Horticulture: Scope, Branches & Farming

Horticulture is an agriculture branch that deals with the science, technology and art of plant cultivation. Horticulture aims to enhance the quality of life and the aesthetics, sustainability, and recovery of our ecosystem and human lives. 

• Horticulture crops include annual, biennial, and perennial plants, fruits and vegetables, ornamental outdoor and indoor plants, and landscape plants. 
• Plants and green spaces help sustain and enrich our surroundings and lives by providing clean air, oxygen, healthy food and also help lower our carbon footprint. 
• Horticulture has temperate and tropical zones with crop varieties. 
• The chief methods of propagation of horticulture crops include cuttings, layering, division, budding and grafting. 
• Agriculture is the foundation of horticulture, which takes its name from the Latin words hortus, which means "garden," and culture, which means "cultivation."
• The commonly protected structures in horticulture are low tunnels, walk-in tunnels, net houses, greenhouses, glass houses, and mist chambers.

Read Also: Vegetative Propagation in Plants: Definition, Types and Examples 

Key Terms: Horticulture, Olericulture, Pomology, Floriculture, Arboriculture, Agrostology, Plant Cultivation, Harvesting

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What is Horticulture?

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Horticulture can be defined as:

• Horticulture crops include annual and perennial plants, fruits and vegetables, ornamental indoor plants, and landscape plants. 
• Horticulture farming strives to improve people's quality of life as well as the appeal, viability, and restoration of our ecosystem and our species.

Horticulture

• By producing wholesome food, enhancing our homes and neighbourhoods, and reducing our carbon footprint, plants, crops, and green spaces contribute to the sustainability and enrichment of our lives.
• Contrary to agriculture, horticulture does not require extensive crop or animal husbandry.
• Agriculture concentrates on one huge core crop at a time, but horticulture stresses the utilisation of small plots with a diversified mix of mixed crops.

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Scope of Horticulture

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The many scopes of Horticulture include:

• Production of higher yields per hectare than field crops.
• Production of crops which provide sufficient vitamins and minerals.
• Production of crops that improve the aesthetics of the environment.
• Provide benefits to small and marginal farmers from horticulture crops.

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Branches of Horticulture

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There are many branches of horticulture as follows:

Arboriculture

It deals with the study, cultivation, and management of trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. 

• Arboriculture techniques include picking, planting, preparation, fertilization, pest and pathogen control, pruning, shaping, and harvesting. 
• Arborists maintain individual woody plants and trees for long-term landscape and amenity purposes, mostly in gardens, and parks for people's enjoyment, safety, and benefit.

Also Check: Pesticides: Types, Chemical Structure, Harmful Effects 

Turf Management

Turf management or pitch care refers to the operations required to keep a sporting surface suitable for playing. It includes the cultivation and maintenance of turfgrass for sports, entertainment, and amenity purposes.

Floriculture

Floriculture is a branch of horticulture that deals with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and floristry. 

• Floriculturists cultivate new varieties through plant breeding techniques. 
• Floriculture crops include bedding plants, houseplants, flower gardens, pot plants, cut cultivated greens, and cut flowers. 
• Most of the floriculture crops are usually herbaceous.

Landscape horticulture

Landscape Horticulture is the practice of designing outdoor spaces, landmarks, and structures for achieving environmental, social-behavioural, or aesthetic purposes. 

• It includes the systematic design and general engineering of various hardscape structures for building and human use. 
• It also includes an investigation of current social, ecological, and soil conditions and processes in the landscape for gaining desired results.

Olericulture

Olericulture is a branch of horticulture that deals with cultivating non-woody vegetable plants for human consumption.

• It is the science of growing, storing, processing and selling vegetables. 
• It includes cultivar selection, seedbed preparation, and seed and transplanted vegetable crop establishment.
• It also contains organic gardening and organic farming, sustainable agriculture, hydroponics, and biotechnology. 
• It also comprises industrial and non-traditional vegetable crop production.

Pomology

It deals with the study of fruit crops and their cultivation. It studies fruit tree growth, cultivation, and physiology. It aims to increase fruit quality by controlling harvesting time and lowering production costs.

Viticulture

It is a branch of horticulture that deals with the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It also includes monitoring and managing pests and diseases, fertilising, irrigation, canopy management, and fruit production. It also determines when to harvest, and vine pruning.

Oenology

It is a branch of horticulture where wine and winemaking is studied.

Postharvest Physiology

It is the scientific study of the physiology of living plant tissues after harvest to preserve plant quality and avoid spoilage in storage. It has direct applications in postharvest handling, optimal storage and transportation conditions to maximize shelf life.

Also Check: Conservation of Water: Definition, Importance, and Ways 

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Horticulture Farming

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Horticulture has improved the economic condition of farmers and per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables from 40 to 85 grams of fruits and 95 to 175 grams of vegetables.

• It contributes more than 24.5% of agriculture's gross domestic product (GDP).
• In an area of about 4 million hectares in India, there are more than 50 varieties of vegetables are grown;
• The major vegetable crops grown in India are potato, onion, peas, beans, cauliflower, tomato, brinjal, okra, cabbage, and cucurbits.

Indoor Production

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Things to Remember

• Horticulture is a branch of agriculture that deals with the cultivation of ornamental, fruit, and vegetable plants.
• The scope of horticulture includes the production of higher yields per hectare, supply of sufficient vitamins and minerals, improving the aesthetics of the environment and giving benefits to small and marginal farmers.
• There are different branches of horticulture like arboriculture, agrostology, floriculture, landscape horticulture, olericulture, pomology, viticulture, and postharvest physiology.
• The chief methods of propagation are cuttings, layering, division, budding and grafting.
• Commonly used protected structures in horticulture are — low tunnels, walk-in tunnels, net houses, greenhouses, glass houses, and mist chambers.