HOR 225 Greenhouse Production and Management

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 2
Credits: 4

Covers structural and mechanical aspects of the greenhouse environment. Compares greenhouse systems with regard to styles, frames, covers, benches, mechanical controls, lighting, irrigation, and fertilization. Focuses on management practices in production greenhouses. Covers irrigation and fertilization practices that result in high quality plant material. Considers regulation of light and temperature to achieve desired plant growth. Emphasizes growth regulation, production scheduling, and shipping and handling. Examines the wholesale and retail nursery industry in Oregon.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Discuss different styles of greenhouses and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each
Compare and recommend appropriate options for greenhouse heating and cooling systems and temperature controls.
Compare and recommend appropriate options for irrigation of different greenhouse crops
Analyze energy efficiency in a greenhouse design.
Design an irrigation schedule for a specific greenhouse crop.
Discuss the influence of day and night greenhouse temperatures on plant growth.
Schedule production of a specific greenhouse crop from seeding to shipping.
Explain the use of growth regulators to control plant height.
Characterize the Oregon greenhouse industry.

Content Outline

Types of Greenhouses
Greenhouse Systems
- Frames
  - Materials
  - Design
- Glazings
  - Light transmission
  - Durability
  - Cost
  - Other properties
- Benches
  - Types
  - Arrangement
- Mechanized systems
  - Manual
  - Computerized
Greenhouse Environment
- Temperature control
  - Heating systems
    - Types
    - Fuel
    - Design
    - Heat distribution
    - Heat regulation
    - Heat conservation
  - Cooling systems
    - Ventilation
    - Shading
  - Heating and cooling calculations
  - Winter protection
- Light
  - Shading
  - Supplemental light
    - Types
    - Height
  - Intensity
    - Duration
- Energy efficiency
- Water
  - Source
    - Quantity
    - Quality
  - Irrigation
    - Hand watering
    - Automatic systems
    - Mist systems for propagation
    - Hydroponic systems
  - Relative humidity
- Nutrients
  - Fertilizer delivery systems
History and Status of Greenhouse Production in U.S. and Oregon
- Oregon and U.S. statistics
- Oregon greenhouse products
Management Practices
- Irrigation
  - Media, container, and site drainage
  - Water quantity
    - Amount
    - Frequency
    - Leaching fraction
  - Water quality
    - Soluble salts (EC)
    - Alkalinity
  - Automation
- Fertilization
  - Pre-plant
    - Macronutrients
    - Micronutrients
    - PH/lime application
  - Post-plant
    - Macronutrients
    - Micronutrients
    - Frequency
    - Rate
    - Formulation
    - Injection systems
    - Measuring and interpreting EC
  - Nutritional monitoring
    - Diagnosing deficiencies and toxicities
    - Substrate testing
    - Foliar analysis
Environmental Conditions
- Light
  - Intensity
    - Maximizing
    - Reducing
  - Quality
  - Supplemental lighting
  - Duration
    - Photoperiod control
- Atmosphere
  - Relative humidity
- Temperature
  - DIF (day-to-night temperature relationship)
    - Height
    - Flowering
Growth Regulation
- Growth regulating practices
- Growth regulating chemicals
- Forcing
Production Scheduling
- Seeding
- Plug production
- Transplanting
Shipping and Handling
- Packaging
- Shipping
- Marketing
- Finishing
Special Considerations for Retail Greenhouses