Curriculum

Physiological principles and industry practices in the production, moving, care, and maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs, and ground covers will be explored. Students will develop the career tools to install and maintain woody plants. This goal will be accomplished through the review of the pertinent literature and through class exercises designed to improve the students’ skills and knowledge of woody plant physiology, care and maintenance. This course is designed for students without previous experience in arboriculture.

Concepts of greenhouse construction, operation and management for a variety of horticultural crops, but with an emphasis on ornamental crops will be covered. Course content includes Greenhouse construction, heating, cooling, growing media, pest management, nutrition, fertility, growth regulation, irrigation, postharvest handling, and marketing of greenhouse crops. 4 credits.

The process of starting your own enterprise. Competitive environment, risk management, finance for business startups, funding, and business plan writing. UNL- Entrepreneurial process will be leaned and used to prepare a written business plan for a horticulture-related enterprise and presented in a PowerPoint format with voice-over narration. Basic accounting principles will be gained and used to prepare a marketing plan.

Cultural nursery crop production practices will be presented with consideration of current recommended Best Management Practices, conservation of resources, scientific research based investigations related to nursery cultural practices, potential risks to nursery personnel and off-site movement of air borne materials and effluents to surrounding areas and public watersheds. This course requires previous coursework or work experience in nursery production/management.

The course deals with basic understanding of plant adaptation and environmental stress tolerance in plants with a greater focus on mechanisms of tolerance and strategies to improve tolerance to abiotic stresses.

Discussions of recent advances in horticultural crop plant physiology, including crop improvement in horticultural crops using various emerging strategies.

A general introduction to insects. Topics covered include insect diversity, identification, morphology and physiology, ecology and behavior, pest management, and discussions about the beneficial, economic, and medical importance of insects.

Permaculture means "permanent culture," (or "permanent agriculture") and ..."is the conscious design and maintenance of cultivated ecosystems that have the diversity, stability, and resilience of a natural ecosystem." (Bill Mollison) This course will explore, through lectures, online discussions, and required projects, a design/thinking methodology that seeks to provide for our physical needs, food, water, shelter, energy, etc., while doing so in an environmentally friendly, sustainable manner.

NCSU - An understanding of the basic mineral nutrition requirements, nutritional monitoring procedures, and fertilizer application methods in horticultural production systems including those for fruits, field vegetables, fruits and vegetables under plasticulture, nursery crops, landscapes, greenhouse flowers and vegetables, interior plantscapes, hydroponics, and organic farming will be gained. TTU - Evaluation and application of theory to plant nutrient management will be used to study plant nutrient needs and nutrient reactions in soil and predicting nutrient need and response. Not open to students having had PSS 4335. UNL - Macro- and micronutrient elements and their function in the growth and development of plants will be the focus. Emphasis is placed on the uptake and transport of mineral elements, the role of single elements, interactions/balances between elements, and nutrient deficiency/toxicity symptoms as they affect the physiology of the whole plant.

TTU - Fundamental concepts underlying the science of crop physiology, including crop phenology, canopy development and light interception, photosynthesis and respiration, and dry matter partitioning will be examined. UNL - Fundamental plant tissues and functions, energetics of a plant cell and enzyme mechanisms, components of water potential, factors affecting water potential, and their interactions within plant tissues in different situations will be explored. Additionally solute transport mechanisms; photosynthesis; respiration; lipid metabolism; N, S, P, and cation assimilation; plant secondary metabolites; phytochrome; hormones; circadian rhythms; photoperiodism; vernalization; and plant stressors and their importance in plant structure, physiology, and defense will be evaluated.

This course will explore the principles and practices involved in the production of deciduous tree fruits and nuts. Examination and discussion of the fundamental principles influencing perennial tree growth and development as applied to production practices and management of specific crops will be emphasized. The relationships between the environment, production practices and plant responses will be an integral component of the course. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Describe and understand the commercial production of temperate-zone fruit crops of importance in the SE from a production standpoint, but also the underlying physiological principles involved. 2. Identify and define the aspects necessary for successful commercial production of deciduous tree fruit and nut crops. Independent exercises to visit local orchards or educational programs will be expected.

Students will become familiar with a wide variety of urban agriculture types and production systems utilized in urban settings. The course will include background readings, case studies, guest speakers, student-facilitated class discussion and lectures.

Weeds and weed control methods in agronomic and horticultural crops and turf grass with an emphasis on chemical weed control will be studied. History of weed control, weed characteristics, weed competition, and methods of weed control including mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical will also be learned. Herbicides will be discussed by family with specific regard to their chemical structure, efficacy, mode and mechanism of action, crop selectivity, soil activity and persistence, and cost. Weed seed and plant identification, sprayer equipment, sprayer calibration, herbicide formulations, herbicide labels, crop/weed response to herbicides and injury symptomology, and Worker Protection Standards will also be presented.

This course will cover all components of urban food systems through the lens of food security, food justice, access, policy, and community planning. Students will gain skills in grant-writing, non-profit planning and management, and working with urban policy and planning boards.

Current models of the physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms for plant tolerance to environmental stresses such as temperature extremes, drought, salt, pathogens, and other plants will be explored.

