Chapter 1: Introduction and Importance of Floriculture PDF

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE OF FLORICULTURE FLORICULTURE Habits and customs differ, but all the people have the love of flowers in common. (Chinese proverb) Floriculture deals with the cultivation and management of ornamental and especially flowering plants. Floriculture is a disciplin...

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE OF FLORICULTURE FLORICULTURE Habits and customs differ, but all the people have the love of flowers in common. (Chinese proverb) Floriculture deals with the cultivation and management of ornamental and especially flowering plants. Floriculture is a discipline of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the floral industry. The crop improvement/development through plant breeding of new varieties is a major profession of floriculturists. Flowers are the other name of elegance. It’s natural for people to have an inclination to flowers. They express human sentiments, beautify the environment and speak their own words. Flower gardens increase beauty of the house or an institution. Flowers have an expression everywhere may be used in weddings, social occasions, and funerals or as gifts. For amateurs, it is a good practice of passing leisure time and help keeping good health. Historically flowers have long been important for the pleasant environment, as a commercial entity and social aspects e g. - For sustainable environment -Aesthetic, Gardens, open spaces, roadside bedding plants -Express human emotions -Used at weddings and funerals -Social functions and gifts -Commercial flower and foliage plant production Economics aspects of ornamental horticulture are as important as the aesthetic ones. The floriculture products of commercial importance mainly consists of cut-flower, ornamental foliage plants and cut foliage. The growing of flowering bulbs and corms, production of bedding plants and flower seed industry and production of flowers for extraction of perfumes are additional cultural facets of the floriculture industry. There is enough scientific evidence to indicate that the environment does affect the human behavior. In the recent past greater use of ornamental plants has shown significant contribution to the improvement of the environment. THE WORLD TRADE IN FLORICULTURE PRODUCTS Flower production has now become a fast paced and capital intensive business, requiring latest technology and good management. The floriculture industry essentially consists of three major components, the grower, the wholesaler and the retailer. The worldwide trade is estimate at $ 55 billion and there is a constant increase in its acreage under various flower crops. The value of international commerce of fresh floriculture products has risen by an average of 7% per year between 1990-2008 and this increase became more capricious from 2009 onwards (see figure below). The value of the trade of fresh cut flowers amounts to 50% of floriculture trade, following 43% trade in live ornamental plants. Cut foliage make up rest 7% of the floriculture trade. Developed countries contribute more than 90 percent of the total world trade in floriculture products. Source: https://research.rabobank.com/far/en/sectors/regional-food- agri/world_floriculture_map_2016.html According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures, floriculture item sales at all retail outlets was $31.3 billion in 2015. Consumer trends indicate 46 percent of U.S. consumers purchase outdoor bedding and garden plants, 34 percent of consumers buy fresh flowers and 20 percent buy flowering/green houseplants. Fresh Cut Flowers The use of cut flower in home decoration has become an essential part of living in human society, particularly in affluent countries. Germany for decades has been the largest cut flower market in the world following Britain, United States, Netherlands and France. Italy and Japan are also emerging markets. The major cut flower suppliers to the British and USA markets are Netherlands, Kenya, Colombia and Spain. Colombia, Ecuador, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico and Israel. The Netherlands, Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Spain, Italy and Israel are important flower exporters of the world. One of the main structural changes currently taking places in the world of floriculture is the increase in international competition, particularly for cut flowers. With increasing global competition, the Dutch share in global cut flower exports is decreasing, declining from 50 percent in 2005 to 43 percent in 2015 (see figure below). At the same time, Kenya, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Colombia and Malaysia have increased their share in cut flower industry. Geographical proximity and cultural affinity remains a dominate factor that determine the destination of cut flower exports North America is a major market for Colombia and Ecuador, Kenya send its major products to Netherlands following UK, Germany, Korea and Japan. India exports its flowers to Japan, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and Singapore.  The most important cut flowers grown and used throughout the world are standard and Spray carnations, glass house Roses, disbudded and spray Chrysanthemum, forced Bulbs, Lilies, Gerberas, Gladiolus and Orchids. These flowers are produced in green house, in shade house and outdoors. Outdoor production is confined to the areas that have ideally suitable climate and soil conditions for the crops. Most of these crops are grown under protected conditions in glass, fiber glass, plastic houses, carnation, chrysanthemum, orchid and roses are the major greenhouse crops. The principal environment factors light, water, temperature are either entirely or partially controlled. Flowers are grown in ground beds or in raised benches. Shade houses are used where outdoor temperatures are favorable for the growth of crops. These structures provide little protection against sub-freezing temperatures. Their use is advantageous during summer times in the region of high temperature and light intensities. World's largest cut flower exporting countries, 2005 vs. 2015 Potted Plants The trade in live ornamental plants and trees include range of types and sizes of plants. Millions of tiny seedlings and giant specimen plants are produced and sold worldwide each year. Germany is the largest importer of live plants represents 22% of the world