Unit: 1. Horticulture, Landscaping and Silviculture
AGRIBUSINESS MQF LEVEL 1
Learning Outcome: 1. I can describe the basic principles of Gardening, Landscaping and Silviculture
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- Tools: hoe; gardening fork; gardening shears; pruning shears; rake; shovel; spade; pruning hand saw; hedging shears; sickle; wheel burrow; dibber; grafting knife; sprayer; water hose; tape measure.
- Health and Safety Equipment: Work gloves; safety shoes; face mask with pesticide filter; visor/safety glasses.
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- Maltese natural Habitats: eg. High Maquis, Maquis, Garrigue, Steppe, Sand Dunes, Coastal, Riverine, Salt Marshes.
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Factors:
- Spatial Organisation
- Colour Scheme
- Focal Point
- Visual Balance
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Public Gardens in Malta: eg. San Anton Garden, Argotti Gardens, The Chinese Garden of Serenity, Upper Barrakka, Lower Barrakka Gardens, Buskett, Foresta 2000, Sa Maison Gardens, Ta' Qali National Park, Palazzo Parisio, St. Philip Garden.
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- Tools: hoe; gardening fork; gardening shears; rake; spade; pruning hand saw; hedging shears; dibber; sprayer; tape measure.
Learning Outcome: 2. I can identify of the most commonly used plants used in Horticulture, Landscaping and Silviculture in Malta
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Plant type:
- Forestry trees
- Fruit trees
- Large and medium sized shrubs
- Small shrubs
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- eg: cacti (including prickly pear), eucalyptus, oleander, ficus (except for carica), geranium, century plant, acacia
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Small garden in which a selection of the following are planted:
- seasonals
- herbs/ small shrubs
large shrubs/ trees
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- As according to your design under supervision in line with instructions using PPE.
Learning Outcome: 3. I can identify the importance of soil in horticulture and landscaping.
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- Growing media: soil; compost; peat; vermiculite, coconut fibre, perlite.
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Types of soil: Tal-Bajjad, Hamrani, Ramli,Tafli.
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- Observe deficiencies.
- Observe adjustments needed
- Link adjustments needed to required fertiliser.
Learning Outcome: 4. I can compare asexual and sexual plant propagation techniques
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- Propagation techniques: by seed, by cutting, by division, by layering.
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- Sexual propagation from seeds: pollination, seed formation, planting a seed in a growing medium.
Asexual propagation: stem cuttings (Hedera helix, Geranium sp., Coleus sp. Rosemary, succulents), leaf cuttings (succulents), Layering (Hedera helix or Ficus carica or Clematis cirrhosa) and Division (Asphidistra or Sansevieria sp. or Farfugium japonicum or Spathiphyllum sp. or Smilax aspera)
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- Propagation techniques: by seed, by cutting, by division, by layering.
Learning Outcome: 5. I can identify the effect of abiotic factors in plant growth
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- Light - photosynthesis
- Water - nutrient transport
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Major nutrients: nitrogen; phosphorus and potassium- Micro nutrients: sulphur; chlorine; calcium; iron; magnesium.
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- Climate: Tropical; dry; moderate; continental.