Horticulture Notes - Page 1-6

Page 1

  • Definition: Horticulture is a branch of agriculture focused on the cultivation and management of garden crops, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants, to enhance crop production.

  • Crop types:

    • Field crops: grown in vast parcels for agronomic purposes (e.g., grains, legumes, fiber crops, root crops, fodder crops, industrial crops).

    • Example field crops listed: mung bean, peanut, soybean; fiber crops like kenaf, jute, ramie, cotton; root crops such as cassava and sweet potato; fodder crops (e.g., napier grass, guinea grass, pangola, alabang); crops for industry (sugar cane, tobacco, castor bean).

  • Horticultural crops: grown in smaller areas (often < 20 m²). Examples include:

    • Vegetables: onion, tomato, eggplant.

    • Fruit crops: mango, banana, pomelo/grape.

    • Ornamentals: orchid, anthurium, rose.

  • Note on origin: the term horti- derives from Latin; horticulture emphasizes gardening and cultivation of crops for specialized purposes.

Page 2

  • Plantations and crop categories:

    • Plantation crops for industrial processing: coconut, coffee, cacao, rubber tree, black pepper, lagundi.

    • Spices crops: e.g., cardamom.

    • Medicinal and aromatic crops: cultivation of medicinal/aromatic species.

  • Post-harvest technology: practices and technologies after harvest to preserve and add value to crops.

  • Plant propagation: methods and propagation of crops.

  • Importance of crop production (high-level):
    1) Source of food
    2) Source of feed
    3) Source of fiber for textiles
    4) Source of raw materials
    5) Source of fuel and energy
    6) Revenue from exports
    7) Source of employment

  • Branches of horticulture:

    • Pomology: fruit crops

    • Olericulture: vegetables

    • Floriculture: flowers

    • Plantation crops cultivation

    • Spices crops cultivation

    • Medicinal and Aromatic crops

Page 3

  • Soil science: a branch of agriculture that deals with soil, the natural body acting as a medium for plant growth.

  • Functions of soil:

    • Medium for growth of all kinds of plants

    • Provides physical support to plants

    • Supplies moisture for growth

    • Acts as a waste sink and nutrient home

    • Home of living organisms and a nutrient recycling system

    • Storehouse of nutrients

  • Land vs soil:

    • Soil: the thin layer of material on Earth’s surface where plant roots grow.

    • Land: the two-dimensional natural body of the Earth’s surface, including physical, biological environments and built features.

Page 4

  • Characteristics of soil:

    • Humus, Topsoil, Subsoil, and Bedrock are key layers/properties.

    • The soil is a natural material that cannot be synthesized artificially and varies by location.

  • Soil texture and structure:

    • Soil is composed of mineral particles of varying sizes: sand, silt, and clay.

    • Horizonation and particle size affect soil texture and properties.

  • Landscape context:

    • Land includes roads, buildings, vegetation, and other elements of the physical environment.

Page 5

  • Soil texture and fertility overview:

    • Drainage and water-holding capacity vary by texture:

    • Sandy soil: low fertility but good aeration; low water-holding capacity.

    • Loamy soil: medium fertility and good aeration.

    • Clay soil: high fertility but poor aeration; hard to plow.

  • Soil fertility: the ability of soil to supply plant nutrients.

  • Plant-soil properties linked to fertility include:

    • Soil structure

    • Soil texture

    • Temperature

    • Water, light, and air availability

  • Plant science basics:

    • Seeds contain embryonic plants. Germination is the process by which the embryo grows into a seedling, driven by environmental conditions.

  • Climate and land suitability:

    • Mindanao climate supports vegetable farming when climatic, soil, and land conditions are favorable.

  • Climatic condition for tropical crops (Mindanao):

    • Temperature range: 22.5^\circ ext{C} ext{ to } 32.5^\circ ext{C}

Page 6

  • Light and humidity considerations:

    • Adequate light is essential for most crops and early growth stages rely on sufficient light.

    • Humidity management is important for certain crops (e.g., tomatoes) to optimize growth and reduce disease.

  • Practical takeaway: ensure enough light exposure and monitor humidity levels appropriate to the crop stage.