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Principles of Plant Science and HydrocultureEnvironmental and Natural Resource Management is designed for students interested in learning more about becoming good stewards of our environment and natural resources, as an environmental scientist, conservationist, forester, or wildlife manager.
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Course Standards
Safety
1) Differentiate general occupational safety prevention and control standards as related to the
plant science and hydroculture industry. Apply concepts of safety procedures to complete safety
test with 100 percent accuracy. Obtain the worker protection standards student industry
certification.
Plants, Society, and the Environment
2) Investigate the roles of cultivated plants in meeting the food, fiber, fuel, medicinal, aesthetic,
and occupational needs of society. Identify and describe, in an informative text, the different
domains of the horticulture industry, and examine current issues and trends affecting
professionals in the field. Cite specific textual evidence from government publications and news
media.
3) Summarize the impact and patterns of environmental factors on plant biodiversity by examining
research from academic journals, news articles, and government publications. Describe
important characteristics of the relationships between plants and other organisms, including
basic plant-human interactions, plant-animal interactions, and plant adaptation.
Principles of Soil Science
4) Evaluate, citing specific textual evidence, the physical and chemical properties of soils in an
informative text. Perform technical procedures to classify soils by evaluating biotic and abiotic
factors such as soil pH, texture, permeability, and water holding capacity. Interpret test results
to identity deficiencies and formulate appropriate corrective actions.
5) Describing factors that influence soil quality and erosion. Assess the extent to which reasoning
and evidence presented in news articles or case studies support the use of a specific soil
conservation practice for maintaining healthy growing media for plants.
6) Cite specific textual evidence for the analysis of land selection and conservation practices that
ensure optimal productivity and stewardship. Identify factors that affect site selection for plant
growth and draw evidence from multiple authoritative sources to appraise and justify
management practices that ensure appropriate use of land resources.
Plant Structure and Function
7) Integrate print and digital sources to create a model depicting the parts of plant cells. Examine
the structure and outline the functions of plant cell organelles.
8) Analyze plant anatomy and physiology and relate key concepts to the processes and
requirements involved in plant growth and productivity.
Plant Nutrition
9) Analyze the nutrient requirements of plants and assess the importance of essential plant
nutrients to plant growth and development. Use visual representations to illustrate the chemical
and biological processes, including photosynthesis, that make nutrients available to plants for
growth and maintenance.
10) Justify the use of fertilizers as a source of essential plant nutrients. Calculate fertilizer
formulations and perform different methods of fertilizer application.
11) Research the nutritional factors that influence plant health to identify nutritional deficiencies
and disorders. Compile observations to distinguish between the signs of nutrient deficiency in
plants and defend recommendations for appropriate treatments.
Plant Diseases and Pests
12) Research the principles of disease and pest control to plant health, growth, and maintenance.
Analyze the effects of different types of plant pests and diseases; prescribe methods for pest
and disease prevention and treatment.
13) Demonstrate understanding of common classes of chemicals used for pest management. Gather
and evaluate information regarding PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for chemical
application and demonstrate appropriate use of PPE. Create a checklist for safe storage and
handling of pesticides.
Plant Breeding and Genetics
14) Analyze the reproductive structures in plants and describe how they function in both sexual and
asexual plant reproduction.
15) Investigate the role of DNA, heritability, and genetic applications in plant breeding and compose
an informative essay that describes how mutation, gene flow, and adaption influence plant
populations. Identify desirable traits in various plant species and predict the probable outcome
of genetic crosses based on Mendel’s laws.
Plant Biotechnology
16) Distinguish the branches of science that influence plant biotechnology and summarize important
historical achievements. Examine the role and importance of genetic principles to improving
plant characteristics and perform basic plant DNA extraction procedures.
17) Research current and emerging plant biotechnologies and construct an argumentative essay to
support a claim supporting or opposing the use of a specific biotechnology in horticulture.
Justify and debate ethical, legal, and economic issues surrounding plant biotechnology.
Fundamentals of Hydroponics and Aquaponics
18) Evaluate the significance of hydroponics and aquaponics technology as related to sustainable
practices and principles. Compare and contrast production systems and techniques utilized in
the hydroponics and aquaponics fields, including structures and equipment, production
methods, and common crops.
19) Assess the functions, attributes, and desirable properties of soilless growing media. Write an
informative essay to describe the major components of soilless media, identifying basic physical
and chemical characteristics.
20) Apply concepts learned in this course to visually identify common plant and animal species used
for hydroponic and aquaponic production, and distinguish between their structural and
physiological differences, as well as their specific production applications.
21) Examine the role that water chemistry plays in the development of water quality for plant
production. Demonstrate the ability to perform common tests to evaluate water quality factors
including pH, hardness, ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, dissolved oxygen, and ammonia levels.
