Cert III Horticulture flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Hierarchy of control

Ranked sequence of risk controls: eliminate, substitute, isolate or engineer, administrative controls, then PPE. PPE is the least effective and last resort because it relies on human behaviour.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Document supplied with hazardous chemicals listing hazards, first aid, handling, storage, PPE and spill procedures. It must be accessible to all workers at the worksite.

Withholding period

The minimum interval between applying a registered agricultural chemical and harvesting the crop or allowing grazing. It protects consumers from chemical residues.

Binominal name

Two-part scientific name: genus capitalised and specific epithet lowercase, both italicised. Cultivar names follow in single quotes and are not italicised.

Monocot vs dicot

Monocots have one cotyledon, parallel leaf veins and scattered vascular bundles. Dicots have two cotyledons, net-like veins and vascular bundles in a ring.

Photosynthesis equation

6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy produces C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2, catalysed by chlorophyll in chloroplasts. This process converts light energy into stored chemical energy.

Cation exchange capacity

The soil's ability to hold and exchange positively charged nutrient ions. It is higher in clay and organic matter, improving nutrient retention and reducing leaching.

Soil pH and nutrients

Most nutrients are most available at pH 6.0-7.0. Above pH 7.5 iron and manganese become less available; below pH 5.5 phosphorus availability declines.

Mobile vs immobile nutrients

Mobile nutrients such as nitrogen move to new growth, so deficiency shows on older leaves first. Immobile nutrients such as iron show on young leaves first.

Fertiliser N-P-K analysis

Numbers on a fertiliser label give percentage nitrogen (N), phosphorus (as P2O5) and potassium (as K2O) by weight. A 10-5-8 product contains 10% N.

Asexual propagation

Reproduction from vegetative parts such as cuttings, division, layering or grafting. Offspring are genetically identical clones of the parent plant.

Softwood cutting

A cutting taken from soft new season's growth, usually in spring. It requires high humidity and mist to prevent wilting before roots form.

Grafting union

Joining a scion to a rootstock so their cambium layers align and fuse. The union is wrapped to prevent drying and infection.

Seed scarification

Breaking a hard seed coat by mechanical abrasion, hot water or acid to allow water uptake. It overcomes physical dormancy in species such as acacia.

Hardening off

Gradual acclimatisation of seedlings or cuttings to outdoor conditions over one to two weeks. It reduces transplant shock and sunburn.

Planting hole width

Dig the hole two to three times the width of the root ball but no deeper than its height. Wide holes allow roots to spread into loosened soil.

Mulch ring

A 5-10 cm layer of organic material around a plant, kept 2-5 cm clear of the stem. It conserves moisture, suppresses weeds and moderates soil temperature.

Transplant shock

Stress after transplanting shown by wilting, leaf drop and slow growth. It is reduced by pre-lifting root pruning, canopy reduction and consistent watering.

Branch collar

The swollen tissue at the base of a branch where it joins the trunk. Pruning cuts should leave the collar intact because it contains the tree's defence zone.

Three-cut pruning method

For large branches: an undercut, then a top cut further out, then a final cut at the collar. It prevents bark tearing as the branch falls.

Thinning vs heading cut

A thinning cut removes a branch at its origin and does not stimulate regrowth. A heading cut shortens a branch and stimulates shoots below the cut.

Pruning tool hygiene

Sterilise blades with 70% alcohol or a registered disinfectant between plants. This reduces the spread of pathogens such as canker and virus.

One-third mowing rule

Remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade height per mowing. Cutting more stresses the turf and reduces root growth and density.

Thatch layer

A layer of dead organic matter between the soil surface and green turf shoots. When it exceeds 10-15 mm, core aeration or dethatching is required.

Warm vs cool season turf

Warm-season C4 grasses such as couch and kikuyu grow actively in summer. Cool-season C3 grasses such as ryegrass and fescue grow best in cool weather.

Integrated pest management

A decision framework combining prevention, monitoring, biological and cultural controls, with targeted chemicals used only when thresholds are exceeded.

Disease triangle

Disease requires a susceptible host, a pathogen and a favourable environment. Removing any one of these three factors prevents or limits disease development.

Weed life cycles

Annual weeds complete their life in one season, biennials in two, and perennials persist for years. Perennials need root removal or repeated control.

Herbicide resistance

The inherited ability of a weed population to survive a herbicide dose that would normally kill it. Rotating mode-of-action groups and integrating non-chemical methods slows it.

Evapotranspiration

The combined water loss from soil evaporation and plant transpiration. Irrigation scheduling replaces crop ET minus effective rainfall and stored soil water.

Drip irrigation efficiency

Drip delivers water directly to the root zone at low flow, achieving over 90% efficiency. It reduces evaporation, runoff and foliar disease compared with sprinklers.

Two-stroke fuel mix

Two-stroke engines require oil mixed with petrol, commonly at 50:1 or as specified. Four-stroke engines use separate sump oil and straight fuel.