1.Define horticulture and describe its branches.
Horticulture is the practice of growing and cultivating plants for food, medicine, or beauty. It includes a wide range of activities such as landscaping, plant breeding, and plant propagation.
Horticulture has several branches, including:
Pomology - the study of fruit production and cultivation.
Olericulture - the study of vegetable production and cultivation.
Floriculture - the study of flower production and cultivation.
Landscape Horticulture - the study of plants and their use in creating attractive outdoor environments.
Postharvest Physiology - the study of plant products and their post-harvest handling and storage
2. A friend of yours want to go abord for better future, convenience him to stay here in Nepal to establish a vegetable farm.
My words towards him/her:
I would like to suggest that you stay in Nepal and establish a vegetable farm. Here are a few reasons why:
- Nepal has a favorable climate and soil for vegetable production, which makes it an ideal location for starting a farm.
- Starting a vegetable farm in Nepal will allow you to contribute to the local economy and provide healthy, locally-grown produce to the community.
- The demand for fresh and locally-grown vegetables is increasing in Nepal, which means there is a good market for your products.
- By starting a vegetable farm, you will have the opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge related to farming and agriculture.
- Most importantly, by staying in Nepal and establishing a vegetable farm, you will be able to contribute to the development and growth of your own country.
I hope you will consider these points and choose to stay in Nepal to pursue your dream of starting a vegetable farm.
3.Classify vegetable on different basis with example.
Vegetables can be classified based on various criteria, including their botanical classification, nutritional value, culinary use, and seasonality. Here are some examples:
Botanical Classification:
a. Root Vegetables - Examples include carrots, potatoes, turnips, and radishes.
b. Leafy Vegetables - Examples include lettuce, spinach, kale, and collard greens.
c. Fruit Vegetables - Examples include tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and eggplant.
d. Stem Vegetables - Examples include asparagus, celery, and rhubarb.
e. Bulb Vegetables - Examples include onions, garlic, and shallots.
Nutritional Value:
a. Starchy Vegetables - Examples include potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn.
b. Cruciferous Vegetables - Examples include broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.
c. Leafy Greens - Examples include kale, spinach, and collard greens.
d. Nightshade Vegetables - Examples include tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.
e. Root Vegetables - Examples include carrots, beets, and parsnips.
Culinary Use:
a. Salad Vegetables - Examples include lettuce, cucumber, and bell peppers.
b. Stir Fry Vegetables - Examples include broccoli, bell peppers, and bok choy.
c. Roasting Vegetables - Examples include potatoes, carrots, and onions.
d. Grilling Vegetables - Examples include zucchini, eggplant, and corn.
e. Soup Vegetables - Examples include carrots, onions, and celery.
Seasonality:
a. Summer Vegetables - Examples include tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.
b. Fall Vegetables - Examples include pumpkins, squash, and sweet potatoes.
c. Winter Vegetables - Examples include Brussels sprouts, kale, and cauliflower.
d. Spring Vegetables - Examples include asparagus, peas, and artichokes.
e. Year-Round Vegetables - Examples include onions, carrots, and potatoes.
4.Write short note on kitchen garden and rooftop garden with their advantage.
A kitchen garden is a small garden that is typically located near or in the kitchen. It is usually used to grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits that are commonly used in cooking.
Kitchen gardens have several advantages, including:
- Fresh Produce: With a kitchen garden, you can grow fresh produce right in your backyard, which means you always have access to fresh ingredients for cooking.
- Cost-effective: Growing your own produce in a kitchen garden can save money on groceries as you won't have to buy expensive fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits from the market.
- Health Benefits: Consuming fresh, organic produce from your own kitchen garden can have several health benefits, such as higher nutrient content, fewer toxins, and lower pesticide residues.
A rooftop garden is a garden that is created on the roof of a building. Rooftop gardens can be used to grow a variety of plants, including vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Some advantages of rooftop gardens are:
- Space-saving: Rooftop gardens are ideal for urban areas where space is limited. They can make use of underutilized space and transform it into a green oasis.
- Environmental Benefits: Rooftop gardens can help reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and promote biodiversity in the city.
- Energy Efficiency: Rooftop gardens can help reduce energy costs by providing insulation to the building, which can help regulate indoor temperatures and reduce the need for air conditioning.
5.What is organic farming? Describe its principle.
Organic farming is a method of farming that aims to produce food without using synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Here are some principles of organic farming in simple terms:
- No Synthetic Chemicals: Organic farming avoids using synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Instead, it relies on natural methods like composting and crop rotation to maintain soil fertility and control pests.
- Biodiversity: Organic farming encourages biodiversity by using techniques like intercropping, where different crops are grown together, and planting hedgerows to provide habitat for beneficial insects and birds.
- Soil Health: Organic farming focuses on maintaining healthy soil by adding organic matter like compost and avoiding practices that degrade the soil, like tillage.
