Commercial Floriculture and Landscaping
Course Overview
Official detailed syllabus from the ICAR Sixth Deans’ Committee curriculum.
Course Objectives
i. To learn about production technology, propagation, and cultural practices and packaging and marketing of various flower crops ii. To learn generating the planting material and their practical use in different landscaping projects
Theory Syllabus
Scope, importance and export potential of floriculture, environment factors influencing plant growth and flower production in cut flowers and cut greens. Production technology including varieties, propagation, soil, nutrition, disease and pests of important cut flowers. Post harvest handling, grading and packing cut flowers, pot and bedding plants. Flower seed production. Cost of production of commercially important flowers. History of gardening, characteristics of Hindu, Mughal, Japanese and English gardens. Principle groups of plants like trees, shrubs, climbers, shade loving plants, ground covers, their analysis and use in landscape composition. Principles of art and landscaping. Preparation of landscape plans for homes, farm complexes, small parks and institutions. Development and maintenance of rock, water and terrace gardens. Bonsai and dish gardens, project formulation and evaluation.
Practical Syllabus
Preparation of plans and laying out of gardens. Identification of planting material and commercial varieties of flowers. Seed collection, germination tests and storage. Harvesting and handling of cut flowers. Judging of flowers and pot plants. Visit to local nurseries and florist centers.
Suggested Readings
1. Arora, J.S. 2010. Introductory Ornamental Horticulture. Kalyani Publishers. ( 6th Edn.). 230p.
2. Randhawa, G. S. and Mukhopadhyay, A. 2001. Floriculture in India. Allied Publishers. 660p.