Books by Alice Kurian

Medicinal plant cultivation has received an impetus in the recent years due to revival of interest in herbal medicines necessitating authoritative information on cultivation and utilization of this valuable flora. The book on Medicinal Plants includes information on current status of medicinal plants, their phytochemistry, quality control, good agricultural practices and good manufacturing practices in medicinal plants and information on commercially grown medicinal plants and those important in trade. Details on botany, crop improvement, crop protection, crop production, post harvest handling, chemical composition, chemical analyses and uses of commercially grown crops are also included. The book which is a systematic compilation of available information on promising 65 medicinal species helps in providing specific information on the cultivation and utilization of these crops to farmers, academicians, students and related user industries. This documented information also serves to give an insight to the major research lacunae and formulate appropriate research strategies in these crops.

Commercial crops comprises of crops grown on a plantation scale and are of pivotal importance to the economy and export trade of many developing and developed countries. Commercial crops with long history of cultivation and active support of research and developmental efforts have made great strides in technological advancements. At regular intervals it is necessary to take stock of newly acquired knowledge in crop production and to reason out age-old experience. The book 'Commercial Crops Technology' comprehends the scattered information and provides latest technological advances in nine crops grown on a plantation scale. The book is organized into 10 s with an introductory and one each allotted to nine commercial crops (Areca Nut, Cashew, Cocoa, Coconut, Coffee, Oil palm, Palmyra, Rubber and Tea). s have been designed keeping view of the rapid progress and challenges in the field of sustainable crop production. Product diversification has also been given due importance in the light of globalization and free trade. The introductory gives an insight into the present scenario of plantation crop production, its importance, geographical distribution, soils growing, integrated nutrient management, crop protection strategies, cropping and farming systems, management of drought, organic farming, clean development mechanism, implications of IPR and strategies and recommendations. Individual s on crops covers updated information on crop improvement, biotechnology, crop production and management, crop protection and post harvest handling with emphasis on integrated nutrient and pest management, organic crop production and value addition, besides providing basic information on origin and distribution, production trends, botany and R and D institutions. Future outlook on these crops would enable to chalk out achievable programmes and projects. The bibliography facilitates further reading. This publication will be useful to everyone who are associated with commercial crops - farmers, estate managers, extension workers, technologists, policy makers, researchers and students.