Horticulture and Crop Science

Response of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to Fungicide Applications and Deficit Irrigation

Theodor Andrew Hudson — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:31:34 PST

Landscape Design, Cost Estimate, and Management Plan

Garrett Talbot Williams — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:31:29 PST

The purpose of this project is to evolve a bleak landscape into something that the home owner can appreciate and love. This project will demonstrate the knowledge of this process to provide as a guide for others. This project gives an overview of all aspects of a landscape project including: drawings of an irrigation layout, planting plan, drainage plan, and a construction plan. This project takes place in Riverbank, California, which is located in the Central Valley. The property’s main centerpiece is a pool and adjacent waterfall. However, the landscape currently surrounding the pool is very bare and lacks aesthetic appeal. This location is subject to scorching heat in the summer and freezing temperatures in the winter. Dealing with vast temperature fluctuations requires consideration in choosing ideal plant species. Also, an estimate plan and maintenance plan was constructed in accordance to the design. In addition, this project should serve as a template for someone interested in hiring someone to design, install, and maintain residential landscapes.

High School Horticulture Curriculum

Margaret Maratsos — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:01:05 PST

Horticulture is just one of the many topics covered in a high school agriculture curriculum, and yet, there are very few lesson plans or resources available to teachers for these classes specifically. The objectives of this project were to compile a set of lesson plans, lab plans, and tests that would emphasize interactive and investigative learning. The lesson plans were written in such a way that they reflected a certain set of standards, set down by the state of California, and were meant to serve as a bare outline of topics that would be discussed within a week’s worth of lectures. The labs (as well as the in-class activities mentioned in the lesson plans) are supplemental to the lectures, emphasizing concepts learned in class, while allowing students to experiment and make determinations on these concepts for themselves. The tests were designed to test students’ abilities to recall and explain, in their own words, key concepts, processes, and terms that they learned during a couple weeks’ worth of classes. Tests consisted of multiple choice, essay, and short response questions. Overall, the resources created in this project covers all of the standards required by the state of California for both Ornamental Horticulture and Plant Sciences education, with particular stress on lab-based interactive learning.

THE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HARDY SUCCULENTS

Darren Chard et al. — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:55:41 PDT

The Southern California area is experiencing increasing water shortages resulting in the need for plant material that has a high ornamental value as well as a low water requirement. The objectives of our project were to find, plant, and observe succulent plant material in the Southern California area to determine which succulents have a low water requirement, are low maintenance, disease and pest resistant, while adding beauty to the landscape. Succulent plant material was planted and observed in La Habra Heights, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach to provide a range of climate zones. After two years of observing the plant material at the three separate locations succulents were chosen for our Illustrated Succulent Guide based on how well they did in each location with limited water, the ease of maintenance, and their overall appearance. We found hardy succulents that thrived in each location that met all our requirements and enhanced the existing landscapes. The list of hardy succulents in our guide are drought tolerant, disease and pest resistant, easy to plant and maintain, while providing unique and interesting forms, colors, and textures.

Shoot and Cluster Correlation Among Pinot Noir Clones

James McGarry — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:49:53 PDT

There are 43 clones of Pinot Noir currently published by the National Technical Institution for Viticultural Improvement in France (ENTAV) and over 75 selections from Foundation Plant Services (FPS) at UC Davis. Viticulturists speculate that there are anywhere from 200 – 1,000 genetic variants that may exist for any given grape variety. An important part of vineyard management is crop estimation. The purpose of this project is to see if there is correlation in the number of shoots a vine produces and the number of clusters it produces and comparing that correlation with seven different Pinot Noir clones. The clones I sampled were PN 5, 2A, 23, 115, 667, 777 and 828, and the parameters I collected data on were number of shoots and clusters for all sample vines, and the ratio of clusters/vine to shoots/vine. Clones 5 and 115 had significantly higher numbers of shoots per vine than Clone 777; Clones 5, 23 and 828 had significantly higher numbers of clusters than Clone 777; and Clones 2A, 5, 23, and 828 had significantly higher cluster/shoot ratios than Clone 115. This information could ultimately help us understand which clones produce a greater or lesser amount of clusters, shoots and clusters/shoot, which will help growers decide which Pinot Noir clones to plant.

