Protected Plant Production BHT223

Learn to produce plants in a protected environment! This course prepares you to sit for RHS modules and acquire credits in the RHS advanced certificate or diploma. Develop your broad understanding of practices and processes involved in successful plant cropping. It will develop a clear understanding of enviromental control and plant growth within a protective enviroment, together with a practical knowledge of plant husbandry techniques. Course Structure There are seven lessons in this module as follows:
Course Aim

• Successful completion of this course/module will develop your broad understanding of practices and processes involved in successful protective plant cropping.
• It will develop a clear understanding of environmental control and plant growth within a protective environment, together with a practical knowledge of plant husbandry techniques.

Contents There are seven lessons in this module as follows:

1. Structures for Protected Cropping - Describe and Evaluate the type and shape of modern growing structures.
2. Environmental Control
3. Cladding Materials and their Properties
4. Irrigation and Nutrition
5. Relationship between Production techniques and Horticultural practices
6. Harvest and Post Harvest Technology
7. Risk Assessment

Learning Outcomes

• To describe and evaluate the type and shape of modern growing structures
• To describe and evaluate environmental controls in protected cropping
• To explain the nature of solar radiation, transmission properties of glass and its substitutes
• Determine the water requirements of a crop; and methods of irrigation.
• Relate horticultural principles to the production and harvesting of a range of crops.
• Evaluate the factors involved in marketing protected crops
• Evaluate the factors involved in marketing protected crops
• Undertake risk assessment

What you will do in this Course This course involves both practical and theoretical tasks which involve you doing a wide variety of things, including:

• Identify the main types of growing structure
• Relate use of structures to shape and type of construction
• Identify the range of environmental factors controlled within a growing structure
• Describe the use of the equipment used to measure and monitor these factors
• Name and describe a range of types of environmental controls
• Evaluate the use of IT facilities for environmental control
• Describe the meaning of \'daylight\' and explain the role of sunlight and diffused light
• Relate time of year to the quantity and quality of available light
• Evaluate how the shape and orientation of a structure will affect light transmission
• Assess the effectiveness of glass and cladding alternatives for light transmission
• Describe the durability and insulation properties of glass and alternative materials
• Select and describe appropriate systems of irrigation for plants grown in situ
• Select and describe appropriate systems of irrigation for container grown plants
• Specify and evaluate systems for incorporating plant nutrients into the irrigation water
• Explain the effects of environmental control on a range of plants
• Relate the essential features necessary for successful plant establishment and development to their underlying scientific principles.
• Describe the production of a range of crops
• State the optimum stage of growth for harvesting a range of crops
• Describe the harvesting systems for protected crops
• Explain how shelf life can be affected by pre and post harvesting treatment of the crop
• State the factors to be considered when marketing crops
• Evaluate alternative marketing outlets
• Relate packaging & presentation to marketing
• Assess benefits to the grower and customer, of grading a crop before marketing
• Determine elements of risk in the practical operations associated with protected plant production.
• Identify safe working practices

What you will do in this Course This course involves both practical and theoretical tasks which involve you doing a wide variety of things, including:

• Identify the main types of growing structure
• Relate use of structures to shape and type of construction
• Identify the range of environmental factors controlled within a growing structure
• Describe the use of the equipment used to measure and monitor these factors
• Name and describe a range of types of environmental controls
• Evaluate the use of IT facilities for environmental control
• Describe the meaning of ¢‚¨≈ìdaylight¢‚¨ù and explain the role of sunlight and diffused light
• Relate time of year to the quantity and quality of available light
• Evaluate how the shape and orientation of a structure will affect light transmission
• Assess the effectiveness of glass and cladding alternatives for light transmission
• Describe the durability and insulation properties of glass and alternative materials
• Select and describe appropriate systems of irrigation for plants grown in situ
• Select and describe appropriate systems of irrigation for container grown plants
• Specify and evaluate systems for incorporating plant nutrients into the irrigation water
• Explain the effects of environmental control on a range of plants
• Relate the essential features necessary for successful plant establishment and development to their underlying scientific principles.
• Describe the production of a range of crops
• State the optimum stage of growth for harvesting a range of crops
• Describe the harvesting systems for protected crops
• Explain how shelf life can be affected by pre and post harvesting treatment of the crop
• State the factors to be considered when marketing crops
• Evaluate alternative marketing outlets
• Relate packaging & presentation to marketing
• Assess benefits to the grower and customer, of grading a crop before marketing
• Determine elements of risk in the practical operations associated with protected plant production.
• Identify safe working practices

Develop your broad understanding of practices and processes involved in successful plant cropping. It will develop a clear understanding of enviromental control and plant growth within a protective enviroment, together with a practical knowledge of plant husbandry techniques.