Vegetable Production In The Tropics

General principles;cultivation of market vegetables.

This volume consists of two parts. Part 1 comprises 6 chapters concerning the principles and practice of tropical vegetable production (including site, topography, soils and water; site management, seeds and types of cultivars; support for farmers; crop preparation and management; reducing pre- and postharvest losses and marketing surpluses). In Part 2, the crops have been mainly dealt with according to their taxonomy as botanical families, either as single or groups of families per chapter. These include: Alliaceae; Cruciferae [Brassicaceae]; Cucurbitaceae; Solanaceae; Leguminosae; leafy vegetables; Araceae, Convolvulaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Euphorbiaceae; Andean tubers and roots and crops of the Lamiaceae and Apiaceae; and Gramineae [Poaceae] and Cyperaceae. Examples of the indigenous species which can be regarded as important sources of edible vegetative materials which are not dealt with in the main text have been listed in Appendix 1. Contact details of the main international research stations are provided in Appendix 2. This book has been written with the hope and purpose that it will be used by technical, college and university students during their studies of horticulture, crop production and agriculture; it is also for students on other allied courses and agriculturists who find themselves needing more vegetable-orientated information in the course of their professional activities. It is aimed to assist in the production of extension, advisory and research staff and officers who will be the core of trainers, advisors, researchers and extension workers in tropical and subtropical countries.

Abstract: A comprehensive accounting of principles and practical information on a wide variety of vegetable crops grown in the tropics is intended to enhance the appreciation of vegetable growers, extension officers, administrators, and food research workers concerning the potential for increasing vegetable crop production in the tropics. Common names, cultivars, origin, distribution, geographical areas of cultivation, botanical description, and other features are provided for 67 species of 20 different families of vegetables. Available information on environmental response, cultural requirements, growth period, harvesting, market preparation, storage, use, nutritional composition, and pests and diseases also is included for each of the species. Illustrations or photographs of these species are provided. Comprehensive data on cultivars, pests, and diseases are appended. (wz).

Looks at tropical vegetable gardens with a view to improving their production. This book includes a summary of climatic factors, effects of climate, tropical soil types, diseases, pests, weeds, improvement of seeds and plants, tropical leaf vegetables and leguminous food crops.