Plant Production and Culture

This subject is not offered in 2014.

132 hours

N/A

N/A

N/A

For the purposes of considering request 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 introductory training in plant production and culture for the horticultural industry. Lectures and practical exercises cover various plant production methodologies in the Burnley Field Station and Nursery. Students are provided with their own vegetable plot which they establish and maintain throughout the semester.

Upon completion of this subject students should be able to:

• search the professional literature and develop good report writing skills based on the collation of scientific information;
• demonstrate an understanding of plant production systems and their application;
• demonstrate an understanding of plant propagation methods and correct plant propagation protocols;
• differentiate between various groups of plants grown by the nursery industry including annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees;
• understand the historic and contemporary production context and use in the landscape of various plant types:
• understand nursery availability of life forms and plant types and their basic cultural requirements, from weed management through to nutrition regimes; and
• understand health and safety issues as they relate to practical use of hand tools in garden/field settings and in the nursery environment

1 hour examination (30%) mid semester, 1 hour final examination (30%) practical diary and report of 2000 words (40%) end of semester.

Growing media for ornamental plants and turf (K Handreck & N Black), 3rd edn, NSW University Press, Kensington, 2002

Hartmann and Kester's Plant Propagation: principles and practices (H T Hartmann, D E Kester)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should have acquired the following generic skills:

• Capacities in information seeking, evaluation and retrieval;
• Communication skills, both oral and written;
• Independent application of new-acquired knowledge and skills; and
• Planning and time management.