- Animal Welfare: Organic farming prioritizes the welfare of farm animals by providing them with access to the outdoors and avoiding the use of growth hormones and antibiotics.
- Sustainable Practices: Organic farming aims to be sustainable by reducing waste and energy use, conserving water, and supporting local food systems
6.Write short note on GAP.
GAP stands for Good Agricultural Practices, which are a set of guidelines that are designed to ensure safe and healthy agricultural production. GAP covers a wide range of areas, including food safety, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.
Here are some key aspects of GAP:
- Food Safety: GAP aims to ensure that food is produced in a way that minimizes the risk of contamination or foodborne illness. This includes using clean water and soil, practicing good hygiene, and managing pests and diseases in a safe and responsible manner.
- Environmental Sustainability: GAP also aims to promote sustainable farming practices that protect the environment and preserve natural resources. This includes reducing water usage, minimizing the use of chemical inputs, and promoting biodiversity.
- Social Responsibility: GAP recognizes the importance of fair and ethical labor practices in agriculture. This includes ensuring that workers are treated fairly, paid a living wage, and provided with safe and healthy working conditions.
- Certification: GAP certification is a voluntary process that allows farmers to demonstrate that they are following these guidelines. GAP certification is often required by buyers, retailers, and food service providers who want to ensure that the food they sell is produced in a safe and responsible manner
7. What are the role of temperature in vegetable production?
Temperature plays a crucial role in vegetable production as it affects the growth, development, and yield of vegetables. The right temperature is necessary for seed germination, vegetative growth, flower formation, and fruit development. Extreme temperatures can negatively impact plant growth, cause flower and fruit drop, and reduce the overall yield of vegetables.
8.How rainfall and relative humidity affect vegetable production?
Rainfall and relative humidity are important factors affecting vegetable production.
- Adequate rainfall is necessary for plant growth and survival, but too much rainfall can cause waterlogging and root rot.
- Low rainfall can lead to drought stress and affect crop yields.
- High relative humidity reduces transpiration, causing moisture buildup on plant surfaces and creating an environment for disease development.
- Low relative humidity can cause excessive transpiration, leading to water loss and drought stress.
To achieve optimal vegetable production, it is important to provide sufficient water supply to the plants while maintaining a balanced level of relative humidity
9.Write down cultivation practice of tomato under following heading
Climate and soil
Variety
Nursery management
Training and pruning
Types of tomato
Answer:
Climate and soil:
Tomatoes grow well in warm and humid climates with temperatures between 20-30°C.
Soil should be well-drained, fertile, and rich in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0-7.0.
Variety:
Choose a tomato variety based on your climate and market demand.
Popular varieties include Roma, Beefsteak, Cherry, and Heirloom tomatoes.
Nursery management:
Sow tomato seeds in a well-prepared nursery bed.
Maintain a consistent temperature of around 25°C and keep the soil moist.
Transplant seedlings to the main field when they reach 4-6 weeks old.
Training and pruning:
Stake tomato plants for support and to promote upright growth.
Remove the suckers that form in the crotch of two branches to promote fruiting.
Prune off the lower branches to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure.
Types of tomato:
- Determinate tomatoes grow to a fixed height and produce a large crop all at once.
- Indeterminate tomatoes grow continuously and produce fruit throughout the growing season.
- Cherry tomatoes are small and round, while Roma tomatoes are elongated and meaty.
10. What is cole crop? Write down cultivation practice of cauliflower under following heading
Climate and soil
Variety
Planting
Disorder (buttoning and whiptail)
Answer
Cole crop refers to a group of vegetables belonging to the Brassicaceae family, including cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, and kale.
Climate and soil:
Cauliflower grows best in cool and moist conditions with temperatures ranging from 15-21°C.
Soil should be well-drained, fertile, and rich in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0-7.0.
Variety:
Choose a cauliflower variety based on your climate, market demand, and disease resistance.
Popular varieties include Snowball, Early White, and Self-Blanche.
Planting:
Start cauliflower seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date.
Transplant seedlings to the main field when they reach 4-6 weeks old and have 4-6 true leaves.
Space plants 30-45 cm apart in rows 60-90 cm apart.
Disorders:
- Buttoning occurs when the cauliflower head becomes small and numerous buttons form instead of one large head. It is caused by stress on the plant, such as temperature fluctuations, inadequate nutrition, or overcrowding.
- Whiptail is a disorder characterized by narrow and distorted leaves. It is caused by a boron deficiency in the soil, which can be prevented by adding borax or boric acid to the soil before planting.
11.Write down the cultivation technology of cucumber under following topic
Climate and soil
Variety
Role of phytohormone
Training
Answer
Climate and soil:
Cucumbers grow best in warm and humid conditions with temperatures ranging from 25-32°C.
Soil should be well-drained, fertile, and rich in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0-7.0.
