Maharashtra HSC Multi-Skill Gardening (NSQF) cheat sheet

Horticulture is the branch of agriculture dealing with garden crops, divided into pomology (fruits), olericulture (vegetables), floriculture (flowers) and landscape horticulture.

Gardening (home/kitchen gardening) is small-scale, subsistence or aesthetic cultivation; horticulture is the wider science and industry of intensive plant cultivation.

NSQF levels run 1-10; the Multi-Skill Gardening course sits at Level 4, aligned to the National Skills Qualification Framework with industry-validated competencies.

Vegetable gardening is called olericulture; fruit growing is pomology; flower growing is floriculture; nursery production is a separate horticultural specialisation.

Nursery, protected cultivation (polyhouse, shade net, greenhouse), landscaping and floriculture are the main wage-employment sectors for a certified gardener.

Kitchen garden planning rule: select crops by season (kharif, rabi, zaid), family requirement and available area; grow short-duration leafy vegetables nearest the kitchen for daily harvest.

Horticulture crops occupy a small share of cropped area but contribute a disproportionately large share of agricultural output value, so intensive gardening gives high returns per unit area.

Indian horticulture is governed by state horticulture departments; schemes such as MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture) support nurseries, protected cultivation and post-harvest infrastructure.

A garden type is identified by purpose: kitchen garden (food), ornamental garden (aesthetics), botanical garden (conservation/study), nursery (plant production) and landscape garden (designed space).

Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2, occurring in chloroplasts; chlorophyll absorbs mainly blue and red light and reflects green.

Respiration is the reverse energy-releasing process (C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy), occurring day and night in mitochondria.

Transpiration is water loss as vapour through stomata; it drives water and mineral uptake but excessive loss causes wilting.

Monocots: one cotyledon, parallel venation, fibrous roots, flower parts in threes. Dicots: two cotyledons, reticulate venation, taproot, flower parts in fours or fives.

Binomial nomenclature (genus + species, italicised, genus capitalised) is the standard plant naming system; family names end in -aceae.

Leaf arrangement (alternate, opposite, whorled), leaf shape, margin, phyllotaxy and inflorescence type are the primary field identification characters.

Annual completes its life cycle in one season; biennial in two (vegetative then flowering year); perennial lives more than two years and may be herbaceous or woody.

Propagation-relevant botany: axillary buds give rise to side shoots, terminal buds to extension growth, and adventitious roots form from stems or leaves in cuttings.

Pollination transfers pollen to stigma; fertilisation follows and produces seed. Cross-pollinated crops need pollinators or isolation for true seed production.

Soil texture classes by particle size: sand (0.05-2 mm), silt (0.002-0.05 mm), clay (<0.002 mm); loam is a balanced mixture and generally best for gardening.

Soil pH scale 0-14: pH <7 acidic, 7 neutral, >7 alkaline. Most vegetables and ornamentals grow best at pH 6.0-7.0; blueberries and azaleas prefer 4.5-5.5.

Essential macronutrients: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S. Micronutrients: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl, Ni.

Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth and leaf colour; phosphorus supports root development and flowering; potassium improves fruit quality, disease resistance and stem strength.

N-P-K fertiliser label (e.g., 19:19:19) gives percentage of N, P2O5 and K2O by weight; urea is 46% N, DAP is 18% N and 46% P2O5, MOP is 60% K2O.

Potting media components: soil, sand, FYM/compost, cocopeat, perlite, vermiculite and leaf mould; a common nursery mix is 1 part soil : 1 part sand : 1 part compost.

Organic matter improves water-holding capacity, structure and cation exchange capacity; FYM is applied well-rotted, typically 20-25 t/ha for field vegetable crops.

Deficiency diagnosis: N deficiency shows pale older leaves; Fe deficiency shows interveinal chlorosis on young leaves; K deficiency shows marginal leaf scorch; Mg deficiency shows interveinal chlorosis on older leaves.

Fertigation delivers water-soluble fertiliser through drip irrigation; it is suited to protected cultivation and requires frequent, small doses.

