Hey there, fellow gardeners! Ever wondered about the difference between agriculture and horticulture? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! I will discuss here all you need to know about Agriculture vs. Horticulture.
You see, it’s easy to get a bit muddled up when trying to distinguish between the two. But fear not, my gardening experience has taught me a thing or two about it.
According to the USDA, agriculture is all about cultivating crops and raising animals to ensure a steady food supply.
On the other hand, horticulture is a branch of agriculture that focuses on growing plants not just for food (which is pretty important, let’s be honest), but also for medicinal purposes and to create beautiful gardens that make our hearts sing.
Now, apart from this clear-cut definition, let me share some more insights to help you differentiate between agriculture and horticulture. Because understanding the nuances of these two closely related cultivation processes can really expand your gardening know-how.
Let’s get started!
Agriculture Vs. Horticulture – What Do They Mean:
In the below table, I will discuss the difference between agriculture and horticulture in 9 areas.
Agriculture vs. Horticulture
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| Area | Agriculture | Horticulture | |
| 1 | Food supply | The main source of supply of food to the nation is agriculture. | It is an ornamental process of growing plants mainly having the objective of landscaping the garden. |
| 2 | Medical support | Any kind of cultivation of plants including medicinal herbs can be possible in agriculture. Though its main purpose is to ensure the continuous food supply to the nation. | One of the streams of planned horticulture is growing medicinal plants. Horticulture therapy includes improving physical, emotional, and intellectual disabilities. It also means the use of plants in hospitals and other medicinal hubs to cure patients of their sufferings. |
| 3 | Yields | Production under natural climatic conditions, using soil conditioners in terms of fertilizer and manure and planned agricultural techniques yields higher production to satisfy the needs of the people of the nation. | With of objective of beautification and ornamentation, horticulture is not meant for crop production, and thus, higher yields from horticulture are not the objective behind practicing it |
| 4 | Dependency on soil structure | The field-based traditional system of cultivation is mainly dependent on soil structure. The total cultivation process including the selection of particular crops is dependent on the quality of the soil. | This planned modern cultivation system can mitigate the limitation of soil structure by transforming the infertile soil into the production-suitable by conditioning it with organic/inorganic compounds. |
| 5 | Technology dependence | Agriculture is mainly dependent on traditional field-based farming. Though with the extending urbanization, the introduction of technology has been starting slowly. However, the wide acceptance is still in progress. | The insubstantial cultivation scope and the limited demand from this special branch of agriculture are mostly technology based. |
| 6 | Employment generation | A large number of unskilled labor is required if agriculture is field-based. | A skilled labor force with proper training in the know-how of this special type of agriculture process is required to be employed. |
| 7 | Government intervention | Being the primary need of the nation, government intervention in the form of tax relief, imposition of subsidy, free lease to the agricultural land, etc. are already available in agriculture in different nations. | Landscaping of public parks, gardening in government offices, government residential quarters, hospitals, etc all are financed by the Government. |
| 8 | Participation in international trade | The export of agricultural products to other countries takes a positive part in international trade. | The export of medicinal plants, herbs, ornamental flowers, and fruits adds value to the international trade. |
| 9 | Aesthetic value | Though the aesthetic value of field cultivation is zero, however, the modern technology of cultivation like vertical farming, hydroponic farming, and greenhouse farming, all can substitute the field farming both in terms of productivity and aesthetic looks. | Horticulture is popular for its aesthetic value. One of the objectives of landscape horticulture is designing, installing, and maintaining outdoor and indoor gardens of public parks, gardens of offices, and residents. |
If you want to know more about horticulture and its product, please click on the below link to get detailed list on horticulture products.
Conclusion and Take Away!
Now you are aware of the difference between agriculture and horticulture. As a garden enthusiast, you must understand the differences. It will also help you to take a reasonable decision about choosing plants, growing methods etc right in your backyard garden. If you have any questions let me know in the comment section below.
So what are you waiting for? Bookmark this page for future use and share it with your gardening buddies now!
If you’re curious about other cool farming methods or the best veggies and herbs for your home garden, check out my other articles in the “Related” posts section below and the “Recent Posts” section.
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- References:
- Source 1: USDA