Tropical Horticulture
HORT 423
David Byrne
Millie Burrell
Initial Student Questionaire - 2003
HORT 423 – Tropical Horticulture
NAME----------------------------------------------------------------Telephone number: __________________ email address: ___________________________________
MAJOR---------------------------------------------------------------FUTURE JOB INTEREST
FIELD (Pomology, Landscape, etc)------------------------------AREA OF WORK (Research, Extension, Teaching, etc.)------------COURSES TAKEN
Horticulture
Related Fields
HORT 311 Princ. Food Processing
AGRO 301 Soil Science
HORT 326 Plant Propagation
ENTO 201 Gen. Entomol
HORT 325 Vegetable Crops
PLPA 301/303 Pl Path
OTHERS
PPHY 313/315
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Course materials
• Reference books
– List is being developed
• Home Page
–
–
–
–
Under development
Lecture powerpoint presentations
Supplemental readings
Links for topics/crops etc.
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
HORT 423 – Tropical Horticulture - FALL, 2003
Course Schedule
Instructor: David H. Byrne
HFSB 428, 862-3072, Email: d-byrne@tamu.edu
Teaching Assistant: Millie Burrell
HFSB 429, Email: millieburrell@tamu.edu
HFSB 101, MW 5:15 – 6:30 pm
Lecture #
Date
1
2
3
4
5
Sept. 1
Sept. 3
Sept. 8
Sept. 10
Sept. 15
Topic
Course Overview and Introduction to the Tropics
Tropical Climates, Soils and Agro-ecosystems
Beverage Crops: Cacao
Coffee
Tea
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Sept. 17
Sept. 22
Sept. 24
Sept. 29
Oct. 1
Oct. 6
Oct. 8
Oct. 13
Oct. 15
Fruits and their importance in tropical horticulture
Musa: Banana and plantains
Musa: Banana and plantains
Pineapple
EXAM
Papaya and Mango
Sapodilla, Breadfruit, and Jackfruit
Tamarind, Sapote, Guava, and Guanabana (Annona species)
Passionfruit, Carambola, Mangosteen, and Durian
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Oct. 20
Oct. 22
Oct. 27
Oct. 29
Nov. 3
Nov. 5
Nov. 10
Nov. 12
Nov. 17
Nut Crops: Cashews and Brazil nuts
Macadamia
Palms: Dates and Coconuts
African oil palm
Rubber and Neem
Root crops: Cassava
EXAM
Yam, Taro, and Jicama
Vegetable Crops: Amaranth, Vegetable Soybean, Mung beans
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
24
25
26
Nov. 19
Nov. 24
Nov. 26
27
28
Dec. 1
Dec. 3
30
Dec. 16
Spices: Vanilla production, Cinnamon
Pepper, All spice
Nutmeg and Mace
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Legume crops: Pigeon peas
Chick peas and black beans
READING DAYS
FINAL EXAM:
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Grading:
A Exam
B Exam
Weekly homework
Class demonstration
Final Exam
Paper
TOTAL
20%
20%
12 %
3%
20%
25%
100%
200 points
200 points
120 points
30 points
200 points
250 points
1000 points
• Weekly Homework
– 3 questions with answers
• Previous week lectures
• Multiple choice or short answer
– 15 points each
– 120 total points + 30 extra points
– Graded and compiled for class
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Grading:
A Exam
B Exam
Weekly homework
Class demonstration
Final Exam
Paper
TOTAL
20%
20%
12 %
3%
20%
25%
100%
200 points
200 points
120 points
30 points
200 points
250 points
1000 points
• Class Demonstration
– Tropical
• Plant
• Plant part (root, tuber, stem, fruit, seed etc.)
• Plant product
– Need to fill out Demonstration Sheet
– 30 points, need to schedule and get approval
– Can do one additional one for 30 extra points
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Class Demonstration Sheet
Name of the sample:
Common Name: ____________________________________
Scientific Name: ____________________________________
Draw in the Center of Origin and Domestication History
Plant description:
Culture of plant:
Use:
References:
Name:
Date:
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Grading of the paper is as follows:
Task
Initial topic choice – typed title with short outline
Detailed outline – with your list of references
Powerpoint presentation – digital/printed
Final written paper – digital/printed
Total points
Points
10
20
50
170
250
Due dates
Sept. 17
Oct. 22
Nov. 12
Dec. 3
• Requirements of paper
– References
• Minimum of 3 from internet and 3 from scientific
literature
– Length, 7-20 pages
– Format, follow ASHS guidelines for Feature
article
• Extra credit, 4-7 oral presentation of topic
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Hort 400
Spring Break Study Tour
of Tropical Horticulture
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Any Questions?