Consolidation and Label Acquisition in the California Wine Industry

Hilary Lipoff et al. — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:58:49 PDT

This paper seeks to determine whether there has been a change in consolidation and label acquisitions in the California wine industry in recent years. Reasons for consolidation and acquisition are explored, with an emphasis on the recent economic downturn and how it has effected the wine industry. Implications of these changes are further explored.

Digital Mapping as a Student and Staff Communication Tool

RYAN Gyurkovitz — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:17:12 PDT

A study in the use of Geographic Information Systems in the development of digital maps for use by students and staff in Plant Identification Courses.

PLANNING A LANDSCAPE THAT QUALIFIES FOR THE LEED WE CREDIT 1: WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING

Jimmy R. Van Nieuwenhuyzen — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:40:31 PDT

The green building movement has recently gained strength and is becoming a major driver in a wide array of construction industries. The USGBC is a nonprofit organization composed of industry leaders who have developed a quantifiable rating system known as LEED®. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a point based ranking system that measures building performance based on a set of measurably sustainable criteria. A major point category set forth by LEED is water efficiency and has application for those in the landscape design, construction and maintenance industries. The focus of the project is to design a landscape based on LEED WE credit 1, Water Efficient landscaping, through following the instructions for attaining the credit as specified by the 2009 LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction. The project will serve as a guide explaining the LEED rating system and how it relates to landscaping and water efficiency.

The Reduction of Run-Off Water with an Eco-Friendly Walkway

Marcelo Punches — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:51:48 PST

Water run-off can erode slopes and cause flooding in undesirable locations. With the use of permeable pavers we reduce water run-off issues. Normal pavers or concrete displace water to an unnatural location. This can lead to soil becoming too saturated with water and harm nearby plant life. Using different size rock layers will allow for fast infiltration and percolation of water. LED lights were also installed on this project to complement the permeable pavers.

Laurel Community Farmstand, Yuma, AZ

Robert Vasilieff — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:44:50 PST

Laurel Community Farmstand

Terje Johansen — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:44:49 PST

The project was for us to come up with a temporary farmstand that would be set up to sell fruits and vegetables but mainly to draw people to the area to bring awareness that there were plans to build a development at that location. Our group, Dana Curtice, Robert Vasilieff and Terje Johansen met with the developers three times. New ideas and information were presented in the first two meetings. The third meeting was to present our final design.

Regalia-Induced resistance in powdery mildew-infected grapevine plants correlates with the induction of chalcone synthase

Thomas Crottogini — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:56:10 PST

Backyard Landscaping Design and Irrigation

Diana Eckert et al. — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:10:10 PDT

This project will involve designing and installing a drought friendly landscape in Los Angeles County, specifically in the San Fernando Valley where water restrictions are among the harshest. Along with being a landscape that needs little water, the design also needs to be safe for small children and pets. The backyard that will be designed has a large pool and a small rock garden area with a few succulent plants and some dying groundcover chaotically tossed in. The aim of this project is to design and install a landscape that is easily maintained, safe, and visually appealing while still following the strict water restrictions of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

The Use of Horticulture and Gardening as a Special Education Tool at the High School Level

Krysta Marie Johnson — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:47:44 PDT

THIS REPORT CONTAINS PLANNING METHODS AND INSTALLATION PROCEDURE FOR A RAISED VEGETABLE GARDEN FOR WILSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, IN WILSONVILLE, OREGON. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE GARDEN WAS TO USE IT AS A LEARNING TOOL FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT WILSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. UPON DOING MORE RESEARCH IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE GARDEN CAN ALSO BE USED AS A HEALING TOOL FOR STUDENTS WHO SUFFER FROM ATTENTION DISORDERS AND WHO HAVE EMOTIONAL AND LEARNING DISABILITIES. THE STUDENTS HAVE BECOME INVESTED IN THE GARDEN PROJECT AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE PROJECTS WITH THEIR CLASS.

