Soil Health Management for Sustainable Production of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits

The productivity of many tropical orchards is declining due to deterioration in soil health. Continuous soil disturbance, monocropping and intensive tillage cause degradation in both soil structure and biodiversity. Soil health is essential in optimizing yield and promoting long-term sustainability. This book provides a research-based, systems-level framework for restoring and managing soil health in tropical and subtropical fruit production. It synthesizes advances in soil science, plant nutrition, rhizosphere biology and climate-smart horticulture to address widespread degradation and productivity decline in perennial orchards. Offering diagnostic tools, evidence-based practices and region-specific solutions, it serves as both a reference and practical guide. The work is intended for researchers, graduate students, extension personnel and practitioners seeking scientifically grounded strategies for sustainable fruit production.

Arkalgud Nanjundaiah Ganeshamurthy (Author) Arkalgud Nanjundaiah Ganeshamurthy has been working on horticultural crops for the past 20 years at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. He earned his undergraduate degree in Agriculture from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru and a doctorate degree in Soil Science from the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He first joined the Agricultural Research Service of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as a scientist in 1985 and has served in several research institutes ever since. He is a fellow of the Indian Society of Soil Science and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Ganeshamurthy has published extensively on soil health and the nutritional health of fruit crops. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Science, India and a fellow of the Indian Society of Soil Science. He is a recipient of several national awards, including the Golden Jubilee Young Scientist Award of the Indian Society of Soil Science. He continues to work with farmers and has a YouTube channel titled "soulofkrishi.com," which guides farmers in local language.Sisir Mitra (Series Edited By) Sisir Mitra worked at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India from 1980 until 2014. He served as Head, Department of Fruits and Orchard Management (1996-2000), Dean, Faculty of Horticulture (2007-2009) and Dean, Post Graduate Studies (2009-2012). Dr Mitra did his post doctoral research (1985-1986) at the Horticulture Research International, East Malling, UK as Commonwealth Fellow and worked as visiting Professor at the Institute Coltivazoni Arboree, Italy (1990), and University of Lavras, Brazil (2016). He has published 266 scientific papers, 74 popular articles, 16 books, 1 IBPGR Descriptors and 28 technical reports. He has developed one coconut variety (Kalpa Mitra), two mango (Himsagar-HT 10 and Langra-LT 64 ) and three Jackfruit ( Jt-1, JT 39 and JT 40) clones. Dr Mitra served as Board Member responsible for publications of ISHS, Science Editor, ISHS and Editor-in-Chief, Fruits: The International Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture, Chairman, Editorial Advisory Board of Acta Horticulturae and Chronica Horticulturae. He is presently the Chairman, Working Group on Avocado, and Jackfruit and other Moraceae. Previously he was Chairman, Tropical and Subtropical Fruits. He is presently the Editor of CABI Concise series on 'Sustainable Horticulture for Nutritional Security and Economic Prosperity.'