Horticultural Principles
Subject Code
HORT90036
Credit Points
12.5 points
Description
This subject provides an overview of the horticultural principles required for successful plant growth in designed landscapes. This includes categories of landscape and vegetation types/treatments, plant growth processes, including plant function and structure, plant production techniques, plant quality, site evaluation, soil composition and properties, soil texture and structure, soil water relationships, plant nutrition and soil management, environmental and ecological considerations, planting, establishment and transplanting techniques, water management issues and an introduction to the horticultural industry.
Objectives
On completion of this subject, student should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of plant structure, function and critical growth processes;
- Describe soils and soil properties and how they are managed to assist plant growth and performance;
- Analyse sites for planting and describe the requirements for successful plant establishment;
- Describe techniques, methods and materials used to produce nursery plants;
- Discuss the main requirements to establish, maintain and manage plants successfully in designed landscapes.
Generic Skills Students will Develop
- Sourcing, interpreting and applying information from written and electronic sources to individual tasks.
- Use scientific and technical literature to answer specific questions.
- Time management and the meeting of deadlines.
- Report on an experimental procedure using scientific conventions.
- Retrieval, from a range of paper-based and electronic sources, of information required to develop understanding of a topic, and the use of this information, with appropriate recognition, in report writing.
Mode of Delivery
On campus.
Contact Time
42 hours of lectures/seminars/workshops. In addition to face-to-face teaching time of 42 hours, students should expect to undertake a minimum of 120 hours research, reading, writing and general study to complete this subject successfully.
Assessment
Two practical reports each equivalent to 2,000 words 30% each (due early and mid-semester respectively) and one two hour final examination 40% (due end of semester).
Prescribed Texts
Nil
Subject Academic
Dr Peter May
Director
May Horticulture Services
Dr Greg Moore
Honorary Senior Fellow
Melbourne School of Land and Environment
The University of Melbourne
Dates
Commences: 1 March 2012
Week Night: Thursdays
Time: 6.00pm - 9.00pm
Saturday Site Visits: TBC
Term Break: 6 - 15 April 2012