Landscaping and Commercial Floriculture - 1 | Agriculture Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

Since ancient times, flowers and decorative plants have been connected to our civilization. From the seal of Mohen-jo-daro, the first indication of pipal as an ornamental plant is revealed. The Harappan seals provide another example from the same era of the use of an ornamental plant that resembles weeping willow. Additionally, gardens and flowers have been mentioned in our ancient classic literature.

Although loose flowers were grown for domestic purposes, such as making garlands, gajra, veni, and other crafts, as well as for social events like marriages, birthdays, religious offerings, and other gatherings, the commercial cultivation of cut flowers for both domestic and international markets is a relatively new development in our nation. 

An important subfield of horticulture is called floriculture, and it deals with landscape gardening, dried flowers, essential oils, and ornamental plants like bamboo, cacti, and succulents, as well as cut or loose flowers. An attractive and increasingly necessary component of the floriculture industry, gardening contributes to a pollution-free urban environment. 

Floriculture

A subfield of horticulture known as floriculture is concerned with the growing, handling, and commercialization of decorative plants in relation to small- and large-scale landscape design, as well as the upkeep of gardens to create a visually appealing environment.

Floriculture encompasses the production of annual (seasonal), biennial, and perennial ornamentals, including dried flowers or plant parts, bromeliads, trees, shrubs, climbers, bulbous plants, lawn and ornamental grasses, bamboos, orchids, palms, and cycads, as well as foliage, bedding, pot and house plants, cut and loose flowers, fillers, and ferns. It also involves the extraction of essential oils and edible pigments and their marketing in relation to the creation and upkeep of gardens.

The production and trade of flowers, nursery and potted plants, seeds, bulbs, plant rental services, tissue culture propagation, and the extraction of essential oils are all included in India's floriculture industry. 

Importance and uses of floriculture

From an aesthetic, social, and economic perspective, one of the most promising areas of the horticultural industry is floriculture. It has the ability to earn foreign exchange and create year-round employment opportunities. Various floriculture value-added products are the primary agricultural export goods in many nations.

Now let's examine the significance and applications of commercial floriculture:

Cut flowers

These long-lasting flowers are harvested with their stalks, specifically for vase arrangements. These make up a sizable portion of all floriculture products traded globally. Roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, orchids, gerberas, lilium, anthurium, gladiolus, narcissus, bird of paradise, heliconia, anemone, ranunculus, tulips, calla lilies, etc. are important crops for cutting. 

Cut flowers are used as corsages, flower arrangements, and decorative elements when creating bouquets and floral baskets.

Loose flowers

Flowers that are loose are harvested from stalkless plants below the calyx. These are highly sought after, particularly in Asian nations, where they are used to make garlands, rangoli, bracelets, veni, garden displays, religious offerings, and bracelets.

Roses, chrysanthemums, marigolds, jasmine, tuberose, gaillardia, crossandra, barleria, chandni, kaner, hibiscus, spider lilies, and eranthemums are examples of loose flowers. 

Cut greens

Cut greens, also known as cut foliage (leaves and stems), are long-lasting and in high demand because of their attractive form, color, and freshness. These are added to flower arrangements and other designs as fillers to enhance their visual appeal, along with cut flowers. These floral products can also be used to create beautiful fresh floral arrangements and designs, such as bouquets, wreaths, interior house décor, and more. A few of the in-demand cut foliages are thuja, asparagus, eucalyptus, cupressus, and so forth. 

Potted plants

Potted plants are very important to the economy because they can be used for both indoor and outdoor decoration and for quick gardening. These are easily transportable to locations that require immediate landscaping. The market for potted plants is expanding rapidly. Potted plants can have beautiful flowers or foliage. For a variety of occasions and events, they are used for interior decoration in residences, workplaces, business buildings, corporate offices, hotels, shopping centers, and other locations. These plants are becoming more and more important because, in an increasingly crowded world, people must rely primarily on potted plants to decorate their homes and surrounds. Aglaonema, aralia, azalea, begonia, calathea, chlorophytum, croton, diffenbachia, dracaena, ferns, ficus, kalanchoe, maranta, money plant, etc. are a few types of potted plants.

