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The Ins And Outs Of The Horticulture Industry

what-does-horticulture-do

Horticulture is a sector within the agricultural industry. The other sectors of this industry include forestry, animal husbandry, arable farming, and so on. The horticulture sector has three major subdivisions: fruit cultivation, vegetable cultivation, and floriculture. Horticulture and arable farming might seem alike, but they have some differences. Arable farming produces crops like potatoes, corn, and grains in open ground. But, horticulture involves the cultivation of plants, fruits, and vegetables in open grounds, orchards, and greenhouses. 

Horticulture is both the science and art of growing fruits and vegetables that give vital nutrients for a balanced diet. Diets lacking fruits and veggies are the reason for some of the most common nutrient-related ailments worldwide. 

Apart from the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, horticulture also raises income. Farmers who cultivate vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc., earn more than those cultivating other commodities. 

Horticulture is also helping to improve livelihoods. It is raising farmers’ profits and expanding diets rich in essential nutrients. Let us know more about what does horticulture do

Horticulture In Brief 

Horticulture has been in practice for years. It is also believed that horticulture has contributed to the evolution of sedentary/semi-sedentary horticulture communities from nomadic human cultures. 

Horticulture is the science and art of producing, selling, and using high-value crops. Moreover, the main objectives of horticulture farming are to improve the quality of life and recovery of the ecosystem. 

Scope Of Horticulture

Compared to field crops, horticulture crops produce a better harvest per hectare. The high nutritional value of horticulture crops makes them incredibly valuable. Fruits and veggies mainly provide loads of essential vitamins and minerals. There is a wide variety of crops you can find in the horticulture section. 

Horticulture crops are eco-friendly. This is because they help the environment by preserving water and soil and reducing waste. These crops are also beneficial in improving the socioeconomic status of the farmer. Read further to learn about different types of horticulture. 

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Types Of Horticulture  

Take a close look at some of the various types of horticulture mentioned below: 

Floriculture

Floriculture, or the floral industry, mainly emphasizes cultivating flowering and ornamental plants. A floriculturist mostly spends time growing new varieties of plants through plant breeding. Some examples of floriculture crops are houseplants, pot plants, and bedding plants. 

Arboriculture

The study of how plants grow and adapt to their environments and cultural practices is known as arboriculture. In this, individual trees, vines, shrubs, etc., are primarily grown, studied, and managed. Planting, preparation, pest control, and pruning are a few common arboriculture techniques. 

An arborist maintains individual woody plants and trees for years of landscaping and amenity purposes. It is generally performed in parks, gardens, and other inhabited regions. 

Olericulture

A type of vegetable gardening that deals with non-woody plant cultivation for human use. It is the science of harvesting, storing, refining, and vending vegetables. 

Olericulture involves every aspect of crop establishment. This includes seedbed preparation, selection of cultivars, and seed and transplanted vegetable crop establishment. Also, this type of horticulture includes everything from organic gardening and organic farming to industrial and non-traditional vegetable crop production.

Also Read: What Is The Difference Between Horticulture & Agriculture?

Post-harvest Physiology

Post-harvest Physiology is about the physical state of the living plant tissues after farming to conserve plant quality. It also helps in avoiding the spoilage problem. It is used to know the best storage and transport conditions to maximize the shelf life of the plants. 

Turf Management

Turf management is all about the efforts put in to maintain a sporting surface for making it suitable to use. In turf management, one has to cultivate and maintain turf grass for sports, entertainment, and amenity purposes. 

Viticulture

Viticulture is particular to the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. This type of horticulture includes monitoring and managing pests and diseases, canopy management, and much more. The person who studies grapes and grape cultivation is referred to as a viticulturist. 

There have been advancements in Viticulture. Still, there is a necessity for the most primitive winemaking practices. Some of these practices are over 7000 years old. 

Pomology

Pomology refers to the study of fruits and their cultivation. The major parts of this study are fruit tree cultivation, growth, enhancement, and physiology. 

Pomologists do not bring the harvests to the main market but play an integral part in determining how to produce and transport fruits and nuts. Moreover, they study pests, infections, and bad weather conditions affecting the produce. 

Choosing Horticulture As A Career

For those who like plants and cultivating fruits or vegetables, horticulture can be an ideal career path. A career in horticulture can be exciting as you can choose from various options. As you pass the school, you’ll come across many innovative ideas and feel pleased to work in this field.  

Only a handful of people are working in the horticulture industry. It means you can find ample opportunities, which include jobs in nursery, ground care, and greenhouse management. 

You can earn and learn both while working as a horticulturist and will create a big impact on the lives of others. 

You will surely work outdoors, taking samples and working mostly with your hands. If you do not like working in offices and sitting in one place for hours, then a career in horticulture is for you. 

Most horticulture work is outdoors. But you can work in horticulture research, too. Its main focus is on growing plants in an organized environment to know the ways to better cultivate them. For such experiments, laboratory conditions, with scientific know-how and equipment, are employed. 

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Potential Career Pathways In Horticulture 

If you have the skills and qualifications with a little industry experience, you can choose from many career options. Some of them are as follows: 

  • Landscaper
  • Lawn care specialist 
  • Arboriculture Assistant
  • Crop Worker
  • Horticulture therapist
  • Florist
  • Irrigation technician 
  • Horticulture manager 
  • Forester 
  • Agricultural engineer

Frequently Asked Questions

Horticulture helps in improving the quality of life and sustaining the environment. That is one of the reasons it holds great importance. Plants and crops give vital nutrients, enhance the beauty of homes, and reduce environmental impact. All of its credit goes to the horticulture industry.

Horticulture crops include fruits, vegetables, aromatic plants, medicinal plants, and plantation crops. Fruits and vegetables are the major sources of diet and nutrition.

As per data, in 2019, horticulture operations traded about 13.8 Billion USD in nursery, floriculture, and specialty crops.

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