The Book entitled "Principles and Practices of Plant Propagation and Nursery Management" is primarily intended to fulfill the need of the B.sc. (Hons.) Horticulture degree and B.sc. (Hons.) Agriculture degree programmes offered in fifferent universities across the country. The book consists of 26 chapters covering all basic and applied aspects of propagation of major horticultural crops as well as nursery management This book in the first treatise of plant propagation and nursery techniques as per the syllabus prescribed by the fifth Dean's committee of higher Agricultural Eduction in India.
The Author are optimistic that this book will serve as a text book as well as practical guide to both the students of horticulture and agriculture as well as the extension workers, nursery men and all others associated with production of quality planting materials of horticultural crops.
Dr. C. Rajamanickam is presently working as an Assistant Professor of Horticulture, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College and Research Institute (TNAU), Madurai – 625 104. He obtained his B.Sc. (Horticulture) and M.Sc. (Horticulture) from Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam, a constituent college of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore and Ph.D. (Horticulture) from College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He is having 15 years of experience in various mandates of teaching, research and extension. During the year 2017-2018, he served as Programme Coordinator, ICAR - Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramanthapuram and conducted many training programmes on cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and plantation crops. He offered more than 30 courses in horticulture to both B.Sc. (Hort.) and B.Sc. (Ag.) students and three courses to M.Sc. (Hort.) students. He guided two M.Sc. (Hort.) students and played active role as member of advisory committee for morethan 20 postgraduate students in different disciplines of Agriculture. He has expertise in propagation of fruit crops and also in nursery management. He has solved many field problems in horticultural crops. He has published more than 25 research papers in both National and International Journals, 5 books in regional language, 35 book chapters and several booklets during his career. He has participated morethan 20 National and International seminar, conference, symposia and workshops. He is a member of six elite professional scientific societies across the country. He was the Principle Investigator of NICRA scheme for two years and handled two externally funded projects as Co-Principal Investigator. He has received one best researcher award by Malarum Velanmai Journal, Coimbatore.
Dr. A. Subbiah is presently working as an Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Grapes Research Station, (TNAU), Theni, Tamil Nadu. He was the recipient of ICAR Junior Research Fellowship for his Master Degree during 1997 and completed his Ph.D., in 2004 from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He also worked as Research Assistant at Cardamom Research Station, Pampadumpara, Idukki, Kerala (KAU), Senior Research Fellow at Department of Vegetable Crops, TNAU, Coimbatore and Technical Executive of Indian Spices Producers Company,Cochin, Kerala. He has been involved in teaching courses on fundamentals of horticulture, production and post-harvest technology of fruits to the Under Graduate students in Horticulture for the past 10 years. He also served as Co-Principal Investigator in the ICAR-NICRA Research Project on “Studies on Mango Flowering Phenology” and IDRCCIFSF, Canada funded Project on “Enhanced Preservation of Fruits in Asia by using Nano Film Techniques”. Further, he is also in-charge of Venture Capital Scheme ‘’Mass multiplication of grape rootstocks and varieties. He is associated with 10 various
scientific societies involved in promotion of research and development in fruits, spices and plantation crops as life member. He also served as a member of Board of Studies for UG Programme in Horticulture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 2010-2013. He published 4 book chapters and 8 books and published 23 research papers in reputed National and International Journals. He was the organizer of various training programme related to production technology of grapes for the benefit of farming community. He is currently involved in research activities related crop improvement and canopy management in grapes and also conducting many training programmes to the farmers on latest technologies and day to day field problems in grapes.
Dr. J. Rajangam, started his career as an Asst. Professor (Horticulture) in the year 1995 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. As a Horticulturist, he has more than 20 years experience in various horticultural crops. During his service, significant contributions were made pertaining to release of varieties CO 3 Chillies, PKM 2 Annual moringa and PKM 1 Davana. He served as a Professor and Head, Horticultural Research Station, Kodaikanal for a period of four years. During his tenure, he was officer in-charge of All India Net Work Project on Temperate Fruit Crops at Horticultural Research Station, Kodaikanal with CITH, Srinagar and PI of ICAR – AICRP (Fruits) at Horticultural College & Research Institute, Periyakulam. He got rich experience is teaching UG and PG courses for more than 16 years and guided 12 M. Sc (Hort.) students. He has published more than 30 papers in National and International research journals, 112 popular articles, 15 booklets and two books. He has visited Israel and Tanzania for Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Protected Horticulture and International Symposium on Moringa cultivation and utilization. Currently, he is serving as the Professor and Head, Department of Fruits Science, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam (TNAU), Coimbatore.
