LEC – 1.

Horticulture-Definition, classification, nutritive value, scope and

importance

What is horticulture?
The term ―Horticulture is derived from two Latin words i.e. ―Hortus meaning garden or
enclosure and ―Cultura meaning cultivation. So, horticulture literally means garden culture or
culture of garden crops. It is defined as a science that deals with production, utilization and
improvement of fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants, spices, condiments, plantation
crops, and medicinal and aromatic plants.
Classification of horticultural crops
1. Classification of horticultural crops based on growth habit and physiological character
Growth habit and physiological character e.g. herbs, shrubs, climbers and creepers
Herbs: Ageratum, Lawn Grasses.
Shrubs: Nerium, Hibiscus
Trees: Mango, Tamarind, Rain tree
Climbers: Bougainvillea
Creepers: Bignonia, gracillis
2. Classification of horticultural crop based on life span of plants
Annuals (Seasonal):
Phlox, Mary gold.
Biennial:
Onion, Cabbage
Perennial:
Roses, Tuberoses, Chrysanthemum.
3. Classification of horticultural crops based on whether they shed leaves during a portion
of
year
i)Deciduous:
Fig. phalsa, Apple, Guava, Ber.
ii)Evergreen:
Mango, Coconut, Papaya, Banana.
4. Classification of horticultural crops based on climatic requirements (particularly
temperature)
i) Temperate e.g. Apple, Plums cherry and almond etc.
ii) Tropical e.g. Papaya, Banana and Pineapple.
iii) Sub - tropical eg. Orange, Litchi, Fig, Mango and cashewnunt