market following France, United Kingdom and United States. Netherlands is the largest exporters of live plants having 49% share in the world plant exports. Belgium, Italy, Canada and Spain have a significant share in plant exports. Others, some new to the business are Korea, Hungary, Egypt, India, Czech Republic, Indonesia and Turkey. Ornamental pot plants grown for sale can be divided in to two groups: A) Those grown for the beauty of flowers and secondly for their foliage; Azalea, Begonia, Cyclamen, Geranium and Poinsettia are some examples of these groups. B) Those grown for their foliage only; Asparagus, Caladium, Philodendron, Pothos, Dieffenbachia, Cactus and Rubber plants are examples of this groups. The growing of plants in pots or containers differs from growing of plants in the field beds or gardens. The soils for growing plant containers are reinforced with highly decomposed organic matter. A good water holding capacity, exchangeable essential cations, aeration and drainage are ensured. Fresh Cut Foliage Fresh cut foliage consumption closely follows that of fresh cut flowers as much of the cut foliage is used along with flowers in arrangements and bouquets.  The Netherlands imports 27% of the world fresh cut foliage, Germany 18% and United States 11%, Japan, France and United Kingdom (5-6%). All these countries have sustained sales of bouquets that use filler flower and cut foliage in the supermarkets and garden centers. The Netherlands stands on top with regard to cut foliage exports (20%) followed by Denmark 16%, Italy 13%, United States 12%. Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, China, Mexico, Guatemala, Turkey, Australia and Srilanka are among the other cut foliage exporters. Bear grass and Ruscus are common examples of fresh cut foliage. Flowering Bulbs and Corms A large number and range of cut flowers are grown from plants which produce storage organs such as bulbs, corms, rhizomes, tuberous roots or tubers. Plants with their storage structures are collectively called geophytes. Iris, gladiolus, Narcissus, Alstroemeria, Freesia, Tulip are common examples. The Netherlands accounts for 65% of the total production area for flower bulbs in the world and therefore remains the leader in this sector. Among the flowers grown from bulbs tulip and lilies occupy a defined place. Tulips are produced by15 countries world-wide and Netherlands has the largest production area 10,800 hectares (88%). France, Poland, Germany and New Zealand are important produces of bulbs. Fifty three percent of the tulip bulbs and 96% of lily bulbs produced in Netherlands are used for cut flower production in the Netherlands and abroad. United States, Germany and Japan are major consumer markets. The Netherlands exports to more than 60 countries, where bulbs are used as planting material for their own production. Area world-wide under bulbs cultivation is listed below:  Country Area (Hectares) Type of bulb crop The Netherlands 20,921 Tulip, Lily UK 4,660 Narcissus, Gladiolus, Tulip France 1,289 Lily, Tulip, Iris, Gladiolus, Dahlia, Narcissus China 1,281 Narcissus, Lily, Tulip USA 995 Narcissus, Tulip, Gladiolus, Lily, Iris Japan 883 Lily, Tulip, Gladiolus Israel 456 Narcissus, Ranunculus Poland 335 Tulip, Lily, Narcissus, Gladiolus, Dahlia New Zealand 258 Tulip, Lily, Zantedeschia, Iris, Freesia Chile 240 Lily, Tulip South Africa 200 Hippeastrum, Nerine, Lily, Tulip Brazil 200 Gladiolus, Hippeastrum Germany 190 Tulip, Gladiolus, Narcissus, Crocus Belgium 185 Begonia, Lily Denmark 60 Tulip, Narcissus Argentina 47 Gladiolus, Tulip Total 32,153 Bedding Plants Ornamental bedding plants are grown in beds for home gardens, public parks, and planters for porches, patios and window boxes. In general herbaceous annuals are considered bedding plants. Over the years herbs, flowering plants, ground covers, perennials and small fruits even some woody ornamental are included in such a listing.  The bedding plant industry has grown steadily over the last decades. No other flower commodity has been as stable in its demand by the consumer. Increase in population, city sprawls urban migrations and the desire to create an environment of beauty in public places for the enjoyment are the probable reasons for the phenomenal growth of plant industry. Flower Seed Flower seed industry is another potential field of horticulture. Production of quality true to type and hybrid seeds has a tremendous scope of business regionally and worldwide. Production of corms, bulbs of several bulbous plants and annuals has great demand in international markets. Extraction of Flower Perfumes The practice of obtaining plant extracts with a pleasing odor to improve the taste of food and to adorn the body dates to antiquity. When the pharaohs were ruling ancients Egypt, perfumes were commonly used as an ornament. These extracts were highly prized symbols of wealth and prosperity among the ruling classes. In the modern times production of flowers for extraction of floral perfumes is an important aspect of horticultural industry. Turkey, Morocco, France, Iran, China, USA, Egypt, India and Italy are major producing countries of rose essential oil. The major consumer countries are USA (40%), Europe (30%), Japan (7%) and rest of world consumes (23%). Flower Arrangements Flower or floral arrangement is an art of selecting and organizing flowers and foliage according to the elements and principles of design in order to attain a pleasing and interesting design. Arranging flowers is an artistic activity and a way to express oneself creatively; county fairs offer the flower arranger an opportunity to participate in this art. The National Association of Flower Arranging Societies (NAFAS), the Society of American Florists (SAF) and American Institute of Floral Designers (AFID) are some noticeable industry associations that promote floral design worldwide. Jobs in Floriculture Industry This industry offers different job opportunities e.g., University Professors Instructor (High School/College/University) Horticulture section under local government Greenhouse Grower Botanic Garden Director Botanic Garden Head Gardener Botanic Garden Curator Plant genetic resources conservator Cosmetics and perfume industry County Agent/Manager Floral Designer Floral Production Manager Floral Sales Representative Florist shops Greenhouse Supervisor Head Grower/Production Manager Landscape Installation Managers Nursery Business Small Horticulture Business Owner