bunch and berry parameters across the studied genotypes during both the years. Pusa Navrang produced smallest bunches, while Aliquant Bauschet had the longest. The hybrid Pusa Navrang × Chardonnay produced boldest berries and maximum bunch weight. Significant differences were also observed in biochemical parameters like total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, phenolic acids, tannins, and anthocyanins. Wines prepared from these grape types also showed significant differences. Wines made from ARI-239 had the highest ethanol levels. The varietal differences influenced the composition and antioxidant potential of the wines. Vintage effects were also observed. Based on bunch and berry parameters and wine quality, Manjari Medika, Pusa Navrang, Pusa Navrang × Red Globe, ARI (H-27), and Rubired were found promising.

Identification of feeder root zones for optimal nutrient and water uptake in subtropical fruit crops

2025-12-25T14:22:58+00:00

The experiment was conducted to pinpoints the location specific root system in two depths from soil surface and five horizontal distances from the tree trunk. The horizontal distance was marked in H₁ (0-30 cm), H₂ (31-60 cm), H₃(61-90 cm), H₄(91-120 cm) and H₅ (121-150 cm), at two depths, D1 (0-30 cm) and D2 (31-60 cm). The soil of 30 cubic cm was removed with the help of a sharp spade and sieved with large mesh size to extract fine roots. The soil was soaked in water and sieved and roots were studied.The maximum root number in guava and aonla were recorded at 31-60 cm horizontal distance (HD) and 31-60 cm soil depth from soil surface, while in jamun it was maximum at 31-60 HD and 0-30 cm depth of SS from main trunk. Total root biomass represented the rooting density per unit area, maximum root mass (38.2 ± 5.74 g) in guava was recorded in 0-30 cm deep from soil surface and horizontal distance. Jamun and aonla under HDP system had maximum root biomass 31-60 cm deep from SS and 0-30 cm horizontal distance (HD) from tree trunk. The roots in length in all crops were maximum at 0-30 horizontal distance and soil depth except guava where maximum root length was noted at 31-60 cm soil depth. Guava, aonla, bael and jamun planted under high density planting system have maximum root number which absorb water and nutrient and supporting their treesat 0-60 cm horizontal distance and depth of 0-60 cm.Fresh root mass recorded at 31-60 cm horizontal distance from the tree trunk up to 60 cm deep from soil surface.

Performance of Different Pomegranate Cultivars Under Semi-Arid Condition of Haryana

2025-08-09T02:52:30+00:00

An experiment was conducted at Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, CCS HAU, Hisar to evaluate the growth performance of ten different pomegranate germplasm, viz Mridula, Bhagwa, Kandhari, Ganesh, Jodhpur Red, Jalore Seedless, Basein Seedless, Wonderful, S1 and S2 in semi-arid condition of Haryana during 2018-19. Data revealed that maximum plant height was observed in cv. Bhagwa (3.39 m) and minimum in S1 (2.34 m). Plant spread was recorded maximum in cv. Bhagwa in the both direction (3.15 m E-W and 3.05 m N-S) and minimum in Mridula (2.05 m) in E-W direction and S1 (2.01m) in N-S direction. Majority of pomegranate varieties had spreading type of growth habit except Mridula and Bhagwa which has drooping type. Number of thorns was reported maximum in Mridula (29) and minimum in variety Basein Seedless (21). Maximum leaf blade length and width was recorded in Mridula (8.30 cm and 2.82 cm) and minimum in Bhagwa (4.82 cm and 1.65 cm). Mridula, Bhagwa, Basein Seedless, Kandhari, Wonderful, S1 and S2 had lanceolate type of leaf blade shape whereas Jodhpur Red, Ganesh and Jalore Seedless had broad elliptic type. Leaf petiole length was observed maximum in Kandhari (9 mm) and minimum in Jodhpur Red (5.66 mm).

