Horticultural Principles

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Please refer to www.mccp.unimelb.edu.au for delivery details

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.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

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.

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.

Two practical reports each equivalent to 1500 words 30 % each (due early and mid-semester respectively) and one two hour final examination 40% (due end of semester).

Nil.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• 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.