Flower seed and planting material

Quality flower seeds are in high demand, particularly for annual ornamentals and decorative planting materials. In India, a variety of soil types and climates allow for the production of almost any kind of flower from seed. Annual flower seeds are produced in large quantities for retail sales. Many bulbous plants are grown and sold, including gladiolus, tuberose, amaryllis, dahlia, lilies, freesia, tulip, and calla lily.

Nursery

Nurseries are designed to produce and supply plants and planting materials, as well as, generally speaking, offer advice on growing ornamentals and caring for gardens. In order to supply a variety of plants and planting material, such as nursery seedlings or prepared plants of trees, shrubs, climbers, seedlings of annuals and perennials, foliage plants, bulbous plants, cacti and succulents, palms, indoor plants, grasses, seeds, bulbs, etc., an ornamental plant nursery can be a profitable retail or wholesale enterprise.

Lawn

It's a landscape green carpet. A lawn is a field of well-mown grass created in a garden or in front of a house. It is an essential component of the garden, offering spectators a lovely setting and giving off oxygen into the air much like the body's lungs do. A lawn can be used for recreation and aesthetic purposes. Additionally, it offers a fitting backdrop for specimen trees, shrub borders, and flower beds. It raises a property's monetary worth. Different types of grasses are used in sports like tennis, hockey, cricket, and golf as well as in landscape design and lawn maintenance. Recent government initiatives to promote a variety of sports have helped the turf industry.

Perfumes

The market for natural floral extracts, such as those used to make perfumes, is growing every day. Certain flowers, like tuberose, screwpine (kewra), jasmine, and rose, are used to extract essential oils that are then used to make attar or perfumes. 

Colour pigments

Natural pigments are extracted from flowers. Flowers are a commercial source of carotenoids, which are also used as food coloring, animal feed additives, and supplements in the pharmaceutical industry. Because marigold petals are rich in carotenoid pigment, they are used as a significant feed additive for poultry birds to enhance the yellow color of egg yolks.

These are also used to shield people from night blindness and dry eyes. Chrysanthemum flowers are used to extract a yellow dye that is used in cosmetics and food items. The arils of Bixa orellana (sinduri) are used to extract an orange-red edible dye that is used for coating in cosmetics and medications. 

Dried flowers

Many species of plants only have leaves and flowers for a brief time, and their availability is limited to that time. Flowers can be easily dried, preserved, and processed to maintain their beauty and timeless character using the dry flower technique. Some of the flowers that are air dried and used as dry flowers are straw flower, lotus pods, dahlia, larkspur, paper flower, annual chrysanthemum, and marigold. 

Combat pollution

Parks and other open areas with vegetation aid in reducing air pollution. Cities' parks are referred to as their lungs.

Increasing the use of plants enhances the environment's beauty and our health. Planting a variety of plants reduces soil erosion and pollution of the air, water, and noise. Trees contribute shade and organic matter, which enhance an area's microclimate. In addition to offering a tranquil environment for meditation, parks and gardens are used as leisure areas and are linked to improved physical and mental health.

Aesthetic value

The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines "aesthetic" as the study of beauty appreciation and the sense of beauty. One way to define "aesthetic value" is as the theory of how beautiful particular natural resources are. It is the worth or enjoyment that people derive from anything beautiful. Flowers are a symbol of purity, love, and peace and have aesthetic value in human life. The following are some common aesthetic qualities of flowers.

Psychological

Giving flowers to family members, friends, or an ailing person at home, in a hospital, or in a rehabilitation center generally brings them joy and serenity.

Landscaping

The process of transforming a plot of land into something lovely and appealing is called landscaping. Because it improves an area's aesthetics, infuses the surrounding area with serenity and freshness, and raises the value of a property, landscaping is growing in popularity. It is crucial for establishments such as homes, workplaces, schools, supermarkets, etc. because people form their first impressions of a building based on its exterior. Gardens and parks provide a space for people to unwind and take in the beauty of nature. A lawn is mainly laid for aesthetic reasons and is an essential component of a garden.

Indoor gardening

"Indoor gardening" is the practice of growing plants inside of a building. It enhances the aesthetics of the interiors while also enhancing the quality of the air.

Flower arrangement

The beautiful and creative form of flower display known as "flower arrangement" not only calms and revitalizes the mind, but also gives the arranger a source of income. Various flower arrangements can be made with cut flowers.

There are many occasions when flower arrangements can be made, including weddings and birthdays. The room and table are made more beautiful when flowers are used as a centerpiece in a vase.