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
What is the Tropics?
Tropic of Cancer - 23.5° N
Equator
Intertropical Convergence Zone
Tropic of Capricorn - 23.5° S
• Land area that is defined by position of the sun
• Highest latitude where sun is directly overhead
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
What is the Tropics?
Tropic of Cancer - 23.5° N
Equator
Intertropical Convergence Zone
Tropic of Capricorn - 23.5° S
• 38 % land mass is in the Tropical Zone
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Land Use in the Tropics
(area in Mha)
Perennial Pasture
crops
Woodlands
Region
% land
area
Arable
crops
World
100
1373
102
3212
4049
Developed
42
652
22
1250
1867
Developing
Not tropical
20
233
22
794
277
Tropical
38
488
58
1168
1905
Data from Webster and Wilson, 1998, Table 1.1
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Land (%) Suitable for Rain-fed Agriculture
Region
Suitable
land
Marginally
suitable
Land
cultivated
Africa
(less South Africa)
27%
8%
6%
Southeast Asia
33%
25%
31%
Central America
27%
6%
14%
South America
46%
8%
8%
Data from Webster and Wilson, 1998, Table 1.4
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Land Use in the Tropics
Region
% land
area
Developed
world
42
Cereal
yield
(t/ha)
3.0
Fertilizer
use
(Kg/ha)
% Increase in
ferilizer use
Tropical
38
1.8
27.3
(123%)
Africa
17
1.0
2.7
(52%)
Asia
8
2.1
46.5
(213%)
Americas
12
2.1
19.9
(40%)
Data from Webster and Wilson, 1998
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
What is the Tropics?
• 44% of the world’s population
(National Geographic Society Map)
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
What is the Tropics?
1975 and 2000
• 44% of the world’s population
(Figure 2, The Global 2000 Report to the President, 1977)
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Population Projections
from 1975 to 2000 (millions)
Region
Developed
world
Africa
Asia
Americas
Population
Population
1975
projection 2000
Percent
increase
Annual %
increase
1,131
1,323
17
0.6
399
814
104
2.9
2,274
3,630
60
1.9
325
637
96
2.7
(The Global 2000 Report to the President, 1977)
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Land Use Changes in the Tropics
from 1975 to 1988: area in Mha and % change in ( )
Region
Population % Increase in
increase in
population
millions
Developed
world
% population Population per
in agriculture
ha
9
0.2
Tropical
662
(41%)
58
0.5
Africa
174
(59%)
72
0.2
Asia
381
(36%)
62
1.4
Americas
107
(38%)
29
0.2
Data from Webster and Wilson, 1998, Table 1.1
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Agriculture in the Tropics
• Large proportion of population involved in
agriculture
– Developed world
– Tropics
9%
58% (29% to 72%)
• Mostly by small holders
– Mainly for subsistence
– May grow some cash crops
• Mainly with traditional methods
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Agricultural Development in the
Tropics
• Diverse cultures affect the practice of
agriculture
– Forbidden foods
• Religious taboos on eggs, pork, and beef
– African custom of maintaining life stock
• Excessive numbers result in pasture degradation etc.
– Rigid group or tribal life vs individual life
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Agricultural Development in the
Tropics
• Land tenure and inheritance
– Communal tenure versus individual ownership
– Various landlord - tenant farmer systems
• Lack of incentives to adopt higher yielding practices
• Lack of incentive to plant perennial crops
– Fragmentation and decreasing size of land
holdings
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Agricultural Development in the
Tropics
• Governmental Support and Finance
– Land tenure reform
– Infrastructure improvements
• Communications, roads, irrigation systems, land
drainage, flood control
– Availability of financial services (ie credit)
• Recurring farm inputs
• Associated industries, fertilizer, processing, etc
– Marketing support
– Extension and Research services
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
What is the Tropics?
