Course Overview:

B.Sc. in Horticulture is a 4-year undergraduate program focused on the study of plant cultivation, garden management, landscape design, and the science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. The course is designed to equip students with knowledge and skills in plant breeding, pest management, plant biotechnology, and sustainable agricultural practices, preparing them for a wide range of careers in agriculture and horticulture sectors.

Duration:

4 years (8 semesters)

Syllabus - Semester-Wise Breakdown

Year 1 (Semester 1 & 2):

1. Introduction to Horticulture: Basic principles of horticulture, importance of horticultural crops, and an overview of the horticultural industry.

2. Principles of Agronomy: Soil preparation, water management, and cropping systems relevant to horticultural practices.

3. Fundamentals of Soil Science: Understanding soil properties, classification, and management for horticulture.

4. Plant Anatomy and Physiology: Structure, growth, and development of plants, focusing on horticultural crops.

5. Fundamentals of Plant Pathology: Study of plant diseases and their management.

6. Introductory Entomology: Basics of insects and pests affecting horticultural crops, and their control methods.

Year 2 (Semester 3 & 4):

1. Vegetable Crop Production: Cultivation techniques, management practices, and marketing of vegetable crops.

2. Fruit Science: Cultivation, breeding, and post-harvest management of fruit crops.

3. Plant Breeding and Genetics: Principles of genetics and plant breeding methods used in horticultural crop improvement.

4. Plant Propagation: Techniques for the propagation of horticultural crops, including grafting, budding, and tissue culture.

5. Ornamental Horticulture: Landscaping, garden design, and cultivation of ornamental plants.

6. Weed Management in Horticulture: Identification and control of weeds affecting horticultural crops.

Year 3 (Semester 5 & 6):

1. Floriculture and Landscape Architecture: Techniques of growing flowers and ornamental plants, landscape design principles.

2. Post-Harvest Technology: Methods of processing, preserving, and packaging horticultural products to reduce losses and improve shelf life.

3. Organic Farming: Sustainable practices in horticultural crop production without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

4. Biotechnology in Horticulture: Application of biotechnology in the improvement of horticultural crops.

5. Greenhouse and Protected Cultivation: Techniques for growing horticultural crops under protected conditions like greenhouses and polyhouses.

6. Agroforestry and Plantations: Cultivation of crops in association with trees for sustainable land management.

Year 4 (Semester 7 & 8):

1. Landscape Management and Design: Advanced landscape planning and design, urban horticulture, and sustainable landscaping.

2. Herbal and Medicinal Plant Cultivation: Study of medicinal and aromatic plants, their cultivation techniques, and economic importance.

3. Entrepreneurship in Horticulture: Business management, marketing strategies, and entrepreneurship in the horticulture sector.

4. Climate Change and Horticulture: Impact of climate change on horticultural crops and strategies for adaptation and mitigation.

5. Internship and Project Work: Practical experience through internships in the horticulture industry, along with research projects focused on specific horticultural practices or innovations.

Average Fees:

INR 50,000 - 2,50,000 per year (varies based on institution)

Exams to Attend:

• ICAR AIEEA (Indian Council of Agricultural Research All India Entrance Examination)

• State-level entrance exams such as KEAM (Kerala), KCET (Karnataka), and EAMCET (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana)

• JEE Mains (for some institutions)

• SAAT (Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University Admission Test)

• LPUNEST (Lovely Professional University National Entrance and Scholarship Test)

Top 10 Horticulture Institutes in India:

1. Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan

2. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore

3. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

4. Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat

5. University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot

6. Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thrissur

7. GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar

8. Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh

9. Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Pune

10. Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar

Top 10 Horticulture Institutes in Kerala:

1. Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thrissur

2. College of Agriculture, Vellayani

3. College of Horticulture, Thrissur

4. St. Albert's College, Kochi

5. Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam

6. Amrita School of Agricultural Sciences, Kollam

7. St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam

8. Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam

9. CMS College, Kottayam

10. MES College, Marampally