I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Sustainable Greenhouse Management
2. Course Prefix & Number:
HORT 1196
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 4
Lecture Hours: 2
Lab Hours: 4
4. Course Description:
This course applies sustainable management and production practices to the controlled environment of a greenhouse. Crops covered include, but are not limited to bedding plants and other floral and food crops with peak production in the winter months. Topics include crop, root media, nutrition, and harvest management decisions as well as monitoring crop development stages. Financial and crop management strategies will be analyzed and put into practice. Greenhouse design, material and equipment selection, and construction will also be a major component of this class.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
HORT 1196 - Sustainable Greenhouse Management
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
HORT 1196 - Sustainable Greenhouse Management
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:
Portfolio
III. Course Purpose
1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
|
Name of Program(s)
|
Program Type
|
|
Greenhouse Production
|
Diploma
|
|
Landscape Technology
|
Diploma
|
|
Horticulture
|
AAS
|
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Analyze and follow a sequence of operations |
Design a greenhouse growing structure and system for specific crops |
| Utilize appropriate technology |
Measure water quality and select appropriate alterations |
| Apply ethical principles in decision-making |
Evaluate and implement sustainable greenhouse practices |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
|
Expected Outcome
|
MnTC
Goal Area
|
|
Demonstrate profitable crop production techniques and growing systems
|
|
|
Prepare greenhouse pest management plans
|
|
|
Demonstrate knowledge of greenhouse construction design criteria
|
|
|
Identify greenhouse crop disorders
|
|
|
Formulate sustainable greenhouse practices
|
|
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
1. Bedding Plant Industry
- Trial Gardens
- Trends
- Plug Production
- Scheduling
- Propagation
2. Greenhouse Structures and Equipment
- Greenhouse architecture
- Irrigation systems
- Heating and air conditioning
3. Pest Identification and Control
- Diseases
- Insects
- Weeds
- Control measures
4. Soils & Fertilization
- Soil ingredients
- Fertilizer Analysis
- Nutrient availability
5. Fruits and Vegetables
- Hydroponics
- High Tunnels production
- Aquaponics
6. Environment
7. Business Mangement
- Cost accounting
- Marketing
- Promotion and display
- Pricing and Market Analysis
8. Bedding Plant Industry
- Trial Gardens
- Trends
- Plug Production
- Scheduling
- Propagation
9. Greenhouse Structures and Equipment
- Greenhouse architecture
- Irrigation systems
- Heating and air conditioning
10. Pest Identification and Control
- Diseases
- Insects
- Weeds
- Control measures
11. Soils & Fertilization
- Soil ingredients
- Fertilizer Analysis
- Nutrient availability
12. Fruits and Vegetables
- Hydroponics
- High Tunnels production
- Aquaponics
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
- Planting and care of plants in the greenhouses
- Monitoring environmental conditions
- Monitoring and adjusting nutrition
- Identification of plant disorders
- Greenhouse parts identification
- Irrigation system design
- Hydroponics and aquaponics system setup
- Business and marketing strategy development