HORT 4450 - Ecological Orchard Management

Spring. (Offered alternate years) 3 credits.

Prerequisite: two college-level biology courses. Recommended prerequisite: previous horticulture/plant science courses.

T. Robinson, L. Cheng.

The ecology and technology of deciduous tree-fruit production. Topics include basic tree and fruit physiology; orchard renovation and design systems; nutrition, irrigation, and freeze protection practices; tree pruning and training; post-harvest fruit storage; marketing and economic spreadsheet models; monitoring and decision-making systems for integrated pest management; and efficient use of orchard equipment. Emphasizes the agroecology of perennial crop systems, with labs providing hands-on experience in orchard management.

Outcome 1: Make critical decisions required for successful orchard management.

Outcome 2: Find and evaluate essential information sources about orchards.

Outcome 3: Understand and integrate key ecological, physiological, environmental, and economic issues in sustainable orchard systems.

Outcome 4: Select the optimal systems for orchard management.

Outcome 5: Plant, prune, and train fruit trees successfully; and harvest, store and market fruit efficiently.