About The Book

Stress-Free Horticulture: Empowering Crop Resilience Against Abiotic Challenges is a comprehensive resource that addresses the growing concerns of climate-induced abiotic stresses in horticultural crops. The book explores a wide array of challenges such as temperature extremes, salinity, drought, waterlogging, and post-harvest losses, offering scientific insights and innovative management strategies to mitigate their impact. It covers advanced techniques for temperature and salinity stress management, the role of seed technologies in climate adaptation, and specialized strategies for crops like onion, potato, and chrysanthemum. Chapters delve into the physiological basis of abiotic and post-harvest disorders, and examine how ethylene management, biostimulants, microbial biocontrol agents, and mineral nutrition can contribute to stress tolerance and sustainable productivity. With a strong emphasis on technological and biological innovations, the book serves as a vital reference for researchers, students, horticulturists, and extension professionals working to ensure climate-resilient and sustainable horticulture systems in the face of environmental uncertainty.

About Author

Dr. Kiran P. Bhagat did his M.Sc. (Agri.) in Crop Physiology with ICAR-JRF at University of Agricultural
Sciences, Dharwad and doctorate from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa Campus, New Delhi,
India. He joined Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in 2010 and presently, he is working as a senior scientist
at ICAR- Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune, Maharashtra. He participated in 22 International and
National Seminars/ Symposia/ Conferences in offline/ online mode. He received 8 best oral presentations in
International and National Seminars and also received the best plant physiologist of the year 2021 in an
International Seminar. He published 26 International and National research papers and 34 book chapters and
worked as reviewer for many journals.
Dr. Poonam Kashyap, is an alumni of Dr Y S PARMAR University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan
(HP) for her M. Sc. and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, India for Ph.D.
degree. She has joined Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in 2008 and has more than 14 years of research
experience. She is currently working as Senior Scientist (Fruit Science) at ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming
Systems Research (IIFSR), Modipuram, Meerut. Earlier she has worked on temperate fruit crops at ICAR-IARI,
Regional Station for Cereals and Horticultural Crops, Amaratara Cottage, Shimla during 2008-2011. Her present
area of research includes development of climate resilient horticulture-based farming systems and modules for
different farm situations. She is recipient of number of National Awards and has 34 peers reviewed papers in
National and International Journals, 4 books, 36 book chapters, 7 technical bulletins and 70 popular articles to
her credit. She is the editor of two peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Subhra Saikat Roy joined the Agricultural Research Service in 2008. He obtained his Doctoral Degree in
Horticulture from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal. Dr. Roy has an excellent academic
career and received University Gold Medal and Certificate of Merit. He was also a visiting scholar at Michigan
State University, USA. Dr. Roy has more than 15 years of research experience on North-east hill agriculture and
is presently working as Senior Scientist at ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra. He has
developed many technologies including 6 crop varieties, 5 IFS models, 5 organic POPs, commercialized eight
technologies and filed one patent. Besides, he has promoted more than 30 agripreneurship. Dr. Roy has
published more than 50 research papers in the journals of national and international repute, 12 books, 31 book
chapters, 21 success stories and more than 20 bulletins and manuals. He is the Editor of two peer-reviewed
journals, Fellow of three professional societies and recipient of many prestigious awards including three national
awards.
Dr. Amrit Lal Meena is working as Scientist (Soil Science) at ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems
Research, Modipuram, Meerut since April, 2015. He has completed his Masters and PhD degree in Soil Science
from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Since his joining he working on Soil fertility and
biology with specialization in Nutrient transformation, carbon dynamics, carbon sequestration and soil
biodiversity under different nutrient management practices i.e. Conservation Agriculture, organic farming and
Integrated nutrient management. He has published 32 Research papers in peer reviewed journals as lead and co-
author; 16 book chapters, and 36 popular articles in his name.

Dr. A. Thirugnanavel joined the Agricultural Research Service in 2010. He obtained his Ph.D in Fruit Science
from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Dr. A. Thirugnanavel has good research experience on
Northeast Hill agriculture, banana, and citrus. Presently, he is working as a Senior Scientist at ICAR– Central
Citrus Research Institute (ICAR-CCRI) in Nagpur, India. He has developed many technologies including DUS
guidelines for colocasia, integrated farming system models, and integrated nutrient management practices. He
has collected, characterized and conserved colocasia, rajma bean and ornamental banana germplasm. He has
published more than 25 research publications in peer reviewed journals, 8 technical bulletins, 9 book chapters
and two training manuals. Currently, he is working in citrus improvement and genetic resources management.