Agriculture is crop and livestock production. Horticulture is a plant growing in a controlled area. Horticulture vs agriculture given here.
Horticulture is part of agriculture and is done on a small scale. It is ornamental, small-scale and non-industrial cultivation of plants. Whereas agriculture is done on a large scale covering all types of farming of crops, fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, trees and livestocks etc. There is a slight difference between both. The meaning of Horticulture and Agriculture is elaborated today with a comparison, given in a table.
Horticulture vs agriculture meaning difference
Horticulture vs agriculture definition, meaning, purpose, beginning, and difference is given. Earlier horticulture was a part of agriculture but later horticulture and forestry were kept outside agriculture. In horticulture technology is used to grow the plants for their look and other benefits as well, so mostly ornamental plants are grown here.
In agriculture not only plants are grown but also different types of animals are raised. The purpose of agriculture is sustainability and livelihood.
| Horticulture | Agriculture |
| Horticulture is small-scale, ornamental and non-industrial cultivation of plants done for joy not livelihood. | Includes horticulture, arable farming, animal husbandry and forestry. |
| Now treated out of agriculture, separately. | Later horticulture and forestry were excluded from agriculture. |
| It contains scientific methods on priority. | Contains traditional and scientific methods both. |
| Horticulture began with domestication of plants c. 10,000 – c. 20,000 years ago. | Agriculture began for the survival of human beings several years ago before horticulture. |
| Different types of plants are experimented on and raised for high quality. | Different types of plants, animals and crops are raised, some for high quality and some for more yield and revenue. |
Agriculture and Horticulture meaning and definition
Agricultural vs horticultural meaning and difference is covered below. You can also check out list of agriculture days given in our website.
Horticulture meaning and definition
C. 10,000 – C. 20,000 years ago horticulture began with domestication of plants. In the beginning plants were grown for sustainability, maintenance and growth later they grew for ornamental value.
Horticulture is smaller and technical where plant cultivation is done in a more controlled way than agronomy. Horticulture is the art and science of growing ornamental plants, trees, shrubs, fruits and flowers.
Plants are grown for a variety of purposes and there are various divisions of horticulture but it is not limited to these decisions such as propagation, arboriculture, landscaping, turf maintenance and floriculture. Knowledge of horticulturist and high specialized skills required to perform any division.
Plant care and maintenance is focused on gardening. Horticulture is advanced and technical aspects, growing plants with scientific methods, plant breeding and farming technical practices are focused in horticulture. Gardening is focused on aesthetic care and maintenance of plants.
In the beginning Horticulture was the same like any other gardening and farming. Later it was distinct from agriculture when people started planting plants for pleasure not for livelihood.
Divisions of horticulture and types of horticulturists
As plants are grown for different purposes there are various divisions of horticulture.
Gardening, floriculture, arboriculture, landscaping, plant conservation, turf maintenance, landscaping and plant production and propagation.
Agriculture meaning and definition
Agriculture is a broad industry using natural resources to produce commodities which maintain life including food, forest products, horticulture crops, fiber and their related services.
Actually agriculture includes horticulture, arable farming, animal husbandry and forestry but horticulture and forestry are often excluded from agriculture.
In agriculture, plant agriculture and animal agriculture are two important terms. Plant agriculture denotes cultivation of useful plants and animal agriculture is about production of agricultural animals.
Agriculture contains crop and livestock production. It is a wide field and also contains aquaculture and forestry for food and non food productions.
All types of cultivation and farming practices come under agriculture. Raising cows, goats, sheep, and fish farming falls under agriculture. There are different agricultural halls located in Indiana, Wisconsin.
Agriculture types
Pastoralism, shifting cultivation, Subsistence farming, arable land, intensive farming.
Pastoralism – It is about managing domesticated animals.
Shifting cultivation – Small area forest is used for cultivation. The area is cleaned by cutting and burning the trees.
Intensive farming – This farming is practice to satisfy the family or local needs alone.
Intensive farming – This is practice to increase productivity. The productivity increased with a low fallow ratio and use of water, pesticide, fertilizer and automation in high amounts. Intensive farming is mainly done in the developed countries.
Conclusion – Today you learnt about horticulture and Agriculture. A brief comparison between both is given in the table Horticulture vs agriculture. Hopefully, now you are a little bit more aware about horticulture and agriculture. In horticulture plants are grown with technology in one limited space with control. Ornamental plants are grown for joy whereas agriculture is done for survival and contains plants and animal agriculture.