Sexual propagation uses seed; it gives genetic variation and is used for annuals and vegetables. Asexual (vegetative) propagation gives true-to-type clones and is used for perennials, ornamentals and fruit cultivars.

Vegetative methods: cuttings (stem, leaf, root), layering (air layering, ground layering), grafting (scion on rootstock), budding (T-budding, patch budding), division and suckers.

Cutting rule: take cuttings from healthy semi-hardwood stems with 2-3 nodes, cut below a node, remove lower leaves, and keep polarity correct (proximal end down).

Air layering (gootee) is done by ringing the bark, applying rooting hormone (e.g., IBA), wrapping with moist moss and polythene, and separating after roots form.

Grafting success depends on cambium-to-cambium contact between scion and rootstock, compatible species, sharp tools and a tight, sterile wrap.

Seed viability test: float test (viable seeds sink), or germination percentage = (seeds germinated / seeds sown) × 100.

Seed treatment before sowing: hot-water treatment, fungicide dressing, and scarification for hard-coated seeds; stratification for cold-requiring seeds.

Nursery bed dimensions commonly 1 m wide, 15-20 cm high and convenient length; raised beds improve drainage and reduce damping-off.

Damping-off (Pythium/Rhizoctonia) in seedlings is prevented by sterilised media, wider spacing, good ventilation and avoiding overwatering.

Transplant seedlings at the 4-6 true-leaf stage, preferably in the evening or on a cloudy day, and water immediately after transplanting to settle the roots.

Pit size for a tree sapling is typically 60 × 60 × 60 cm; fill with topsoil mixed with FYM and water to settle before planting.

Remove the polythene bag or pot without disturbing the root ball; set the plant at the same soil level as in the nursery, not deeper.

Pruning removes dead, diseased and crossing branches, improves light penetration and shapes the plant; pinching removes terminal buds to induce branching.

Training systems include single stem, modified leader, central leader and open centre; fruit trees are trained for light and air movement.

Weeding rule: remove weeds before they flower and set seed; shallow hoeing near the roots avoids root injury.

Mulching with dry straw, leaves or plastic film suppresses weeds, conserves soil moisture and moderates soil temperature.

Gap filling and thinning ensure optimum plant population; thin seedlings to the recommended spacing when they are 3-5 cm tall.

Manure and fertiliser application: place fertiliser in a ring at the drip line, not against the stem, and irrigate after application.

Irrigation methods: surface (flood, furrow, basin), sprinkler (overhead) and drip (trickle). Drip saves 40-60% water compared with flood irrigation.

Drip laterals are spaced 60-90 cm for vegetables; emitters typically deliver 2-4 L/h at 1-1.5 kg/cm2 pressure.

Critical irrigation stages for vegetables: flowering and fruit development; for fruit trees, the fruit enlargement stage.

Irrigation scheduling by tensiometer or by feel-and-appearance method: irrigate when soil at 15 cm depth feels dry and crumbles.

Water requirement (evapotranspiration) = crop evaporation + soil evaporation; irrigation should replace the water lost since the previous irrigation.

Avoid irrigating in strong midday sun; early morning irrigation reduces evaporation loss and leaf wetness at night.

Drainage is essential: waterlogging causes root suffocation and rot; provide 1-2% slope and drainage channels in the field.

Micro-irrigation maintenance: flush laterals, clean filters and check emitters for clogging; keep the system away from direct sunlight to prevent algal growth.

Rainwater harvesting in gardens: collect roof water into a storage tank or recharge pit; mulching reduces irrigation frequency by conserving moisture.

IPM hierarchy: cultural (resistant varieties, sanitation, rotation), mechanical (traps, hand picking), biological (predators, parasitoids, Bt), chemical (pesticides) - chemicals are the last resort.

Common insect pests: aphids, whitefly, thrips, caterpillars, mealybugs, mites and fruit borers; sucking pests cause yellowing and curling, chewing pests cause holes.

Common diseases: fungal (powdery mildew, downy mildew, rust, blight, wilt), bacterial (leaf spot, canker), viral (mosaic, leaf curl) and nematode damage.

Yellow sticky traps monitor whitefly and aphids; blue sticky traps monitor thrips; pheromone traps monitor fruit borers.