Standardization of organic cultivation practice for enhancing yield and quality of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) in Terai region of West Bengal

2025-12-28T07:31:15+00:00

Turmeric is one of most important spice crops grown commercially in West Bengal. Consumption of chemical free turmeric is needed for health benefits. Therefore, standardization of the organic nutrient dosage is necessary to enhance yield and quality of turmeric. The study was conducted at the research farm of ICAR-National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture, Research station Dinhata, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India during the year 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24. The turmeric variety Lakadong was planted for this experiment. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and twelve treatments viz., T₁: Control; T₂: Recommended dose of NPK (120: 80:120 kg/ha), T₃: FYM (40 t/ha); T₄: Maize straw compost (MSC) (50 t/ha); T₅: Pond settled mud (50 t/ha); T₆: Vermicompost (10 t/ha); T₇: FYM (40 t/ha) + Microbial consortium ; T₈: Maize straw compost (40 t/ha) + Microbial consortium; T₉: Pond settled mud (50 t/ha) + Microbial consortium; T₁₀: FYM (20 t/ha) + Vermicompost (5 t/ha); T₁₁: Maiz straw compost (20 t/ha) + Vermicompost (5 t/ha) + Microbial consortium; T₁₂: Pond settled mud (25 t/ha) + Vermicompost (5 t/ha) + Microbial consortium. According to the experimental data, the highest fresh rhizome weight per plant (116.9 g) was observed in recommended fertilizer dose followed by 114.8 g in Maize straw compost (20 t/ha) + Vermicompost (5 t/ha) + Microbial consortium and 114.7 g in FYM (40 t/ha) + Microbial consortium which were statistically at par. Total fresh rhizome yield of turmeric varied significantly with the application of different treatments. The results revealed that application of recommended fertilizer dose gave total fresh rhizome yield of 9.7 t/ha which was on a par with FYM (40 t/ha) + Microbial consortium with total fresh rhizome yield (9.5 t/ha). The highest curcumin (4.5 %) was obtained in the application of Vermi compost @ 10 t/ha followed by 4.3 % in application of FYM (40 t/ha) + Microbial Consortium which were statistically at par. The effect of FYM + Microbial consortium proved a crucial role in maximising the total fresh rhizome yield per hectare as well as curcumin content of turmeric variety Lakadong. This combination led to higher yield and quality as compared to the other treatments applied and can be recommended for cultivation of Lakadong turmeric in Terai region of West Bengal.

Assessment of frontline demonstration technology on fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) in cultivation Jhajjar, Haryana

2025-10-16T10:13:01+00:00

Front line demonstrations on fenugreek (variety AFg-5) were conducted by krishi vigyan kendra, Jhajjar during 2022-23 and 2023-24 with ten farmer’s field each year. FLD was conducted with farmers’ active participation to disseminate improved technology of fenugreek to achieve potential production along with interventions of high yielding variety, seed treatment, recommended dose of fertilizers and non-monetary inputs. Front line demonstration data were recorded to plant height (cm), number of branches/ plants, pest incidence (%) and seed yield (q/ha) as compared to the farmer’s practice. The improved variety AFg-5 recorded the higher seed yield (15.90 and 17.20 q/ha) than local variety during 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively. The experiment exhibited mean extension gap of 2.0 q/ha, technology gap of 3.45 q/ha with 17.25% of technology index. The improved technology gave higher economic attributes and benefit-cost ratio 2.89 as compared to check variety (2.59). The FLD made a positive and significant efficacy of fenugreek seed yield than local cultivar.

Assessing the Impact of Climatic Fluctuations on Weed Management in Onion (Allium cepa L.) Bulb Production

2024-11-14T12:21:22+00:00

The study, carried out over two successive Rabi seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18 at SKN College of Agriculture in Jobner, focused on assessing how climatic variations influenced the effectiveness of various treatments on onions grown in loamy sand soil. Results exhibited that weed control efficiency and yield of onion not only influenced by weed management practices and nitrogen levels but also due to seasonal variation of climatological factors during two years of experiment. In the agricultural trials conducted for a period of two years, it was observed that the combination of two hand weedings and the application of 100 kg of nitrogen per hectare, or the use of pendimethalin plus oxadiargyl at 40 days after transplanting (DAT) along with the same amount of nitrogen, yielded results that were statistically comparable. These methods demonstrated the influence of climatic conditions on the efficacy of weed management and the subsequent yield of onion bulbs.