Sustainable Orchard Management

Catalog description

The science of tree-fruit production with an emphasis on the agroecology and physiology of regionally important species. Topics include: site selection; orchard design; clonal rootstock and variety selection; nursery production and grafting, tree pruning and training; flowering and pollination; crop load management; water, nutrient, and soil management; fruit ripening, maturity, and storage; marketing and profitability; integrated pest management; orchard mechanization; and sustainable production practices. Students will synthesize and apply knowledge from a broad range of life sciences within the context of perennial crop agroecosystems. Orchard field trips and lab sessions will provide practical, hands-on experience. This course is designed for students interested in commercial tree-fruit production and/or pomology research, hobby fruit growers, and professional IPM consultants.