Variety:
Choose a cucumber variety based on your climate, market demand, and disease resistance.
Popular varieties include Suyo Long, Marketmore, and Boston Pickling.
Role of phytohormone:
Cucumber plants require the plant hormone auxin to promote growth and development.
Synthetic auxins, such as indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), can be applied to the base of the stem to promote rooting and lateral shoot development.
Training:
- Cucumber plants require support for optimal growth and fruiting.
- Use a trellis or stake system to support the plants and prevent them from sprawling on the ground.
- Train the main stem to grow vertically and remove the lateral shoots that form in the crotch of two branches.
- Prune off the lower leaves to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure.
12.What is 3G cutting in cucurbits? Write its method and advantage.
3G cutting is a method of vegetative propagation in cucurbits, which involves taking a cutting that includes a leaf, a node, and a tendril.
Method:
- Select a healthy vine that is at least 60 cm long and has several leaves.
- Cut a portion of the vine that includes a leaf, a node, and a tendril.
- Remove the lower leaves and plant the cutting in a well-drained soil mix.
- Water the cutting regularly and provide partial shade until roots and new leaves emerge.
Advantages:
- 3G cutting is a fast and easy method of propagating cucurbits.
- It produces plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant, ensuring desirable traits are maintained.
- It allows for the propagation of cucurbits that are difficult or impossible to propagate through seed, such as hybrids or seedless varieties.
- It can be used to rejuvenate old or diseased plants by starting new plants from healthy cuttings.
13. Write down the cultivation technology of onion under following heading
Soil and climate
Variety
Planting
Harvesting and processing
Bolting
Answer
Soil and climate:
Onions prefer a well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0-7.0.
They grow best in cool and dry climates with temperatures ranging from 13-24°C.
Variety:
- Choose an onion variety based on your climate, market demand, and disease resistance.
- Popular varieties include Yellow Globe, Red Creole, and Sweet Spanish.
- Onions can be grown from seeds or sets (small bulbs).
- Plant sets in early spring or fall, 10-15 cm apart and 2-3 cm deep.
- Plant seeds in early spring and thin to 5-8 cm apart.
Harvesting and processing:
- Harvest onions when the leaves turn yellow and start to fall over.
- Pull the onions out of the ground and let them dry in the sun for 1-2 days.
- Store onions in a cool and dry place with good air circulation to prevent rotting.
Bolting:
- Bolting is the premature flowering of onions, which reduces bulb size and quality.
- Bolting is triggered by temperature stress or changes in day length.
- To prevent bolting, plant onion varieties that are adapted to your climate and plant them at the right time.
14.Describe cultivation technology of asparagus under following heading
Climate and soil
Nursery management
Transplanting
Harvesting
Answer
Climate and soil:
Asparagus grows best in cool and temperate regions with temperatures ranging from 15-25°C.
Soil should be well-drained and high in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0-7.0.
Nursery management:
- Asparagus seeds are usually sown in a nursery bed.
- Prepare a well-drained soil mix and sow seeds 1-2 cm deep, spacing them 10-15 cm apart.
- Water regularly and keep the soil moist until the seedlings emerge.
- When the seedlings are 15-20 cm tall, thin them to 5-10 cm apart.
Transplanting:
- Asparagus seedlings are transplanted to the permanent bed when they are 1-2 years old.
- Prepare the permanent bed by digging a trench 30 cm wide and 20-30 cm deep.
- Add compost and fertilizer to the bottom of the trench and mix it with the soil.
- Plant the seedlings 30-45 cm apart in the trench and cover with soil, leaving the top 10-15 cm of the shoots exposed.
Harvesting:
- Asparagus can be harvested in the third year after planting.
- Harvest asparagus spears when they are 15-20 cm long and about the thickness of a pencil.
- Cut the spears at ground level with a sharp knife or scissors.
- Stop harvesting when the spears become thin and spindly, usually after 4-6 weeks.
15.What is off season vegetable production? Write down its scope with its problem.
Off-season vegetable production refers to growing vegetables during a time of year when they are not typically available or are in short supply. This is achieved through the use of techniques such as greenhouse cultivation, high tunnels, or hydroponics.
Scope:
- Off-season vegetable production can provide fresh, high-quality vegetables during times of the year when they are not readily available.
- It can increase income for farmers who can charge higher prices for out-of-season produce.
- It can reduce the need for importing vegetables from other regions or countries, promoting local food security.
- It can create employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Problems:
- The cost of constructing and maintaining off-season vegetable production systems can be high, making it difficult for small-scale farmers to participate.
- The demand for out-of-season produce may be limited, resulting in excess produce that cannot be sold.
- Pest and disease management can be challenging in enclosed growing environments, leading to increased use of pesticides and other chemicals.
- Access to reliable sources of water, electricity, and other resources needed for off-season production can be limited in some areas.