**15. Production technology for soilless cultivation of vegetables**

The production technology for soilless cultivation of zucchini, colour cabbage, chilli, coriander, cucumber, French bean, peas, and tomato on Arka Fermented Cocopeat under open as well as in protected conditions has been standardized at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. The results of most of the experiments conducted with different vegetable crops in grow bags under open-field and polyhouse soilless culture indicated that the plants grown in soilless culture recorded higher yield and better quality, particularly in mineral nutrient content compared to soil-grown plants. This technology would be highly suited for urban and peri-urban vegetable cultivation for meeting the food security in cities. This particular technology has already been popularized through various training programmes, exhibitions, magazines, and media. Many growers have already started adopting IIHR soilless culture technology in the cultivation of vegetables using AFC as a substrate.
