HORT 341 Greenhouse Management and Production Assignments

 

1) Demonstration Laboratories:

 Demo Lab Descriptions

Three demonstration projects using poinsettia will be completed during the semester.  Students will be divided into groups for these projects.  The projects are designed to provide students with a visual representation of proper and improper management practices.  The projects will allow students to identify plant stress symptoms and responses resulting from poor management decisions. In addition the projects will provide students with the tools necessary to design and conduct simple greenhouse experiments necessary for management decisions.

Students are expected to document crop development throughout the semester noting the date of significant production events (e.g. pinching, first color, fertilization, maturation...) in a crop notebook. This should be a detailed account of the project including weekly visual observations. Each group member is expected to share responsibilities equally. Some duties, such as black cloth pulling and data collection, are more easily accomplished when two or more people work together. If one member feels that another member is doing too little or too much, bring the matter before the group, work out a compromise, and continue with the project. Should the matter be unresolved, bring it to me as a group. Do not wait until the final week of the semester to resolve group tensions.

At the conclusion of the demonstration projects, student groups will type a 5 to 7 page report (including text, figures, and tables) for each project and orally present their reports using the following format:

Abstract: This section should be a concise (250-300 word) overview of the project which includes project rationale, objectives, methods, results, and conclusions.

Introduction:  This section should detail why a producer would conduct this experiment, the objectives of the study, and the benefits of the experiment to the producer.

Materials and Methods: This should briefly describe the cultural practices, treatments, methods of applying treatments, variables measured, and how you analyzed the experiment.

Results and Discussion: In this section, you should present a summary of your data in the text.  Tables and graphs should deal with mean values of the variables measured.  Along with reporting your results (what you observed), you should discuss how these results indicate if a certain treatment should be used when growing this crop.  This discussion should also include your views on how well this experiment worked (possible problems encountered during the study) and if the treatments have any practical applications. 

 Each group will have 15 minutes (12 minute presentation and 3 minute Q&A per demonstration lab to conduct an oral presentation of their reports. These presentations are expected to utilize available software (i.e. PowerPoint), classroom hardware (i.e. blackboard), and/or handouts. Presentations will be peer (50% of total grade)and instructor (50% of total grade) evaluated.

The reports will be due during the last laboratory session and are considered a group activity.  Each group will turn in one written and one oral report for each demonstration laboratory.     When crop development allows, I encourage you to complete the written portion of the reports early.  Each written report is worth 25 points and will be graded on thoroughness, grammar, data presentation, and data interpretation from a producer’s perspective. Each oral presentation is worth 25 points and will be graded on content, style, presentation, and comprehension.  

 

2) Crop Production:

Crop Production Description and Printable Production Calendar

During the semester, students will produce a poinsettia crop.  This is project is a combination of group and individual activities. Each group will be assigned greenhouse space for crop production.  Each group will be responsible for the management of the crops with the exception of pesticide application and weekend maintenance.  The objectives of this project are to provide students with a working knowledge of potted plant production and to produce a marketable crop.  At maturation, each crop will be evaluated based on crop marketability and aesthetics

This project represents a substantial portion of your final grade (75 points); however, the project is divided into two sections: Crop notebook (25 points) and Crop production (50 points).

Crop notebook (25 points):

Each student should independently maintain a crop notebook throughout the semester. This journal will provide you with a crop production record that may be used to solve future prodution problems should they arise. The crop notebook should document production and management practices to avoid as well as ones that were successful.

Weekly observations for each crop should be maintained. You do not have to take weekly measurements but periodically throughout the semester you should measure soluble salt levels, pH levels, crop heights, and crop quality. You must note management decisions and how these impacted your crop. Detailed notes on crop performance and development will make the notebook a useful tool. Pictures of plant development, final product, and plant symptoms are recommended. In addition, the crop notebook should conatin general observations on demonstration laboratories, cut flower crops, and cool season crops.

This notebook is an individual effort although data collection such as pH and EC can be conducted as a group and entered into each student's notebook. The notebook is worth 25 points and will be graded on organization, neatness, and grower usefulness. Notebook entries should be in pencil or permanent ink, because the notebook may experience wet conditions in the greenhouse. The notebook need not be typed; however, handwriting should be legible to everyone that may review the project. If your script is marginally legible, I would recommend block letters or typing. The notebook will be due during the second to last laboratory period.

Crop production (50 points):

 Crop Evaluation Sheet

As with any living system, there will be some events outside of your control. Should the crops be affected by unforeseen events, the assigned grade will take the events into account. It is your responsibility to monitor crops for insect/disease pressures, moisture/fertilization limitations, and environmental conditions. You cannot count damage from an unmonitored insect population as an unforeseen event; however, improper pesticide application resulting in crop damage would be allowed.

The greenhouse staff and I will periodically monitor the crops noting what is and is not being accomplished within each crop. If we detect a pattern that is detrimental to the crops' success, we will offer suggestions before the crop is damaged significantly. Please ask questions if you are unsure of a procedure of feel a crop is not responding as planned. The earlier a problem is detected the easier it is to solve. Our goal, as educators, is to provide every oppourtunity for you to succeed with this assignment. 

 

3) Poinsetta Open House Project:

 Poinsettia Open House Assignment

During the semester, students will produce a poinsettia crop consisting of 64 different cultivars. Groups will be assigned specific cultivars and are responsible for the management of the crops with the exception of pesticide application and weekend maintenance. On December 1st and 2nd, the class in collaboration with Debbie Black from Plant Biology will host an open house event highlighting poinsettias and the Plant Biology Conservatory. This event will be designed as an outreach oppourtunity for the local community, industry representatives, and greenhouse managers.

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Reinforce poinsettia production techniques learned in class 

2. Provide students with the opportunity to interact with the public and receive feedback on their poinsettia crop 

3. Provide a real world scenario in which management, communication, and assessment skills are put into practice

4. Introduce students to basic research techniques

This project represents a substantial portion of your final grade (100 points); however, the project is divided into three sections: Two oral presentations (25 points each) and successful execution of your group's assigned tasks (50 points).

Oral Presentations (25 points each):

 Presentation Tips and Presentation Evaluation Sheet
Each group will have 10 minutes (8 minute presentation and 2 minute Q&A) to conduct an oral presentation of the current status of their assigned tasks. These presentations are to be conducted as a business meeting in which one team member updates the class and project chair (Daniel) on their vision, plans for implementation, and current stage of implementation. The class is expected to provide input for each group's plan and constructive suggestions for improvement. This is also a time to highlight team building, participation, and limits encountered during the formulation of the open house vision. Presentations and class participation will be peer evaluated.

Successful Execution of Assigned Tasks (50 points):

Based upon the stated plans of each team and the overall vision of the class for the Poinsettia Open House, team success will be evaluated. This evaluation will be based on meeting your team's stated objectives in a timely manner with a professional level of excellence. Your team's interaction with one another, the public at large, and the other teams in the classroom will be peer and instructor evaluated. The goal of this project is the successful execution of a planned event that is educational, impressive, and meaningful to the general public and floriculture industry.

Our goal, as educators, is to provide every oppourtunity for you to succeed with this assignment. You are expected to have and ask questions as the semester progresses. Do not wait until the last minute to discuss your team's strategy.