Horticulture Vocab

This is hell<3

potable

drinkable

fresh water

little to no salt

tide water

flows through the mouth of ocean tides

food chain

sequence of living things eat and being eaten

water cycle

cycling of water between water sources, atmosphere and surface areas

irrigation

addition of water to natural water

watershed

land area that absorbs water and then drains in the spring

water table

water soak down in the soil

free water

water that drains out after soil is wetted

gravitational water

free water that drains into wells and springs

capillary water

water remaining in soil being taken by roots

hydroscopic water

water held to tight to be absorbed

no-till

planting crop without plowing

contour

level land around a hill

erosion

wearing away soil

aquifer

water bearing rock formation

sheet erosion

layers of soil being removed by the land

mulch

material used to catch raindrops and prevent weed growth

conservation tillage

disturbing the soil as little as possible

contour farming

farming around or on top hill

strip cropping

alternating row crops w/ strips of close growing crops

crop rotation

different crops every few years in the same soil

lime

reduces acid content in soil

fertilizer

any material that supplies nutrient to the plant

grass waterway

strip of grass where water flows

terrace

soil/ wall structure built across a slope to capture water and prevent erosion

medium

material environment which a organism lives

hydroponics

growing plants w/o soil

compost

mixture of partially decayed organic matter

sphagnum

pale/ashy moss; medium for root growth

peat moss

partially decomposed mosses found in bogs

perlite

natural volcanic glass; water holding

vermiculite

mineral matter from mica-type groups; start seeds/cuttings

horizon

layer

soil profile

cross sectional view of soil

residual soil

parent materials formed in place

alluvial soil

transported by streams

colluvial soil

left by gravity

percolation

water soaked/moving in soil

capability class

broadest classification on soil maps

O “horizon”

surface; small mineral %; large organic %

A “horizon”

near surface; mineral and organic

clay

fine material particles

silt

medium sized mineral particle

sand

larger sized particles

topsoil

A Horizon

B horizon

below A; =’s the subsoil

subsoil

=’s B; particle sizes and properties differ

C Horizon

below B; stores and release water; not many nutrients; gravel/large rocks

bedrock

below C

loam

Medium texture; even mixture of sand silt and clay

soil structure

soil clustered together; soil units call Aggregates

decomposer

organism that breaks down another once living organism

soil amendment

addition/change; EX- add organic matter, change pH

pH

Measure of acidity/Alkalinity

acidity

sourness

Alkalinity

sweetness

neutral

neither acidic or alkaline

fertilizer grade

proportions of nitrogen, Phosphorous and potassium; expressed by %’s

active ingredient

achieve 1 or more purposes

starter solution

diluted mixtures of fertilizer; plants transplanted

nitrate

form of nitrogen caused by plants

nitrogen fixation

converting nitrogen gas to nitrates by bacteria

aeroponics

roots hang in the air; misted with nutrient spray

seasonal

certain season

clod

lump or mass of soil

furrow

sunken walkways; deliver irrigation; runoff rain

climate

weather of specific region

Annual

one growing season

Biennial

two growing seasons

perennial

lives year to year

cultivation

preparing/working the soil

herbicide

weed controlling chemicals

cold frame

bottomless wooden box w/sloping glass or clear plastic top

hot bed

cold frame w/ a heat source

olericulture

segment of horticulture about production of vegetables

market gardening

growing a verity of plants for local markets

truck cropping

large scaklke productions of few vegetables for wholesale markets

olericulturist

develops pest-resistance strains and new varieties of vegetables

angiosperm

seeds in closed ovaries

monocotyledon

single leaf

dicotyledon

two leaves

aeration

movement of air through soil

green manure

active crop turned over to help build soil

transplant

plants grown from seeds in a special environment

arid

dry

semi arid

rather dry

pre-cooling

rapid removal of heat before storage or shipment

hydro cooling

using cold water to cool down fresh produce after harvesting

pomologist

fruit grower/ scientist

semidwarf

tree / root stock w/ limited growth; 15 or less

dwarf

smaller trees

pome

fleshy fruit; seed chambers/outer fleshy part; EX-pple, pear

drupe

fleshy w/ thin skin; central seed; plum, cherry

nursery

young trees shrubs and other plants are grown

terminal

growing at the end of a branch or stem

cane

mature wood that produces fruit and lost leaves; new shoots/ fruit growth from it

floriculture

production/ distribution of cut flowers, potted plants, etc

succulent

which fleshy leaves/stems; stores moisture

variegated

streaks, marks patches of color