OVERALL GROWTH OF TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Glacier) INOCULATED WITH SPECIES OF GLOMUS AND TRICHODERMA GROWING UNDER GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS

Brian J. Adkins — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:51:58 PDT

The overall plant growth of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Glacier) cultivated in greenhouse conditions along with inoculation treatments of beneficial fungi species were observed. This study included 2 brand name products containing species of fungi which include: 1)Botanicare Guardian TR containing Trichoderma harzianum 10,000,000 CFU/g, T. hamatum 10,000,000 CFU/g, T. koningii 10,000,000 CFU/g; and 2)Botanicare Guardian MY containing Glomus intraradices 57 propagules/g;G. fasiculatum 57 propagules/g; G. etunicatum 57 propagules/g; G. clarum 57 propagules/g. Treatments include: Treatments: 1) 2g Botanicare Guardian TR; 2) 2g Botanicare Guardian MY; 3) 1g Botanicare Guardian TR + 1g Botanicare Guardian MY; and 4) Control. The overall height increase was 55.04%, 49.36%, 44.42% for treatments 3, 2, 1 respectively. The overall Fresh Weight increase was 50.47%, 40.95%, 33.55% for treatments 3, 2, 1 respectively. The overall dry weight increase was 62.67%, 53.23%, 42.60% for treatments 3, 2, 1 respectively. These findings are consistent with other studies displaying a synergistic effect between various species of fungi. Compatible combinations of various species of AM and Trichoderma, which result in cropping systems that fully utilize AM and Trichoderma symbiosis, are the most efficient, sustainable, and environmentally sound large scale methods for food production. Further study of synergistic affects of AM and Trichoderma on plant growth, and should be conducted to ensure fungal species are compatible with each other and are compatible for a given a given crop.

Creekside Farms Business Plan

Amanda K. Lemm — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:09:07 PDT

Creekside Farms is a developing small business in Paso Robles, where the Lemms have big dreams of hosting weddings and receptions. Incorporating their prime agricultural land in Paso Robles is a necessity to help make this business special. Creekside Farms has huge potential in being the first choice for those searching for a beautiful place to get married and/or have their special reception. Part of making this plan successful, is focusing on using country rose gardens to utilize in wedding flower arrangements as well as accenting the wedding sites. These unique roses allow the Lemm’s the ability to compete with other well established businesses in the area. The purpose of this project is to construct a business plan for Creekside Farms incorporating the use of this area to its full potential for both its scenic aspect as well as the unique cut flower production of country style roses.

THE DESIGNING, INSTALLING, and MAINTAINING of a HYDROPONIC NFT SYSTEM for COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF Lactuca sativa UNDER GREENHOUSE ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS

Alec C. Mayall — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:21:21 PDT

Commercial hydroponic vegetable production is on the rise all over the world, especially in regions where people are increasingly health conscientious, yields and quality are important, or traditional farming is impossible as in regions with non-arable lands. Hydroponics is a powerful tool for vegetable production; however, it does have technological challenges and cost barriers. This project explored the practicality of designing, installing, and maintaining a commercial hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique lettuce production system under greenhouse environmental growing conditions. A medium scale system was designed and installed in a greenhouse and then the growth stages and the scheduling of lettuce for commercial production was practiced and studied. Lettuce grows rapidly from eight to 13 weeks and is suitable for quick harvest times in a hydroponic NFT system. The scale of the NFT system used to produce lettuce will depend on the customer base for any particular grower. Whether producing lettuce on a small scale or large scale, the proper cultural conditions such as light, nutrition, and temperatures need to be met in order to grow healthy and good quality plants. When considering commercial production, always consider customer base and proximity with regards to transport of the finished product.

OBTAINING THE C-27 CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS LICENSE

Nick Logan — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:23:07 PDT

The purpose of this project was to obtain the C-27 contractors license in California while still continuing education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, prior to graduation. Experience and verification of experience is extremely important in the process of obtaining the C-27. Without sufficient experience in landscape contracting, attempting to obtain the license is futile. Some people have the experience needed and this project is aimed at helping those people realize they can take advantage of their knowledge and become licensed. Even if those eligible are not prepared to own and operate a landscaping business, having the license can be a very valuable asset to a company and may put one into higher consideration for a job position in an established company, such as Valley Crest.