5. Horticultural crops are also classified according to the season in which they grow best. In
our
country we have three main season
i) The Summer season, which starts from March and lasts upto May.
ii) The rainy season from June to October and
iii) The winter season from November to February.
Divisions/branches of horticulture:
Pomology: It is derived from two words i.e. Pomum meaning fruit and ―Logos meaning
discourse or study. So, pomology is study or cultivation of fruit crops. E.g. Mango, Sapota,
Guava, Grape, Banana etc.
Fruit: It is a developed and matured ovary with or without accessory parts and which is
generally eaten as raw.
Olericulture: It is derived from two words ie., Oleris meaning Potherb and ―Cultra meaning
cultivation. So, Olericulture literally means potherb cultivation. In the present days it is broadly
used to indicate the cultivation of vegetables.Eg. Brinjal, Okra, Tomato, Pumpkin etc.
Vegetable: It is any part of the herbaceous plant that is generally used after cooking as a
principal part of the meal.
Floriculture: It is derived from two words i.e. ―Florus meaning flower and ―Cultra meaning
cultivation. So floriculture means study of flower crops. In this there are again two sub
divisions. (1) Commercial Floriculture (2) Ornamental Floriculture.
Commercial floriculture: Deals with the cultivation of flower crops grown on commercial
scale for profit (Income). E.g.: Rose, Jasmine, Carnation, Aster, and Marigold etc.
Ornamental floriculture: It deals with the raising of flower crops for ornamental, pleasure
and fashion purposes. E.g.: Dahlia, Zinnia, Cosmos, Hibiscus, Balsam, Nerium, Poinsettia,
Hollyhock, Gerbera, and Gaillardia etc.
Arboriculture: This branch deals with the raising of perennial trees meant for shade, avenue
or ornamental purposes. Eg.Polyalthia, Spathodea, Cassia, Gulmohar etc.
Plantation crops: Are those crops, which are cultivated in an extensive scale in large areas,
owned and managed by an individual or a company and whose produce is utilized only after
processing. Eg. Coffee, Tea, Rubber, Coconut, Cocoa etc.
Spices and condiments: This branch deals with the cultivation of crops whose produce is used
mainly for seasoning and flavouring dishes.
Spices: Are those plants the products of which are made use of as food adjuncts to add aroma
and flavour. Eg. Pepper, Cardamom, Clove, Cinnamon, All spice etc.
Condiments: Are those plants the products of which are made use of as food adjuncts to add
taste only. Eg.Turmeric, Ginger, Red chillies, Onion, Garlic etc. Both spices and condiments
contain essential oils, which provide aroma, flavour and taste and they are of little nutritive
value.
Medicinal and aromatic plants: It deals with the cultivation of medicinal plants, which provide
drugs and aromatic crops which yields aromatic (essential) oils. Medicinal plants- are those
plants, which are rich in secondary metabolites and are potential sources of drugs. The
secondary metabolites include alkaloids, glycosides, coumarins, flavonoides and steroids etc. Eg.
Periwinkle, Opium, Menthi, Cinchona, Dioscorea Yam, Belladona, Senna, Sarpagandha,
Aswagandha, Tulasi etc.
Aromatic plants- are those plants, which possesses essential oils in them. The essential oils are
the odoriferous steam volatile constituents of aromatic plants. Eg. Lemon grass, Citronella,
Palmrosa, Vetiver, Geranium, Davanam, Lavendor etc.
Fruit technology: It deals with the processing and preservation of produce of horticulture crops.
Landscape gardening: It deals with the planning and execution of ornamental gardens,
parks, landscape gardens etc.
Nursery and seed production: It deals with the production of seeds and planting material of
horticulture crops on commercial basis.
Nutritive value
Importance of fruits in human diet is well recognized. Man cannot live on cereals. Fruit and
vegetables are essential for balance diet and good health. Nutrionist advocate 60- 85 gm of fruits
and 360 g vegetable per capita per day in addition to cereals, pulse, egg etc. Fruits and vegetable
are good source of vitamins and minerals without which human body cannot maintain proper
health and develop resistance to disease. They also contain pectin, cellulose which stimulates
intestinical activities and energy giving substances like oils, fats, and proteins. Many fruits have
medical purpose.
A. As a source of vitamins:
1. Vitamin A:
Carotene which is a precurescer of vitamin A is found in different fruits e.g. Mango, papaya,
fruit, dates, banana.
2. Vitamin B:
It is found in fruit like cashew nut, almond, banana, apple, bale, litchi, papaya and pomegranate.
3. Vitamin C:
It is water soluble and essential for general good health. It is available in fruits like anola, guava,
citrus fruits, ber, strawberry, pineapple, etc.
B. As a source of minerals:
At least 10 different mineral elements are required for proper growth and development of human
body. Out of these, ca, fe and phosphorus are required on large scale ca is badly lacking in Indian
diet.
1. Calcium:
Needed for development of bones, absence causes rickets, pigeon chest, and retarded growth.
Fruits viz. Litchi, wood apple, dried grapes, oranges, straw berry, are the source of Calcium.
2. Iron:
It is an essential of BBC and best known O2 carrier. In fruit crops karonda, Dates, cashewnunt,
Raising etc. are the major suppliers of this element.
3. Phosphorus:
Required for cell multiplication and oxidation of CHO, liberating energy. Almonds, cashewnunt
