This book presents a comprehensive and practice-oriented account of Protected Cultivation, addressing its principles, technologies, and applications with special emphasis on Indian conditions while maintaining a global perspective. Structured into ten well-defined units, the book systematically guides readers from the fundamentals of protected horticulture to advanced digital and smart farming interventions.

The initial units discuss the importance, scope, and potential of protected cultivation in the context of global food security, urban and peri-urban agriculture, and India’s growing demand for high-quality vegetables. Subsequent sections provide detailed insights into protected structures, environmental control, growing media, and nursery technologies such as plug-tray raising and vegetable grafting.

A major strength of the book lies in its crop-specific production technologies, covering key solanaceous and cucurbitaceous vegetables under greenhouse conditions. Dedicated units on water, nutrient, and soil management, including drip irrigation, fertigation, and plastic mulching, ensure practical relevance. The book further integrates seed production, plant protection, pollination, GAP, organic practices, and sustainability within protected systems.

Advanced chapters highlight the role of protected cultivation in vegetable improvement, smart agriculture, sensors, and digital technologies, followed by post-harvest quality retention, value addition, and agri-tourism linkages. The book concludes with a comprehensive glossary, making it a valuable reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, extension professionals, entrepreneurs, and policy planners involved in modern horticulture and protected farming systems.

UNIT I: Introduction to Protected Cultivation
Chapter 1. Importance and Current Status of Protected Horticulture in the World
Chapter 2. Exploring Potential of Protected Cultivation in India
Chapter 3. Role of Protected Cultivation in Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture (India Feeding the World)
UNIT II: Protected Structures and Environment Management
Chapter 4. Protected Structures: Types, Designs, Fabrication and Planning
Chapter 5. Low Tunnel Technology
Chapter 6. Growing Media and Production Systems under Protected Cultivation
Chapter 7. Perspective, Future Challenges and Options in Protected Cultivation
UNIT III: Nursery Management and Planting Technologies
Chapter 8. Plug-Tray Nursery Raising Technology
Chapter 9. Vegetable Grafting: Principles, Methods and Advantages
UNIT IV: Crop Production Technologies (Vegetables)
A. Solanaceous Crops
Chapter 10. Greenhouse Cultivation of Tomato
Chapter 11. Greenhouse Cultivation of Eggplant (Brinjal)
Chapter 12. Greenhouse Cultivation of Sweet Pepper
B. Cucurbitaceous Crops
Chapter 13. Greenhouse Cultivation of Cucumber
Chapter 14. Greenhouse Cultivation of Muskmelon
Chapter 15. Greenhouse Cultivation of Bitter Gourd
UNIT V: Water, Nutrient and Soil Management
Chapter 16. Plastic Mulching in Protected Cultivation
Chapter 17. Drip Irrigation and Fertigation Techniques
UNIT VI: Seed and Special Crop Production
Chapter 18. Quality Seed Production under Protected Conditions
Chapter 19. Protected Cultivation of Seed Spices
UNIT VII: Plant Protection and Crop Health
Chapter 20. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) under Protected Cultivation
Chapter 21. Pollination Techniques for Protected Cultivation of Vegetable Crops
UNIT VIII: Quality, Safety and Sustainable Practices
Chapter 22. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in Protected Cultivation
Chapter 23. Organic Cultivation of Vegetables under Protected Conditions
UNIT IX: Advanced and Emerging Technologies
Chapter 24. Role of Protected Cultivation in Vegetable Improvement Using Advanced Techniques
Chapter 25. Smart and Sustainable Agriculture through Protected Cultivation and Digital Technologies
Chapter 26. Innovative Interventions in Protected Farming: From Sensors to Sustainability
UNIT X: Post-Harvest, Value Addition and Extension
Chapter 27. Role of Protected Cultivation in Processing Quality Retention and Value Addition of Vegetables
Chapter 28. Integrating Protected Cultivation with Agri-Tourism
Chapter 29. Glossary of Terms in Protected Cultivation