HRT-110 Introduction to Horticulture

This is a hands-on course that emphasizes the numerous specialties in the horticulture field. It includes a study of plants as living organisms, the fundamentals of integrated pest management and plant growth requirements. An introduction to a variety of plant care techniques is included. This is a required beginning course in both Horticulture and Viticulture and Wine Technology degree programs.

Credits

3

Corequisite

HRT-102

Department

• Environmental Conservation and Horticulture

Semesters Course Will Be Offered

• Fall
• Spring

Course Rotation Schedule

• Fall: In Person
• Spring: In Person

For more detailed course information view the Course Outline

HRT 110: Introduction to Horticulture

Department

Environmental Conservation and Horticulture

Course Description

This is a hands-on course that emphasizes the numerous specialties in the horticulture field. It includes a study of plants as living organisms, the fundamentals of integrated pest management and plant growth requirements. An introduction to a variety of plant care techniques is included. This is a required beginning course in both Horticulture and Viticulture and Wine Technology degree programs.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture	3
Lab	0
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered

Fall, Spring

Corequisites

HRT-102

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Identify professional career opportunities incorporating the basics of resume creation and recognize the characteristics of a strong work ethic.
2. Demonstrate practical resource exploration gleaning information from proper sources (i.e. research universities and professional organizations), apply scientific citation format, and exercise use of college support resources for written assignments.
3. Identify the fundamentals of integrated pest management.
4. Describe proper maintenance, propagation, and installation practices for a variety of plant materials.
5. Describe the fundamentals of plant growth requirements and subsequent contributing factors.

Topic Outline

1. 1. Introduction to the history of horticulture
2.     a. Brief review of historical transitions relative to horticulture
3.     b. Contributions made by Rochester, NY, area businesses to the industry
4.     c. Brief review of major landscape designers and landscape architects
5. 2. Introduction to greenhouse operations
6.     a. Common materials, supplies, and equipment
7.     b. Environmental controls (e.g., climate and lighting systems)
8.     c. Irrigation and fertigation systems
9. 3. Introduction to plant parts and processes
10.     a. Internal vascular system
11.     b. Roots
12.         i. Identification of parts
13.         ii. Monocot vs. dicot root systems
14.         iii. Location of feeder roots
15.     c. Stems
16.         i. Woody components
17.         ii. Herbaceous components
18.         iii. Monocot vs. dicot stem systems
19.     d. Leaves
20.         i. Discussion of function
21.         ii. Identification of features
22.         iii. Monocot vs. dicot leaf attributes
23.     e. Flowers
24.         i. Discussion of functions
25.         ii. Identification of features
26.         iii. Introduction to various flower shapes and their terms
27.         iv. Monocot vs. dicot flower features
28.     f. Plant processes
29.         i. Transpiration
30.         ii. Respiration
31.         iii. Photosynthesis
32. 4. Plant taxonomy
33.     a. Botanical nomenclature
34.     b. Terms used in plant identification
35.     c. Introduction to dichotomous keys
36.     d. Introduction to USDA hardiness zone maps
37. 5. Introduction to soils
38.     a. Components
39.     b. Soil separates
40.     c. Texture classes and the standard texture triangle
41.     d. Horizons and profiles
42.     e. Structure and aggregate types
43. 6. Introduction to plant nutrients
44.     a. Introduction to primary and secondary macronutrients
45.     b. Introduction to micronutrients
46.     c. Introduction to signs of macro- and micronutrient deficiencies
47.     d. pH and pH-adjusting compounds
48.     e. Introduction to fertilizer math
49. 7. Introduction to plant growth regulators
50.     a. Introduction to five key regulators
51.     b. Introduction to the effects of the five key regulators on plant growth
52.     c. Introduction to commercial and scientific growth regulators
53. 8. Introduction to plant reproduction and propagation
54.     a. Propagation tools
55.     b. Introduction to sexual reproduction
56.         i. Introduction to seed propagation and usage
57.     c. Introduction to asexual reproduction
58.         i. Introduction to various asexual propagation techniques
59. 9. Introduction to plant pests
60.     a. Introduction to insects
61.     b. Introduction to pathogens
62.     c. Introduction to weeds
63.         i. Definition of weeds
64.         ii. Introduction to identification of several common weeds
65.     d. Control methods and formulations
66.     e. Resistance
67.     f. Introduction to integrated pest management
68.         i. Basic premise
69.         ii. When and how to apply the premise
70. 10. Introduction to plant installation
71.     a. Installation tools
72.     b. Herbaceous
73.         i. Installation of seedlings and larger potted plants
74.         ii. Installation of divisions
75.     c. Woody
76.         i. Techniques in woody installation
77.     d. Care of new installations
78.         i. Water requirements
79.         ii. Staking, if and when necessary
80. 11. Introduction to pruning and maintenance
81.     a. Pruning tools
82.     b. Introduction to tree pruning
83.         i. Correct limb-pruning techniques when keeping the tree
84.         ii. Introduction to pruning safety
85.     c. Introduction to shrub pruning
86.         i. Rounding over: pros and cons
87.         ii. Selective branch pruning of shrubs
88.         iii. Hedge pruning
89.     d. Introduction to pruning vines
90.     e. Tree and shrub maintenance
91.         i. Correct watering
92.         ii. Correct fertilizing techniques and timing
93.         iii. Correct mulching