Production Technology Of Potato And Tuber Crops

In order to increase the production and productivity of crops in general, tuber crops is particular in the present over increasing population with decreased per capita land availability, the only way is to increase the vertical increase in the production with better value added varieties, farmers friendly sustainable management as well as production technologies. In this context, the tuber crops, especially potato and other tropical tuber crops, being known as energy banks of nature serving either primary or secondary stable food in order to meet the calorie requirements of about 1/5th of world s population. Practically, these tuber crops play very crucial role towards food security as well as reduction of hunger and elimination of poverty as well in the world. It has been estimated that there are about 18 families having more than 30 genera which are used by human beings for vegetable where either the tuber or roots as edible part in the form of vegetable. Economically, these tuber crops are most commonly used for food, feed, medicinal and various important industrial uses. The most important among them are potato, sweet potato, cassava, yam, aroids, arrowroot etc. cultivated in the world. Basically, these crops have the potential to produce significantly high amount of food per unit area having more efficiency in conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbohydrates as compared to major cereal crops of the world. All these tuber crops, except the potato have peculiar features such as better adaptation to marginal environments, relatively higher contribution to household food security and above all the better flexibility in mixed farming system. Thus, in turn, these crops provide a wide range of crop diversification, competitive products of food, feed and industries etc. Above all, except the potato, all other tropical tuber crops are now treated as, Future food crops . In spite of versatility of these tuber crops, still not much attention has been given from producers, consumers, processors and above all researcher s prospective. Keeping these in views, an attempt have been made by the editors for development of suitable literature in the form of a book dealing with recent technologies on various aspects of important tuber crops including potato. The uniqueness of this edited book, PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF POTATO & TUBER CROPS - lies basically in focus with respect to overall scenario of the various important tuber crops of the world including the potato. About 14 important tuber crops grown all over the world are dealt with this book. We have focused on the origin & diversity of tuber crops, scope and importance of tuber crops, biochemical constituents & nutritive value of the tuber crops, indigenous technology adopted on these tuber crops, their anti-nutritional factors as well as biotechnological aspects of tuber crops with relevant illustration considering the tuber crops of the world as a whole. The subsequent chapters are dealt with individual important tuber crops of the world which include the important aspects of crop improvement, crops production and crop protection with available research achievements. In general, we have not cited the references in the text, instead a separate list of resource materials is provided at the end of each chapter, which may be useful for further reading materials for the readers. This book is written primarily by keeping in mind the requirements for under-graduate students of Horticulture, Agriculture, Post-graduate students, PhD scholars, vegetable growers, extension workers, horticulturists, subject matter specialists, research workers on Olericulture etc. The information incorporated in this book will be definitely useful for those Olericulture students who are also appearing in various competitive examinations such as JRS, SRF, ARS, NET of ICAR, New Delhi seeking admission for Post Graduation and PhD examination by various Indian Universities. The authors of this edited book have taken resource to extensive research in the internet, referred extensive published literature on the subject to write various chapters assigned in this book. As a matter of fact, it is a compilation of information published on various aspects of the tuber crops. All the contributors of this edited book have tried with utmost care to provide accurate information on each allotted chapter on the topic; however, there may be some inaccuracies due to oversight, hence, the editors will appreciate, if these inaccuracies are brought o our notice so that we are in position to address those in the forthcoming editions. Practically all the contributors of this edited book used a number of illustrations, which is not copy righted and acknowledge the sources. The editors do apologize, if inadvertently any relevant citations are over looked.