Horticulture is more or less a smaller version of agriculture. While
agriculture deals with cultivation on a large scale, Horticulture is gardening
done on a smaller scale. The name 'Horticulture' is derived from the Latin
terms 'hortus' (garden) and 'cultura' (cultivation) which means garden
cultivation. Horticulture is the Science and art of gardening which is
associated with the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices,
ornamental plants, plantation crops, tuber crops, medicinal and aromatic
plants. Plants play a major role in everyday life, from the fruit and
vegetables we eat, to the trees that make our parks and streets beautiful,
through to flowers that brighten up our gardens and homes. Therefore,
Horticulture the study of the cultivation of plants is of great importance
in an agrarian economy like India. Horticulture is an applied science,
relying upon many other disciplines such as chemistry, physics, engineering,
art, meteorology, economics, entomology, botany and many more. Horticulturist
uses the basic information and theories of these related fields and tries
to find an application for these ideas for the benefit of people and the
environment.
The field of horticulture not only involves knowledge or beautification
of surroundings, but also the study of plants and their significance.
Horticulture deals with plant propagation and cultivation, crop production,
preparation of soil, plant breeding and genetic engineering, plant biochemistry
and plant physiology. This branch of agriculture supplies food products
to man, feed to animals and many raw materials of plant origin to numerous
industries (food, mixed-feed, textile, pharmaceutical, and perfume industries).
Hence, Horticulture is closely associated with animal husbandry. It includes
vegetable growing, fruit growing, viticulture (science of grape growing),
meadow management, forestry and floriculture. Food production is the largest
and fastest growing area of horticulture.
Horticulture is the best choice for those who love outdoors and greenery.
Horticulture industry encompasses various fields such as fruit and vegetable
industry, spice industry, floriculture industry, gardening and nursery
industry, and other related fields such as landscaping. Horticulturists
work and conduct research in various areas of horticulture, to improve
crop yield, quality, nutritional value, and resistance to insects, diseases,
and environmental stresses. Now Horticulture has entered the field of
medicine also by the name Horticulture Therapy. It is the practice of
engaging people in various therapeutic horticultural practices for the
improvement of their mental and physical well being. Horticultural Therapists
use horticultural activities and environments to positively influence
human well-being, emotions, health and behaviour.
Horticulture involves five major branches of study. These branches are
floriculture, landscaping, olericulture, pomology and postharvest physiology.
Floriculture is the study of growing and marketing flowers and foliage
plants, persons working in this field are called floriculturists. Landscaping
include design, construction and maintenance of landscapes. Olericulture
is the study of the production and marketing of vegetables. Those who
work in this field are called olericulturists. The study of the production
and marketing of fruits is called pomology and those who work in this
field are called pomologists. Postharvest physiology include areas of
maintaining quality and preventing spoilage of horticultural crops.
