Know the Difference between Horticulture and Agriculture

Horticulture and agriculture both are the fundamental pillars of the farming industry. Additionally, both have distinct objective, characteristics, and contributions to the world food system. Thus, for students pursuing any one of the courses, it is important to know its different aspects and meanings. Therefore, in this guide, we have shared the difference between horticulture and agriculture in detail through the following sections. So, pick your pen and paper to mark important points.

What is Agriculture?

Agriculture is the backbone of worldwide food security. It tends to encompass the large scale of cultivation and a massive spectrum of production activities such as food, fibre, feed and fuel. Moreover, it includes raising livestock, farming monoculture crops and integrating different framing practices. It is also known as husbandry or farming. It starts with preparing the land, planting, fertilizing, harvesting, processing and more. Hence, this is the major meaning of agriculture. Know more differences about horticulture vs agriculture in the next sections. 

Characteristics of Agriculture

Agriculture have different characteristics compare to horticulture. It is analyse on different aspects, Thus, explore this section to know the characteristics of agriculture.  

1. Scale- performs a large-scale commercial activity that covers the machine's utilization and huge areas of fields or land.   
2. Scope- Encompasses harvesting new crops, rearing livestock and managing fisheries.   
3. Objective- Primarily, emphasised producing food and farming products in big quantitates.   
4. Diversity- they cultivate certain types of wheat, maize and paddy. Also, it contains livestock nurturing.   

These are the characteristics of agriculture that will assist you in understanding the core explanation of this field. Now, let’s know the pros and cons of agriculture. 

Also read-  Bsc In Agriculture

Advantages and Disadvantages of Agriculture

Agricultures offer many benefits to global food security, but they also have many drawbacks. Before perusing this sub-agriculture science course, knowing some of its pros and cons is necessary. So, have a look at these points.

Advantages

1. Provide important food supply to the human population, ensuring nutrition and sustenance.
2. Agriculture contributes to the economy through employment, providing earnings to different levels and more.
3. Sustainable agricultural performance assists in protecting the ecosystem and biodiversity.
4. Farmers grow different crops to get income diversification.
5. Foster livestock farming.           

Disadvantages

1. It creates environmental degradation such as soil erosion, excess use of fertilizers and pesticides can create problem of water pollution.
2. Resource depletion of water for irrigation, unverifiable use of fossil fuels, and more.
3. Overuse of pesticides can affect animals as well as humans.
4. Natural disasters can damage the land and crops, which can affect income sources.  

This was all about agriculture, now let’s explore horticulture in the next section. 

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What is Horticulture?

Horticulture is the art and science of gardening that includes the cultivation of plants. It encompasses a wide range of activities, such as harvesting fruit and vegetables and planting flowers and other ornamental plants. Moreover, it mainly focuses on the high-value plants that need extra care, such as flowers, or fruits. This sub-agriculture practice celebrates the beauty and diversity of the plants. Also, it has four types such as  

• Pomology – the cultivation of fruit
• Olericulture – the cultivation of vegetables
• Floriculture – the cultivation of flowers
• Landscape horticulture – involves designing, maintaining landscapes, and constructing.

 This can be performed at large levels (cropping plants) and small levels (home gardening). Hence, it was all about the horticulture and its meaning. To know the difference between horticulture vs agriculture, go through further sections.

Characteristics of Horticulture

Horticulture primarily deals with the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants and flowers. Additionally, this type of agriculture focuses on quality rather than quantity, and it is cultivated in orchards, greenhouses and gardens. Let’s evaluate its characteristics.   

• Scale– it massively refers to the intensive farming  
• Scope-  Encompasses pomology (fruits), olericulture (vegetables), and ornamental
• Objective- The key objectives are to accomplish superior-quality plants that are primarily grown for the consumption of food or ornamentation.     
• Focus– it emphasises crop diversity, appearance, and health-related aspects.   

Advantages and Disadvantages of Horticulture  

Horticulture are famous for its different kind of planation. However, every agriculture stream, have pros and cons that every aspiring student should know before pursuing the course. Thus, have a look into this.  

Advantages

1. Horticulture uses supreme scientific technologies and principles to enhance the yield quality produced by various plants.     
2. Income generation for the farmers as the variety of plants grown and each of them focuses on their niche market.
3. It uses old tradition such as intercropping, or polycultures that has been used by the indigenous people in the old time and it has followed by the centuries.
4. It increases the lifespan of soil and has fewer pet problems.

Disadvantages

1. It requires a lot of investments to purchase the plant's seed, soil, equipment and more.    
2. It is labour intensive, large workforce are required to maintain the plants and yields.
3. Many plants can get damaged due to environmental hazards such as heavy storms.
4. It attracts small animals and rodents that can become pests for plants
5. High water consumptions  

This is the explanation of horticulture. We hope you get to know the overall difference between horticulture and agriculture through this detail justification. Besides you will find many programs option under this filed and many universities provide these courses. Thus, you can use University Finder tool to identify best college offering agriculture based courses.

Now, in the next section let’s explore the difference and decide which is best agriculture vs horticulture for you to pursue as a course in abroad. 

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Difference Between Horticulture and Agriculture?

The main difference between agriculture and horticulture is enhancing plant quality and output through horticulture can assist in making agriculture methods more sustainable and efficient. Moreover, agriculture is inclined to be monoculture. Simultaneously, horticulture is a polyculture. Thus, through this table, you can decide on which one to pursue horticulture vs agriculture. So, let’s explore. 

This table may have cleared all your doubts regarding the difference between agriculture and horticulture. Thus, it depends on you which course to choose to pursue in this field. Also, if you want to know the available courses in this area, then you can use course finder tool. It provides the best suggestion according to your preference and interest.  

Conclusion

In short, horticulture and agriculture have diverse dichotomy that highlights complexity and rich diversity of the agriculture system. Additionally, the major horticulture and agriculture difference is one rejoices in the beauty and bounty of nature, and simultaneously other endures our fundamental needs and wants. Moreover, it assists in driving the nation's economy on a global scale. Thus, if you are willing to pursue anyone of the courses then study abroad is a good choice. As by learning different approaches in this field, you can employ them in your host country. Hence, if you want to know more, you can consult experts at Gradding. They will guide you to a better path.   

FAQ 

Ques 1.What are the 4 types of horticulture?

Answer: There are four types of horticulture

• Pomology
• Olericulture,
• Floriculture
• Landscape

Ques 2.Is horticulture more profitable than agriculture?

Answer: Yes, horticulture is considered more profitable than traditional agriculture due to higher harvests and potential for having specific niche marketplace. Also, it is considered that the farmers earn more in this filed.   

Ques 3.Is fruit farming horticulture?

Answer: Yes, fruit farming comes under the horticulture. This is a branch that does framing on the fruits, vegetables, flowers and more.  

Ques 4.What branch of agriculture is horticulture?

Answer: Horticulture is a branch of agriculture mainly focused on the harvesting of fruits, vegetables, garden crops and ornamental plants. Moreover, it is more associated with the technical and professional aspects.