Vivekanand Ashram’s
Vivekanand Agriculture College
Vivekanand Nagar, Hiwara Bk., Tq. Mehkar, Dist. Buldana-443301
Affiliated to Dr.Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola
College Code : 11144 Intake Capacity : 120
College Code : 11144 Intake Capacity : 120
Horticulture is a specialized branch of agriculture that focuses on the scientific cultivation, management, and improvement of fruits, vegetables, and flower crops. It involves efficient soil and water management practices tailored to the specific needs of high-value horticultural crops, ensuring optimal plant growth and productivity.Horticulture also emphasizes environmental management practices such as the use of protected cultivation (greenhouses, polyhouses), mulching, and precision irrigation to create favorable microclimates that enhance crop yield and quality. Beyond cultivation, horticulture encompasses post-harvest management and processing technologies aimed at preserving the freshness, nutritional value, and marketability of produce. This includes proper harvesting techniques, sorting, grading, packaging, cold storage, and value addition through processing—ensuring extended shelf life and reduced post-harvest losses.
Soil & Water Management: Site Selection & Soil Health – Detailed soil testing, deep ploughing, addition of organic matter, and raised beds or ridges to optimize root aeration. Irrigation & Fertigation – Adoption of micro‑irrigation (drip, sprinkler) and fertigation to deliver water and nutrients precisely, conserving 30–50 % of water compared with flood methods.
Varietal Improvement & Propagation: Conventional Breeding – Hybridization, clonal selection, and polyploidy to develop high‑yielding, better‑flavoured cultivars. Biotechnological Tools – Marker‑assisted selection, genome editing (e.g., CRISPR), and micropropagation for rapid multiplication of disease‑free, true‑to‑type plants.
Environmental & Cultural Management: Canopy Management – Training and pruning (espalier, open‑center, high‑density planting) to maximize light interception and ease of harvest. Protected Cultivation – Greenhouses, net‑houses, poly‑houses, hydroponics, and vertical farming that allow year‑round production and precision climate control.