22) Analyze the effects of environmental conditions on aquatic plant and animal life. Adjust water
quality factors by using quantitative reasoning and appropriate units to calculate proper
formulations of chemicals based upon label directions.
Safety
1) Differentiate general occupational safety prevention and control standards as related to the
plant science and hydroculture industry. Apply concepts of safety procedures to complete safety
test with 100 percent accuracy. Obtain the worker protection standards student industry
certification.
Plants, Society, and the Environment
2) Investigate the roles of cultivated plants in meeting the food, fiber, fuel, medicinal, aesthetic,
and occupational needs of society. Identify and describe, in an informative text, the different
domains of the horticulture industry, and examine current issues and trends affecting
professionals in the field. Cite specific textual evidence from government publications and news
media.
3) Summarize the impact and patterns of environmental factors on plant biodiversity by examining
research from academic journals, news articles, and government publications. Describe
important characteristics of the relationships between plants and other organisms, including
basic plant-human interactions, plant-animal interactions, and plant adaptation.
Principles of Soil Science
4) Evaluate, citing specific textual evidence, the physical and chemical properties of soils in an
informative text. Perform technical procedures to classify soils by evaluating biotic and abiotic
factors such as soil pH, texture, permeability, and water holding capacity. Interpret test results
to identity deficiencies and formulate appropriate corrective actions.
5) Describing factors that influence soil quality and erosion. Assess the extent to which reasoning
and evidence presented in news articles or case studies support the use of a specific soil
conservation practice for maintaining healthy growing media for plants.
6) Cite specific textual evidence for the analysis of land selection and conservation practices that
ensure optimal productivity and stewardship. Identify factors that affect site selection for plant
growth and draw evidence from multiple authoritative sources to appraise and justify
management practices that ensure appropriate use of land resources.
Plant Structure and Function
7) Integrate print and digital sources to create a model depicting the parts of plant cells. Examine
the structure and outline the functions of plant cell organelles.
8) Analyze plant anatomy and physiology and relate key concepts to the processes and
requirements involved in plant growth and productivity.
Plant Nutrition
9) Analyze the nutrient requirements of plants and assess the importance of essential plant
nutrients to plant growth and development. Use visual representations to illustrate the chemical
and biological processes, including photosynthesis, that make nutrients available to plants for
growth and maintenance.
10) Justify the use of fertilizers as a source of essential plant nutrients. Calculate fertilizer
formulations and perform different methods of fertilizer application.
11) Research the nutritional factors that influence plant health to identify nutritional deficiencies
and disorders. Compile observations to distinguish between the signs of nutrient deficiency in
plants and defend recommendations for appropriate treatments.
Plant Diseases and Pests
12) Research the principles of disease and pest control to plant health, growth, and maintenance.
Analyze the effects of different types of plant pests and diseases; prescribe methods for pest
and disease prevention and treatment.
13) Demonstrate understanding of common classes of chemicals used for pest management. Gather
and evaluate information regarding PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for chemical
application and demonstrate appropriate use of PPE. Create a checklist for safe storage and
handling of pesticides.
Plant Breeding and Genetics
14) Analyze the reproductive structures in plants and describe how they function in both sexual and
asexual plant reproduction.
15) Investigate the role of DNA, heritability, and genetic applications in plant breeding and compose
an informative essay that describes how mutation, gene flow, and adaption influence plant
populations. Identify desirable traits in various plant species and predict the probable outcome
of genetic crosses based on Mendel’s laws.
Plant Biotechnology
16) Distinguish the branches of science that influence plant biotechnology and summarize important
historical achievements. Examine the role and importance of genetic principles to improving
plant characteristics and perform basic plant DNA extraction procedures.
17) Research current and emerging plant biotechnologies and construct an argumentative essay to
support a claim supporting or opposing the use of a specific biotechnology in horticulture.
Justify and debate ethical, legal, and economic issues surrounding plant biotechnology.
Fundamentals of Hydroponics and Aquaponics
18) Evaluate the significance of hydroponics and aquaponics technology as related to sustainable
practices and principles. Compare and contrast production systems and techniques utilized in
the hydroponics and aquaponics fields, including structures and equipment, production
methods, and common crops.
19) Assess the functions, attributes, and desirable properties of soilless growing media. Write an
informative essay to describe the major components of soilless media, identifying basic physical
and chemical characteristics.
20) Apply concepts learned in this course to visually identify common plant and animal species used
for hydroponic and aquaponic production, and distinguish between their structural and
physiological differences, as well as their specific production applications.
21) Examine the role that water chemistry plays in the development of water quality for plant
production. Demonstrate the ability to perform common tests to evaluate water quality factors
including pH, hardness, ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, dissolved oxygen, and ammonia levels.
22) Analyze the effects of environmental conditions on aquatic plant and animal life. Adjust water
quality factors by using quantitative reasoning and appropriate units to calculate proper
formulations of chemicals based upon label directions.