and litchi are the more suppliers of the Phosphorus.
C: As source of energy:
Carbohydrate and fats provide energy, while proteins besides providing energy are also
responsible for building body tissues. Most of the fruits are good source of CHO.
Sources: Banana (36 %), grapes (20%), custard apple (25%), apples, ber, cashewn4t, to meet the
annual calorific requirements one would need to be cultivate cashew.
D: Fruits have medicinal value:
The fruit like Anola, pomegranate, kokum, jamun, bihada etc. have great medicinal value.
Scope of horticulture
1. Need to increase production to meet dietary requirements: The per capita consumption of
fruits in India is very low e.g. USA 202kg/capita / year, Pakistan 100 kg/ capital/ year and India
10 kg / capita year.
2. Scope for increasing area under dry land fruits: There are many fruit trees like ber, custard
apple, cashew nut, anola etc. which are hardly in nature and can be grown purely under rain fed
condition.
3. Increasing urbanization and charge in food habits: Increasing urbanization due to
industrial growth has increased demands for fruits. Change in food habits is also being noticed
due to education and assured income which has also helped in increasing demands for fruits.
5. Increased transport facilities: Most of the fruits are highly perishable, having less storage
life and need quick disposal after harvest. Lack of good transportation system was one of the
major constraints in are expansion of fruits.
6. Increasing in cold storage facilities and pre- cooling center: Fruits have highly perishable
and have less shelf- life. During the peak harvest periods. The market gluts reduce prices of
fruits. Cold storage facilities help to regulate market supply and stabiles the rates.
7. Scope for agro- based industries: Development of agro- based industries to generate
employment is a must to keep our economy on sound footing.
8. Development of new techniques: Use of growth regulators, insitu grafting, drip irrigation for
water economy, tissue culture special horticultural practices like ringing, girdling, notching,
Bahar treatment, high density planting etc. have helped to increase productivity and also o bring
more lands under cultivation.
9. Evaluation of new high yielding varieties and introduction of new crops: Development of
high yielding of fruit like pomegranate, ganash, P-23, P-26, G-137 , mango – ratna, Amravati,
malika, sindhur, grapes- Thompson seedless , guava- sardar, (L-49, cashew nut- vengurla No.
1,2,3,4 and 5 have to bring more area under fruits. Similarly, introduction of commercial
cultivation of some of the new crops like ber anola etc. would also indicate scope for area
expansion.
10. Availability of loan facilities: Fruit crops being capital intensive, lack of capital was one of
the major bundles in the expansion. Now a days there are several cooperative and commercial
banks providing finance for fruit farming which has increased the scope for it.
11. Government incentives
12. Scope for export of fruits: Market surveys in Europe and other markets have revealed that
is a good scope or export of grapes, mango, banana, pomegranate, citrus, ber, cashew to gulf and
European markers. The availability of these markets would be increase area under these fruits.
Importance of horticulture
1. Yield per unit area is high: From a unit area of land more yield/ income is realized than any
of the agronomic crops. The average yields o papaya and banana are 10 to 15 times more than
agronomical crops.
2. High net profits: In cashew though the average per tree yields is less (4 to 5 kg / plant) due to
its market value (200 to 250 Rs / kg) it fetches higher economic returns (800 to 1000 Rs/plant.).
3. Source of raw material for the agro based industries: Fruit farming provides raw material
for various agrobased industries like canning and preservation (fresh fruits).
4. Efficient utilization of resources: Fruit growing being perennial in nature, utilize full the
resources and assets like machinery, in farm, land, water for production purpose through the
year.

5. Utilization of waste and barren lands for production: Many fruit crops of hardy in nature
like mango, ber, cashew, custard apple, anola, phalsa, jamun etc. which are grown on poor,
shallow, undulated soils considered unsuitable for growing grain/ agronomical crops.
6. Ability of earning foreign exchange: Horticultural crops which mostly include fruits and its
produce contribute Rs.15460 million (52% of total export of argil. Produce). India earns a
foreign exchanges of Rs. 277 .4 cores by exporting spices.
7. One time capital investment: Most of the fruit crops are perennial in nature and hence, there
is no recurring expenditure o planting and layout of a fruit orchard.
8. Continuous flow of money: Provides a source of continuous flow of inputs and for other
expenses of immediate nature as against agronomic crops which are harvested at home time.
9. Fruit tree farming also reduce soil erosion, silting tanks and air pollution.
10. Generate employment: Fruit tree faming being highly intensive and skilful enterprise
11. Horticultural therapy: In some parts of USA people who are unhappy and do not have
mental power and balance are given horticultural therapy, a treatment by means of which their
attention is diverted to ornamental gardening, flower decoration etc., and thus they are made free
from their unhappy mood. Also by making them to be with flowers of particular colour, the
mental stress or depression can be removed.