HRT307 Flower Crop Management (8)

The subject provides an overview of the floriculture industry from an Australian and world perspective. It focuses on commercial cut flower crops, including a range of native and exotic crops, and provides the students with an understanding of the range of cut flower crops, the industry's origins and history; components of the industry; cut flower crop botany, propagation, establishment, growth and development; requirements for a floriculture enterprise; and management of cut flower crops, including the growing area, propagation, establishment, transplanting; soil management, nutrition, fertilization and irrigation; the influence of environment on plant growth and development; climate and growth manipulation; greenhouse structures and covering materials; manipulation of environment to control production; hydroponic production; pre- and post-harvest handling and care; economics, project evaluation, including enterprise establishment and their financial analysis; marketing of cut flowers; latest technologies; study of specific important cut flower crops, including roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, geophytes, foliage plants, orchids.

No offerings have been identified for this subject in 2019.

Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences

Enrolment Restrictions

Students who have completed HRT232 cannot enrol into this subject.

Prerequisites

AGR156 or BIO126 or PSC102

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to accurately describe the range and diversity of cut flower crops
  • be able to accurately detail the growth cycle of flower crops within a particular environment
  • be able to accurately define the alternative techniques to establish flower crops
  • be able to demonstrate how to manage the vegetative and reproductive phases of flower crop growth
  • be able to demonstrate how to manage perennial flower bushes effectively
  • be able to accurately explain an understanding of the principles of hydroponic systems for growing flower crops
  • be able to accurately explain the principles of indoor systems for growing flower crops
  • be able to describe how to evaluate plant protection programs for flower crops
  • be able to describe the range of specialised equipment used in flower crop production
  • be able to accurately define optimal post harvest procedures for flower crops
  • be able to accurately assess annual budgets for flower enterprises.
  • have a full understanding of the cultivation of a broad range of horticultural crops as specified by the subject coordinator.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • introduction to floricultural crops and the industry
  • flower crop biology
  • flower project establishment
  • flower crop establishment
  • flower crop management temperature, light, water, nutrition, media
  • plant growth regulation
  • crop protection in floriculture
  • protected cultivation, including hydroponic systems
  • pre and postharvest handling and care of cut flowers
  • marketing of flowers
  • cut flower project cashflow, budgets and projects
  • important cut flower crops, roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, geophytes, foliage plants, orchids

Residential School

This subject contains a 3 day Compulsory Residential School.

Study tour looks at: apiculture; market outlets, including wholesale markets, auctions, retail outlets, florists; protected cultivation; open field cultivation; hydroponic systems for flower growing; plant management systems pruning, suckering, bending, and other growth manipulation; irrigation, nutrition and media; assessment of flower growing businesses; assessment of flower growing equipment; study of pre- and postharvest systems for cut flowers; harvesting systems; plant protection options for flowers, including IPM systems; visiting a wide range of floricultural crop enterprises to study the broad range of products within a variety of climatic regions; research institutes.

Special Resources

Students are required to attend the compulsory residential school which will involve travel expenses and a time commitment.

Contact

For further information about courses and subjects outlined in the CSU handbook please contact:

Current students

Future students

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: May 2019. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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