I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Orchard Training and Pruning
2. Course Prefix & Number:
SCMT 2329
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 2
Lecture Hours: 1
Lab Hours: 2
4. Course Description:
In this course, students will learn how to properly prune and train trees in order to achieve desired orchard efficiencies and production. Students will learn advantages of summer versus dormant season pruning, and how pruning can reduce disease and insect pressure.
5. Placement Tests Required:
| Accuplacer (specify test): |
No placement tests required |
Score: |
|
6. Prerequisite Courses:
SCMT 2329 - Orchard Training and Pruning
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
SCMT 2329 - Orchard Training and Pruning
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
III. Course Purpose
Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
Specialty Crops Management, Diploma
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Assess alternative solutions to a problem |
Illustrate advantages of summer pruning versus winter pruning |
| Analyze and follow a sequence of operations |
Identify the steps involved with establishing their chosen training system over the course of several years |
| Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations |
Describe how the flow of hormones and photosynthates will be altered with different pruning techniques |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
- Demonstrate how to select branches that need to be pruned
- Identify current season's growth from older growth
- Describe the importance of a tree "filling in its space."
- Explain how the flow of photosynthates and hormones are affected by tree pruning
- List different training systems for that crop species
- List advantages of summer versus winter pruning
- Recognize the importance of tree training to insect and disease control
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- Physiology of tree training
- Apical dominance
- Flow of photosynthates
- Maximum photosynthetic area and "filling in the trees space"
- Problems due to excessive pruning
- Tipping and thinning cuts
- Branch growth following tipping cuts
- Branch identification
- Poor crotch angles
- Differentiating new from older growth
- Fruiting spurs and vegetative spurs
- Water sprouts
- Fireblight
- Training systems
- Open center training systems
- Central leader systems
- High density training systems
- Training and summer pruning
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
- Winter pruning
- Heading and thinning cuts
- Timing of pruning
- Equipment for pruning
- Problems caused by excess pruning
- Desired angle for branches
I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Orchard Training and Pruning
2. Course Prefix & Number:
SCMT 2329
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 2
Lecture Hours: 1
Lab Hours: 2
4. Course Description:
In this course, students will learn how to properly prune and train trees in order to achieve desired orchard efficiencies and production. Students will learn advantages of summer versus dormant season pruning, and how pruning can reduce disease and insect pressure.
5. Placement Tests Required:
| Accuplacer (specify test): |
No placement tests required |
Score: |
|
6. Prerequisite Courses:
SCMT 2329 - Orchard Training and Pruning
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
SCMT 2329 - Orchard Training and Pruning
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
III. Course Purpose
1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
Specialty Crops Management, Diploma
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Analyze and follow a sequence of operations |
Identify the steps involved with establishing their chosen training system over the course of several years |
| Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations |
Describe how the flow of hormones and photosynthates will be altered with different pruning techniques |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
- Demonstrate how to select branches that need to be pruned
- Identify current season's growth from older growth
- Describe the importance of a tree "filling in its space."
- Explain how the flow of photosynthates and hormones are affected by tree pruning
- List different training systems for that crop species
- List advantages of summer versus winter pruning
- Recognize the importance of tree training to insect and disease control
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- Physiology of tree training
- Apical dominance
- Flow of photosynthates
- Maximum photosynthetic area and "filling in the trees space"
- Problems due to excessive pruning
- Tipping and thinning cuts
- Branch growth following tipping cuts
- Branch identification
- Poor crotch angles
- Differentiating new from older growth
- Fruiting spurs and vegetative spurs
- Water sprouts
- Fireblight
- Training systems
- Open center training systems
- Central leader systems
- High density training systems
- Training and summer pruning
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
- Winter pruning
- Heading and thinning cuts
- Timing of pruning
- Equipment for pruning
- Problems caused by excess pruning
- Desired angle for branches