28934 - Ornamental crops
437 - Degree in Rural and Agri-Food Engineering
583 - Degree in Rural and Agri-Food Engineering: 3
583 - Degree in Rural and Agri-Food Engineering: 4
437 - Degree in Rural and Agri-Food Engineering: 3
Compulsory
5.1. Methodological overview
This course develops knowledge of ornamental crop production. Special emphasis will be placed on (1) nursery in-ground and protected cultivation techniques including and irrigations, fertilization and light management, and (2) cut flower production, biotechnological methods and cultural practices associated
5.3. Syllabus
Theoretical Programme
Block I. Economic importance of ornamental species.
Production of ornamental flowers and plants in Europe. Production of ornamental flowers and plants in Spain. Production centres. Surfaces. Value and characteristics of production. Marketing systems and formats. Market evolution. Foreign trade. (2 hours.)
Block II. Materials and facilities.
Substrata for ornamental plant cultivation. Containers. Premises. Irrigation and fertigration systems. Climatic control. Special facilities. (6 hours.)
Block III. Cultural practices: propagation and cultivation methods.
Propagation: seeds, cuttings, bulbs, layering. Planting out, transplants. Pinching and pruning. Application of hormones and similar products. Application of biotechnology to the production of ornamental plants. Plagues and diseases. Dispatch. (8 hours).
Block IV- Cultivation of ornamental species for cut flower production.
Floriculture. Woody plants; rose cultivation. Herbaceous plants; carnation cultivation. Bulbous plants; gladioli cultivation. Other cut flower species of interest at a national level. (6 hours).
Block V- Cultivation of ornamental species for live plant production.
Growing in plantpots; interior and exterior plants. Ornamental trees and shrubs. Growing bulbs. Regulations and quality standards for ornamental production. (8 hours).
Practical Programme
1- Practical laboratory experience. (20 hours)
Practical experience in laboratory/greenhouse; propagation. Recognition of substrata, containers and materials relating to ornamental cultivation. Recognition of cut flower species. Recognition of ornamental trees. Recognition of ornamental shrubs. Recognition of ornamental bulbs. Recognition of grasses, creepers and ground cover.
2- Visits to commercial ornamental plant nurseries. (16 hours)
Field trips are considered to be a cross-curricular educational activity. Their specific programming will take place over the duration of the course and will be published on the Moodle platform of each specific subject. Where possible, the technical visits will be coordinated with other course subjects with the objective of optimising resources.