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HORT 245 - Syllabus

 

Instructor: Dr. Sven Verlinden Office Phone: 293-6023 x6023

Office Location: AS 2094 e-mail: verlind@wvu.edu

Goals of the course

    1. Prepare the student to design, operate and manage a commercial, teaching, or hobby greenhouse.
    2. Familiarize students with greenhouse crop scheduling, cultural techniques, and pest management.
    3. Introduce the student to scientific concepts in greenhouse design and crop management to facilitate problem solving.

Course Requirements

    1. Two exams: a midterm and final exam on the material covered in lecture
    2. A term project due in 4 sections
    3. Laboratory and field trip reports (see laboratory syllabus)
    4. Crop records (see laboratory syllabus)

Point Distribution

   Percent of total grade     Points

        Midterm 20%             200

        Final 25%                    250

        Term project 25%      250

        Laboratory 30%         300

        Total 100%                 1000

Grading

Percentage Grade Points

90%+ A 900+

80%+ B 800-899

70%+ C 700-799

60%+ D 600-699

Class Policies

    1. Attendance in the laboratory is mandatory. Each prior unexcused absence deducts 1 percent from the final 100 percent course average.
    2. On time submission of the sections of the term project, the completed term project, laboratory reports, and field trip report is mandatory. Each day late deducts 5% percent from the term project or report.
    3. Field trips are mandatory. Absence from a field trip deducts 5 percent from the final 100 percent course average.

Revised Social Justice Syllabus Statement

West Virginia University is committed to social justice. I concur with that commitment and expect to maintain a positive learning environment based on open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our university does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this class will be appreciated and given serious consideration.

If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise me and make appropriate arrangements with Disability Services (293-6700).

Class schedule*

M W 9:00 AM

Jan 10 Orientation/ Definition/History

Jan 12 Floriculture today.

Jan 17 No class. Martin Luther King's Birthday

Jan 19 Location and layout of greenhouses

Jan 24 Greenhouse construction. Design and materials

Jan 26 Environmental control. Introduction.

Jan 31 Temperature. Heating and Cooling (Section I Term Project Due)

Feb 2 Light. Glazing Materials and supplementary Lighting

Feb 7 Humidity Control. Carbon dioxide

Feb 9 Automation

Feb 14 Root media

Feb 16 Irrigation and Nutrition

Feb 21 Midterm

Feb 23 Bedding plants

Feb 28 Bedding plants continued (Section II Term Project Due)

Mar 1 Forcing perennials

Mar 6 Mums

Mar 8 Poinsettia

Mar 13 Easter Lily

Mar 15 Orchids/Azalea/Hydrangea

Mar 20 Other potted plants (Section III Term Project: Heating and Cooling Due)

Mar 22 Roses/Carnations/Mums

Mar 27 Spring recess

Mar 29 Spring recess

Apr 3 Other Cut flowers

Apr 5 Foliage/Cut greens

Apr 10 Pest Control Abiotic

Apr 12 Pest Control Biotic:Insects

Apr 17 Pest Control Biotic: Fungus/ Mites/ Viruses

Apr 19 Growth Regulation

Apr 24 Business Management

Apr 26 Conclusion (Section IV and Completed Term Project Due)

May 1 Final Exam (8:00-10:00am)

* subject to change

 

HORT 245 Laboratory

Goals of the laboratory

 

    1. Introduce the student to the practical aspects of greenhouse management and crop culture.
    2. Allow the student to gain hands on experience in keeping records and growing crops in the greenhouse environment.
    3. Introduce the student to problem solving in the greenhouse through experimentation.
    4. Allow the student to gain a better understanding of 'the state of the industry' by going on a field trip.

 

Requirements

    1. Laboratory reports including calculation, field trip, and experiment reports
    2. Growing and record keeping of assigned crops

Point distribution                               Score

Lab reports (10X 10points each)       100

Student experiment report                 40

Field trip report                                   10

Crop records and evaluation              150

Total                                      &nbs 300

Policies

    1. Students are responsible for the plants assigned to them during the semester. This responsibility includes watering, monitoring of EC and pH, scouting for insects and diseases and general record keeping (monitoring height of the plants, temperature in the greenhouse, and fertilization applications). (see crop records and evaluation supplement provided at the beginning of the first lab for more information)
    2. Laboratory and field trip reports are due at the beginning of the lab following the lab in which assignments are given unless otherwise indicated in the lab handouts.

Laboratory schedule*

TH 2:00-4:45 pm

Jan 13 Orientation. Assignment of crops. pH and EC measurements. Alkalinity measurement.

Jan 20 Media. Irrigation. Nutrition.

Jan 27 Insects and Diseases. Identification and Control.

Feb 3 Scheduling of crops.

Feb 10 Height Control.

Feb 17 Student experiment design.

Feb 24 Bedding plants

Mar 2 Field trip I

Mar 9 Student experiment start

Mar 16 Heating

Mar 23 Cooling

Mar 30 Spring Recess

Apr 6 Field trip II

Apr 13 Postharvest

Apr 20 Pricing of crops/ economics

Apr 27 Evaluation of crops/ report on student experiment

* subject to change

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