Biomass Production Potential
• 50% of the world’s biota
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Land Use Changes in the Tropics
from 1975 to 1988: area in Mha and % change in ( )
Region
Agriculture
(Mha)
Woodlands
(Mha)
% change in
woodlands
Tropical
67
-121
-6%
Africa
15
-36
-5%
Asia
7
-23
-7%
Americas
45
-61
-6%
Data from Webster and Wilson, 1998, Table 1.1
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Forest Lands in the World
(area in million of hectares)
Region
1980
1990
Total
loss
% lost
Africa
650
600
50
7.7%
Asia
311
275
36
11.5%
Latin
America
923
840
83
9.0%
TOTAL
1,884
1,715
169
9.0%
Lyke and Fletcher, 1992
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Why is the Forest being cut?
• Expansion of Agriculture
– 60%
– Pasture, Perennial Crops, Annual Crops
• Forestry
– Roads make accessible to others
– Clear cut and selective cut approaches
• Other Developments
– Industry, towns, cities
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Deforestation in the Tropics
• The rate of loss is increasing
• 1981
– 11 million ha per year
• 1990
– 17 million ha per year
– Area the size of the state of Washington
Lyke and Fletcher, 1992
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Deforestation in Southeast Asia
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Deforestation in Brazil
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Deforestation in Brazil
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
High level of plant and animal
diversity
• Tropical forests
– 7 -8 % of land
– 50% of world’s species
• Center of origin of many of the world’s
most important crops
–
–
–
–
Food - grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits
Fiber
Medicinal
Ornamentals
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Origins of Common Domestic
Plants
Agave
Cacao
Cotton
Maize
Papaya
Peppers
Pumpkin
Scarlet Runner Bean
Sieva Bean
Tomato
Winter Squash
Sweet Potato
Common Bean
Meso
America
Chick pea
Date
Fig
Flax
Lentil
Pomegranite
Avocado
Cassava
Cotton
Peanuts
Peppers
Pineapple
Rubber
Tobacco
Sweet Potato
Near
East
India
Africa
Highland
S. America
Common Bean
Cotton
Grain Amaranths
Lima Bean
Potato
Tomato
South
America
Tropical
Banana
Black Pepper
Bermuda Grass
Citrus
Mango
Oriental rice
Tea
Thin Sugarcane
Yam
African rice
Bermuda Grass
Coffee
Cowpea
Finger millet
Muskmelon
Oil Palm
Okra
Sesame
Sorghum
Watermelon
Horticulture - Texas
A&M
Yam
Cowpea
Cucumber
Eggplant
Muskmelon
Okra
Pigeon pea
Sesame
University
SE Asia
South Pacific
Breadfruit
Clove
Coconut
Jackfruit
Noble Sugarcane
Taro
Local Effects of Deforestation
• Livlihood/cultural integrity of forest dwellers
• Soil degradation
– Erosion
– Loss of fertility
• Watershed flows of surface and ground water
• Local climate changes due to removal of
natural vegetation
– Less evaporation
– Greater heat absorption
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Global Effects of Deforestation
• Carbon cycle of the world
• Upon burning forests
– Carbon dioxide is released to atmosphere
– Enhances the greenhouse effect
– May increase rate of global warming
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
50% of World’s Biota
• Other Related Issues
• Conservation of unique ecosystems and
plant diversity
• Intellectual Property Rights of plant
biodiversity
• Sustainable Agricultural Development
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
What is the Tropics?
•
•
•
•
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Warm
Humid
Rainy
Jungle
What is the Tropics?
•
•
•
•
•
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Warm
Semi arid
Shrubland
Grasslands
Savanna
What is the Tropics?
• Warm to cool
• Dry
• Deserts
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
What is the Tropics?
• Cool to cold
• Wet to Dry
• Highlands
3° F/1000 feet
5.6°C/1000 m
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Ground Cover in the Tropics
Percent
Ground Cover
15 %
Rainforest
7%
Dry season forest
18%
Wet savanna
29 %
Dry savanna
29 %
Desert
22%
47%
29%
From Table 2.1, Agriculture in the Tropics, Webster and Wilson, 1998
Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University
Any Questions?