Introduction to course

The challenges to feed the world in 2050 are becoming more and more clear. This calls for producing more with less and intensifying production in a sustainable way. Protected horticulture offers opportunities for maximum resource efficiency, high quality production and contributes greatly to the nutrition security as part of the world food production. This is achieved by both simple and advanced techniques for farm, crop and climate management, precise application of resources (water, fertilisers, energy), so that environmental impact can be controlled and the use of resources optimized. As innovation and process optimisation becomes more and more important, protected cultivation is becoming the most knowledge-intensive branch of agriculture

Objectives

To make student familiar with modern technology for production of high quality horticultural commodities round the year.

Course contents
Introduction and economic importance, Different structures and their construction, Selection of site and orientation, Environment control and maintenance, Seed and nursery raising, Crops/cultivars suitable for forcing, Production technology of different crops, Soilless culture, Media, soil mixtures, containers, fertigation and irrigation systems, Pruning, training and staking, Insects, diseases, disorders and problem management, Economics of protected and conventional production.

Practical
Structural demonstration of greenhouses, plastic tunnels and other structures, Preparation of growing media, Tools and types of containers, Raising of crops, Pruning, training and staking techniques, Pollination techniques, Visits to commercial greenhouses and plastic tunnels.

Learning outcomes:

Students must be able to produce various horticultural crops under controlled environment

Text books to be used for the course:

Abbasi, N.A. and U. Habib. 2008. Protected Horticulture. Dept. of Horticulture, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Ashraf, M., M.S.K. Rana and M.A. Khan. 1989. Lecture Manual on Protected Vegetable Production. PARC, Islamabad.

Manohar, K.R. and C. Igathinathane. 2007. Greenhouse Technology and Management (2nd Ed.). BS Publications, Hyderabad, India.

Mastalerz, J.W. 1997. Greenhouse Environment. John Willey and Sons, New York.

Prasad, K. and U. Kumar. 2005. Greenhouse Management for Horticultural Crops (2nd Ed.). Agrobios (India) Jodhpur, India.

Resh, H.M. 1989. Hydroponic Food Production. Westbridge Press Publishing Company, Santabarbra, California, USA.

Description of system of evaluation:

Mid Exam (Assignments)