Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Lesson 1, Intro, Population Instructor: Dr. Stephen L. Love Aberdeen R & E Center 1693 S 2700 W Aberdeen, ID Phone: Fax:

Far Side

Calvin & Hobbes

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Objectives Appreciate importance of vegetable industry Improve knowledge of vegetable crop systems history classification culture and production handling and marketing Think critically of crop requirements

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Text Book: World Vegetables: Principles, Production, and Nutritive Values 2 nd Edition. Vincent E. Rubatzky Mas Yamaguchi 1997 or 2007, Chapman and Hall ISBN: (1997) ISBN: (2007)

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Veg Crops web site: Course syllabus (keep it handy) Supplemental reading assignments Course lecture notes Lecture PowerPoint files Site address: This course will not use UI BbLearn

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Other Reading: Other textbook chapters Crop production guides Handling and marketing information Posted on the Veg Crops web site at least 1 week prior to discussion.

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Exams: 1 hour, 15 minute exam period Combination of: True/False Multiple choice Critical essay Final exam partly comprehensive

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Term Paper/Presentation: Pick a minor vegetable crop Complete and turn in a report outline Complete a written term paper (6-10 pages, dbl spaced plus references) Complete a presentation (10 minutes)

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Term Paper/Presentation: Grade Breakdown: Outline – 2 points Completed paper – 9 points Presentation – 9 points

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Term Paper/Presentation Content: Taxonomy Use and importance Propagation Production and Pest Control Post-harvest handling Marketing Recipes (optional)

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Term Paper/Presentation: Examples of minor vegetables: (see text) Amaranth Amaranthus tricolor AsparagusAsparagus officianalis CardoonCynara cardunculus ChervilAnthriscus cerefolium ChoyoteSechium edule CowpeaVigna sinensis

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Examples of minor vegetables: FennelFoeniculum vulgare GherkinCucumis anguira Ground cherryPhysalis pubescens JackfruitArtocarpus heterophyllus MartyniaProboscidea lousiana OkraHibiscus esculentus

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Examples of minor of vegetables: ParsnipPastinaca sativa PeanutArachis hypogaea PlantainMusa paradisiaca RhubarbRheum rhaponticum RutabagaBrassica campestris SalsifyTragopogon porrifolius

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Examples of minor vegetables: SeakaleCramb maritima SorrelRumex acetosa Swiss chardBeta vulgaris var. cicla TaroColocasia esculenta WatercressRorippa nasturtium Other minor succulent or spice crops

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Group Project: Work in groups of 4 (3-5) people Choose a major vegetable crop (from approved list) Contrast 3 production systems Traditional Organic Subsistence Meet at least 4 times (keep a log of activities) Present written and oral report of findings

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Approved list of Group Project crops: White potatoSolanum tuberosum Sweet potatoesIpomoea batatas Sweet cornZea mays OnionsAllium cepa CabbageBrassica oleracea TomatoLycopersicon lycopersicum PepperCapsicum annuum Melon (cantaloupe)Cucumis melo CarrotDaucus carota

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Reading Assignments/Log: Reading assignments completed before each lecture Keep a reading log (electronic or handwritten): Record date Write 2-3 paragraphs summarizing information Write statement of one newly discovered concept Submit reading log at the end of the semester *2 randomly chosen people will read logs each week

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Grading Rubric: 2 interim exams (15 points each) Final exam (20 points) Term paper/presentation (20 points) Group activity(15 points) Reading log (15 points) Common grading (90+ A, B, etc) PLSC551 scoring adjusted for graduate project

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Course Schedule (subject to change) Exam 1 – Sept 19 Term paper topic due – Sept 26 Term paper outline due – Oct 10 Exam 2 – Oct 22 Group project report due – Oct 31 Written term papers due – Nov 14 Presentations – Nov 28, Dec 3, 5 Final Exam – Dec 11 (UI), Dec 14 (WSU) No class Sep 3, Nov 19, 21 (Arrangements for WSU Nov 12)

Vegetable Crops –PLSC 451/551 Graduate Course Credit (PLSC551) Additional Project Visit an operating greenhouse facility Complete a report on the crops produced, production practices, marketing strategies, etc. Grading will be adjusted: interim exams 12 points, final exam 17 points, term paper 17 points, graduate project 20 points, group activity 11 points, and reading log 11 points.

Keep your syllabus handy.

Vegetable Crops - definition Webster’s definition of vegetable “A herbaceous plant cultivated for food, the edible part or parts of such plants”

Vegetable Crops - definition Are Not: Cereal crops Sugar crops Pulse crops Woody fruit crops Are: Almost everything else 90+ economically important crops of various types and species

Vegetable Crops – other features Generally cultured as annuals Mostly propagated from seed Many are insect pollinated Highly variable in climate and environment Most require intensive management Production acreage is usually small All are very important in the human diet

Vegetable Crops – PlSc 451/551 WHY are we studying vegetable crops? Because they are critical to betterment of the human condition Nutrition Diet diversification Food security

Questions for Discussion What is projected for human population in the future? How will we feed all of these people?

Human Population Growth Thomas Malthus’, An Essay on the Principle of Population: Geometric expansion of people 1x – 2x – 4x – 8x – 16x etc… Linear increase in food supply 1 – – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7…

Human Population Feeding the hungry masses North Korea (2 million deaths) Many areas of Africa Afghanistan One person in seven is chronically underfed

Human Population Growth - Factors Dependable food production, transportation Rising incomes Improved housing and hygiene Medical advances Life expectancy in 1900: 47 years in 1998: 75 years

Human Population Growth Page 7, Fig 1.7, Chrispeels and Sadava. Plant, Genes and Crop Biotechnology. 2 nd Ed.

Human Population Growth Page 2, Fig 1.2, Chrispeels and Sadava. Plant, Genes and Crop Biotechnology. 2 nd Ed.

Human Population Growth In the last half of the previous century: Page 4, Fig 1.4, Chrispeels and Sadava. Plant, Genes and Crop Biotechnology. 2 nd Ed.

Human Population Growth Page 5, Fig 1.6, Chrispeels and Sadava. Plant, Genes and Crop Biotechnology. 2 nd Ed.

Human Population Growth Fertility will continue to decline to replacement in 2050 Life expectancy will continue to improve (HIV?) Overall population will level off at 10.5 billion people by UN Population Division predicts:

Greatest growth – greatest need – in areas of the world where subsistence farming is practiced

Human Population Growth Migration: The U.S. receives over 1 million immigrants a year Europe migrants from North Africa and Middle East From southern and eastern Europe to the western European nations

Human Population Growth Migration: within countries common In developing nations in 1850, 11% of the population lived in the cities Currently, 84% of the population lives in urban areas

Human Population Growth How do we increase food supply to match increasing populations? Increase amount of land in production. Increase the productivity of land already in use. Sustainability issues (Earth Summit II)

Human Population Growth Importance to a class in Vegetable Crops? Caloric needs versus Nutritional needs There is a shortage of food materials (fruits and veggies, tubers, root crops, nuts), which are the most important plant foods to supply humans with many of their nutritional needs: minerals, vitamins, proteins, starches, fats, and sugars.

Human Population Growth “If the global community continues to work together to find ways to increase agricultural productivity and income sustainability, it will be able to meet the challenges of a growing world population while providing better, healthier life for all the world's citizens. Better agriculture unleashes economic growth, raises incomes and leads to smaller families.” Lisa Rao – Calypso Log