Permaculture means "permanent culture," (or "permanent agriculture") and ..."is the conscious design and maintenance of cultivated ecosystems that have the diversity, stability, and resilience of a natural ecosystem." (Bill Mollison) This course will explore, through lectures, online discussions, and required projects, a design/thinking methodology that seeks to provide for our physical needs, food, water, shelter, energy, etc., while doing so in an environmentally friendly, sustainable manner.

Overview of plant breeding methods for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Covers principles and concepts of inheritance, germplasm resources, pollen control, measurement of genetic variances, and heterosis. Special topics include heritability, genotype-environment interaction, disease resistance, and polyploidy. In-depth coverage on methods for breeding cross-pollinated and self-pollinated crops. Prepares students for advanced plant breeding courses.

This course provides introductory level information regarding pathogen biology, pathogen-host interactions, and environmental influences. It also examines cultural, resistance, and chemical strategies for plant disease management.

Pre- and post-harvest factors that affect market quality of horticultural commodities with an emphasis on technologies to preserve quality and extend storage life of crops.

Students will become familiar with a wide variety of urban agriculture types and production systems utilized in urban settings. The course will include background readings, case studies, guest speakers, student-facilitated class discussion and lectures.

This course will cover all components of urban food systems through the lens of food security, food justice, access, policy, and community planning. Students will gain skills in grant-writing, non-profit planning and management, and working with urban policy and planning boards.

The purpose of this course is to prepare students to apply advanced knowledge of viticultural principles to the management of commercial vineyards. Students will recognize management options and describe their advantages and disadvantages. Students will gain knowledge of methods for analysis and interpretation of research results.

Utilization of natural enemies and antagonists to manage the abundance of pests (invertebrates, pathogens, and weeds) and reduce economic losses will be examined.

The diversity and complexity of integrated management of insects will be learned. The goal is to develop an understanding of the concepts and principles of IPM as a complex mix of practices and technologies to efficiently manage pest populations that are specific to locales.

Historical significance and development of plant pathology as a science and profession; the disease cycle; the affect of pathogens on the physiology of plants; the most current developments in the genetics of plant disease; how pathogens attack plants, and the mechanisms of plant defense and the affect of environmental factors on the development of plant disease will be taught. Additionally, plant disease epidemiology, mechanisms and treatments for the control of plant diseases and environmental factors that cause disease will be learned. Major diseases caused by fungi, prokaryotes, parasitic plants, viruses, nematodes, and flagellated protozoan; their pathogens, disease cycles, damage caused, prevention, and physical characteristics for identification will be examined.

Soils and modified rootzone terminology, criteria for growth media for high traffic turf installations, landscape applications such as ornamental containers and other specialized installations, and design considerations for rootzones for specialized applications will be investigated.

Identification, biology, ecology and management of insect pests of horticultural crops, including vegetables, deciduous fruits and nuts, trees and shrubs, greenhouse crops, turf and ornamentals will be evaluated. Emphasis will be on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies employed to maintain pests below damaging levels while minimizing the use of traditional insecticides.

Environmental issues are of paramount importance to contemporary society. Indeed, consideration of environmental consequences is an important component of decision making processes for citizens, companies, and governments at nearly any level. This course will focus on the science of the environment and the role of soil science in the environmental arena. Important chemical, biological, and physical processes that influence the fate of environmentally important compounds will be presented. Relevant case studies will be included.

Role and function of water in plant growth and development and a comprehensive understanding in relation to achieving genetic yield potential will be gained. Soil-plant-atmosphere continuum and it affects on water supply and demand will also be examined with an understanding of the relative sensitivities of developmental and physiological systems to water stress sought.

Small Aquaponics Basics is a lecture-based course focused on the integrated production of aquatic organisms, most commonly fish or shrimp, with plants, commonly herbs or vegetables. Application of this integrated food production system is increasing around the world.

Aquaponic System Design Essentials is a lecture-based course focused on the art of aquaponic system design. With a sole emphasis on design principles, this course provides a streamlined exploration of the intricacies involved in creating efficient aquaponic systems. Through a condensed curriculum, the course will guide you through the essential aspects of designing an aquaponic system. From selecting the appropriate components to optimizing the layout and flow dynamics, we'll cover the key considerations necessary for successful system design. Whether you are an aspiring aquaponics designer, a hobbyist seeking to elevate your skills, or a professional looking to specialize in aquaponics, this course is tailored to equip you with the core knowledge required to craft efficient and effective aquaponic systems. Join us to embark on a focused learning journey that will empower you to unleash your creativity and expertise in aquaponic system design. Recommended Course Prerequisite: Small Aquaponics Basics

Advanced Lighting Technology in Urban Agriculture is a lecture-based course focused on the artificial lighting applications in the field of urban agriculture. Drawing from various lighting technologies, including fluorescent, incandescent, high-intensity discharge lamps, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), this course delves into the principles, techniques, and advancements in utilizing artificial lighting systems to optimize plant growth, development, and productivity in urban farming settings. This course will emphasize the practical application and benefits of these lighting technologies, highlighting their energy efficiency, longevity, spectral control, and environmental sustainability.

Indoor Vertical Farming (VF) System is a lecture-based course focused on all aspects of crop production under a housing or factory system, including the structure and lighting design and maintenance. The application of an indoor farming system is beneficial where land is limited, such as in urban areas, and the long-term goal is eliminating the effects of climate change.