The biggest question regarding horticulture vs. agriculture for most people is the difference.
Perhaps you want to go into a “green” field, where knowing the difference would help you make critical decisions about your future. Maybe you are looking for a new hobby, and you know you like plants.
In those scenarios, do you take horticulture courses or agriculture courses?
Hopefully, by the end, you will have more clarity on horticulture versus agriculture.
HORTICULTURE
Horticulture is distinctly different from agriculture because it is a scientific discipline that is a part of the field of agriculture.
Horticulture can be most easily understood as the “science of cultivation” as a concept. Horticulture, as a discipline, focuses on the cultivation of crops and how to better their overall performance.
Crop performance is measured by disease resistance, actual yields ( how many tomatoes do I harvest), stress tolerances, and nutritional value at harvest.
Horticulturists do extensive research on their plant type/field to improve these characteristics. Most of the work is carried out in laboratory settings, and a fair bit of biochemistry is involved. This discipline also produces specializations like plant propagation and plant breeding.
The plants that are worked with and studied are often food crops, turf, and ornamentals (think shrubs).
What most notably separates the two is that horticulture is focused on small-scale or “gardens,” while agriculture is based on large-scale operations. However, the discoveries and improvements made within the discipline have applications to agriculture itself.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is the traditional idea of “farming” that the general public has in their collective imagination.
Agriculture is the foundation of the food industry. Millions of acres are dedicated to ensuring that there is enough raw product for the rest of the manufacturing and distribution chain.
Agriculture also encompasses animal husbandry, where the classic farm animals, such as cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep, are raised for their meat or by-products, such as eggs, milk, or wool.
The plant side of agriculture mostly focuses on the main food crops in the region. In the United States, corn, wheat, and potatoes are the staples.
Because of the massive scale of the operations, sometimes thousands of acres, agriculture is an outdoor, very season-sensitive industry. Much time is spent seeding and surveying the crop as it grows to catch any pest or disease outbreaks and minimize losses.
Agricultural operations specializing in greenhouse or “indoor” production of crops, like tomatoes, year-round are also part of the industry.
THE ROUNDUP
In short, horticulture is focused on cultivation and the properties of plants. It is a research-based discipline that aims to improve crop performance on a small scale.
Agriculture is the foundation of our food chain, encompassing crops and animal husbandry. The enterprise ensures that the raw product is either fashioned into our favorite treats or can be found conveniently at the local grocery store.
