Maharashtra HSC Horticulture (Vocational) flashcards

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

Pomology

The branch of horticulture dealing with the cultivation, production and study of fruit crops such as mango, banana, citrus and grape.

Apical dominance

Suppression of lateral bud growth by the terminal bud, mediated largely by auxin moving down the shoot; pruning removes this and forces branching.

Cation exchange capacity

The total negative charge of a soil that holds exchangeable cations such as calcium, magnesium and potassium; it rises with clay and organic matter content.

Law of the minimum

Liebig's principle that plant growth is limited by the essential nutrient in shortest supply relative to need, even if all others are abundant.

Fertilizer grade

The percentage of N, P2O5 and K2O stated on a fertilizer bag; P2O5 and K2O are oxide forms, not elemental phosphorus and potassium.

Fertigation

Application of water-soluble fertilizers through a drip or micro-irrigation system, allowing small split doses to be delivered directly to the root zone.

Air layering

A vegetative propagation method in which a bark ring is removed, the wound is wrapped in moist rooting medium, and the rooted shoot is later separated.

T budding

A budding technique in which a shield-shaped bud with a thin strip of bark is inserted under the bark flaps of a T-shaped cut on the rootstock.

Hardening of seedlings

Gradual exposure of nursery seedlings to full sunlight and reduced watering for about a week before transplanting, improving survival in the field.

Climacteric fruit

A fruit that shows a marked rise in respiration and ethylene production at ripening, such as mango, banana and tomato; it ripens after harvest.

Panama wilt

A soil-borne Fusarium disease of banana causing yellowing and vascular splitting; managed with resistant varieties and disease-free planting material.

Desuckering

Removal of unwanted side suckers from a banana plant so that the mother plant and one follower receive the full supply of nutrients and water.

Veneer grafting

A grafting method used in mango in which a scion of matching thickness is fitted into a prepared stock and tied; common for rapid multiplication.

Buttoning in cauliflower

Premature formation of small curds when young plants are exposed to low temperature or suffer nitrogen deficiency before sufficient vegetative growth.

Curing of onion

Drying of onion bulbs after harvest, usually in shade, to dry the neck and outer scales, reducing storage rots and water loss.

Monoecious cucurbits

Plants bearing separate male and female flowers on the same vine, so pollination by bees or hand transfer is needed for good fruit set.

Pinching

Removal of the growing tip of a shoot to encourage lateral branching, more flowers and a compact plant habit in crops such as marigold and chrysanthemum.

Blackout treatment

Covering short-day chrysanthemum plants with opaque material to lengthen the dark period and induce early, uniform flowering.

Pulsing of cut flowers

Treating cut stems with a solution of sugar and a biocide before storage or transport to extend vase life and maintain flower quality.

Charbagh layout

A formal Mughal garden plan dividing the area into four quadrants by intersecting axial paths, often with a central water tank or pavilion.

Bonsai

The art of growing a tree in a shallow container and shaping it by pruning, wiring and root restriction to create a miniature natural form.

Formal hedge

A hedge of shrubs clipped regularly to a geometric shape and uniform height, used to define boundaries and lines in formal garden design.

Disease triangle

The concept that disease requires a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen and a favourable environment; removing any one component prevents the disease.

Economic threshold level

The pest population density at which control measures should be applied to prevent the population from reaching the economic injury level.

Pre-harvest interval

The minimum period between the last pesticide application and harvest, specified on the label to keep residues below permitted limits.

Sedge weed

A grass-like weed of the genus Cyperus with a triangular solid stem and whorled leaves; it is not a grass and needs specific herbicides.

Modified atmosphere storage

Storage in which the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels around produce are altered by packaging films or gas flushing to slow respiration and extend shelf life.

Jam setting

Gel formation in jam requires the correct balance of pectin, sugar and acid; too little acid or pectin prevents setting and causes a runny product.

Shade net percentage

The proportion of incident light blocked by a shade net, such as 50% or 75%, chosen according to the light requirement of the crop grown beneath it.

Drip irrigation efficiency

The proportion of applied water used by the crop; drip systems typically achieve 90% or more because water is applied at the root zone with little evaporation.

Benefit-cost ratio

The ratio of total discounted benefits to total discounted costs of a project; a value greater than one indicates the enterprise is economically viable.

Farmer producer organization

A collective of farmers registered as a company or cooperative to buy inputs, process and market produce jointly, improving bargaining power and returns.