Pesticide label must be read for dose, pre-harvest interval (PHI), waiting period and safety precautions; never exceed the recommended dose.

Spray in the early morning or evening, avoid wind, wear PPE, and never spray before harvest within the PHI.

Weed categories: grasses (monocots), sedges (Cyperus, triangular stem) and broadleaf weeds; identify the class before choosing a herbicide.

Herbicide classification: selective vs non-selective, pre-emergence vs post-emergence, contact vs systemic; glyphosate is a non-selective systemic herbicide.

Sanitation is the cheapest control: remove diseased plant debris, sterilise tools, use clean seed and avoid overhead watering to reduce disease spread.

Hand tools: khurpi, spade, fork, rake, hoe, pruning secateurs, budding knife, grafting knife, watering can, sprayer, wheelbarrow.

Secateurs are used for stems up to 1-1.5 cm; loppers for thicker branches; a pruning saw for branches over 3-4 cm.

Tool maintenance: clean soil after use, oil metal parts, sharpen blades, and store in a dry place to prevent rust.

Sprayer calibration: measure output per nozzle, spray area and dilution rate; use a separate sprayer for herbicides to prevent crop injury.

PPE for spraying: gloves, mask/respirator, goggles, boots, apron and hat; never eat, drink or smoke while spraying.

Power tools (brush cutter, chainsaw, lawn mower) require training, guards, ear and eye protection, and a check of the power cord or fuel before use.

First aid: wash pesticide on skin with soap and water, flush eyes with clean water for 15 minutes, and take the pesticide label to the doctor.

Safe lifting rule: bend at the knees, keep the back straight, hold the load close to the body, and do not lift beyond your capacity.

Electrical safety: use RCD/earth leakage protection, keep cables away from water, and never operate a machine with wet hands.

Design principles: balance, proportion, scale, rhythm, unity, harmony and focal point; a garden should have a clear entry, path, focal feature and resting area.

Landscape elements: hardscape (paths, walls, paving, pergolas, water bodies) and softscape (plants, lawn, groundcovers, shrubs, trees).

Plant selection criteria: climate and hardiness zone, soil type, sunlight, water availability, mature size, maintenance level and function (shade, screen, colour).

Layering rule: tall trees at the back, medium shrubs in the middle, low groundcovers and annuals in front; this gives depth and hides bare stems.

Lawn establishment: level the site, add 5-8 cm of compost, sow seed or lay turf, water lightly and frequently until the grass establishes.

Formal garden: symmetrical, geometric layout with clipped hedges and straight paths. Informal garden: asymmetrical, curved paths and naturalistic planting.

Vertical gardening and terrace gardening suit limited urban space; use light-weight media (cocopeat + perlite) and drip irrigation.

A landscape plan is drawn to scale, showing plot boundaries, structures, paths, plant positions and a plant list with botanical names.

Sustainable landscaping: native plants, rainwater harvesting, composting, mulching and reduced lawn area lower water and maintenance costs.

Enterprise types in gardening: nursery production, landscaping services, maintenance contracts, floriculture, kitchen-garden setup and sale of garden inputs.

Cost of production = fixed costs + variable costs; gross margin = gross income − variable costs; net profit = total income − total costs.

Break-even point (units) = fixed costs ÷ (selling price per unit − variable cost per unit).

Working capital covers day-to-day expenses (seed, fertiliser, labour, water) and is separate from fixed capital (land, shed, irrigation system).

A business plan covers product/service, market, competition, cost, pricing, marketing and finance; a simple record of sales and expenses is essential for any enterprise.

Marketing channels: direct sale to consumers, sale to nurseries/landscapers, contract supply, and online/social media sale of plants and garden services.

Communication skills for employability: listening, clear speaking, correct technical vocabulary, written records, and customer-friendly behaviour.

Workplace behaviour: punctuality, safety compliance, teamwork, respect for the employer's property, and honesty in reporting work done.

Government support: MIDH subsidies for nurseries and protected cultivation, state horticulture department schemes, and skill loans under schemes such as PMEGP.