Chapter 16 Term paper topics
16.1 Introduction to horticulture
1. Horticultural vs. agricultural staple crop research capacity and funding - a comparison
This term paper compares available research capacity and funding for horticultural crops and staple crop agriculture. This evaluation can focus on a particular geographic context, for which it summarizes the research landscape (universities, other institutes) and funding streams.
2. Horticultural diversity and its regions of origin
This paper summarizes the evidence on the diversity of horticultural crops that humanity makes use of. It also reviews the literature on the geographic (and possibly cultural) origins of this diversity.
16.2 Temperate fruits
3. Is it possible to successfully produce commercial yields of temperate fruit trees under tropical climatic conditions?
Make an extensive literature study to find out the main constraints for temperate tree production in the tropics. Would everlasting tropical summer allow generating two yields each year? What fundamental orchard management practices would need to be completely re-thought and adjusted for the new climatic zone? Are there any examples of successful temperate fruit tree management in the tropics? In your term paper, you will provide evidence as well as pros and cons based on the biological and physiological aspects known for temperate fruit trees.
4. Pesticide-free plant protection of temperate fruit trees based on beneficial (antagonistic) organisms: myth or reality?
In this term paper, you will find evidence of using antagonistic organisms (fungi, bacteria and/or insects) to eliminate or reduce certain important pests and diseases in the orchards of temperate fruit trees. Search for examples of commercial use of such beneficial organisms. Are there ways to improve the existing methods? Would such biological plant protection methods substitute pesticide applications in the future?
5. Influences of spring frost protection on the environment
This term paper selects some frost protection measures and reviews the side effects of their use. It should include effects within in orchard as well as on the environment.
6. Calcium nutrition of apple trees
This term paper reviews calcium fertilization for apple trees. What is the current state of knowledge in research? What are the challenges and what is the effectiveness of calcium fertilization? It includes a short overview of the importance of calcium in apple trees.
7. Rest breaking strategies in temperate fruit trees
In many warm growing regions of temperate fruits, trees struggle to accumulate sufficient winter chill to break their dormancy. Climate change appears to be aggrevating this problem. Growers are therefore looking for, and in many cases already applying, strategies to artificially promote dormancy release. This term paper reviews the current state of knowledge on strategies for artificial rest-breaking and discusses the challenges and opportunities.
16.3 Agroforestry
8. The challenges of agroforestry modeling
Eike Luedeling, Marcos Jimenez Martinez, Trevan Flynn
Modeling agroforestry systems are more complex than monocultures, so they have presented considerable challenges to the modeling community. This term paper outlines these challenges and reviews how they have been addressed in previous modeling attempts.
9. Barriers to agroforestry adoption in Germany (or elsewhere)
Eike Luedeling, Marcos Jimenez Martinez, Trevan Flynn
Many experts agree that agroforestry systems can offer environmental, economic and social benefits to farmers. Yet adoption rates often remain low due to an array of barriers that keep farmers from integrating trees with other agricultural practices. This term paper reviews these barriers and proposed ideas for overcoming them.
10. Agroforestry in Germany (or elsewhere) - present distribution expansion potential
Eike Luedeling, Marcos Jimenez Martinez, Trevan Flynn
Agroforestry has gained traction in many places, yet its spread in Germany (and many other countries) has been slow. This term paper reviews what types of systems exist and where they can be found (possibly using case studies). It also speculates on the potential distribution within this geographic region.
16.4 Vegetables
11. Vegetable production in Germany in the context of the current energy crisis
Vegetable production - especially year-round production under glass - is extremely energy-intensive and in many parts still based on fossil fuels. What does the current energy crisis mean for domestic vegetable production? What are the farms doing, what is the political support and what prices can we expect for locally produced vegetables?
12. Vegetables in complex production systems
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the integration of vegetables into complex production systems. In a global context, it becomes clear that growing similar vegetables on large areas is not the only possible form of production. Can more complex cropping systems also be successful in Germany? Do they even already exist?
16.5 Greenhouse production systems & Hydroponics
13. Sustainability of Greenhouse Production
In this term the focus will be on the sustainability of different cultivation systems in greenhouse production, mainly substrates and fertigation. The term paper should review the most important substrates and cultivation regimes and to compare them concerning sustainability.
14. The challenges in ligthing
One main advantage of greenhouse production is control of environmental conditions. Lighting is not only responsible for plant growth and performance yielding in an horticultural produce. Lighting can also control the quality of produce, it could support plant growth depending on growth stage. So the challange is, what is the optimal lighting? This term paper should focus on lighting source (natural vs. artifical) and the type of light (e.g. spectrum) and the meaning for plant growth. How could we control plant performance and quality by light?
15. Green energy for greenhouses and vertical farms
Greenhouse production relies on energy for light and heating. In this term paper it should be discussed which forms of energy supply could be used for a more sustainable plant production. Would this makes a year-round production sustainable? What is the role of photovoltaic in this context?
16.6 Ornamentals
16. Sustainability of ornamental production
This term paper is a critical evaluation of ornamental production in different countries or different managment strategies. Based on a given example (e.g. roses) the term paper should review the available literature and studies.
17. From ornamental plant to industrial crop
This term paper is focussing on ornamentals (e.g. flowers) and discuss what make them an ornamental plant in comparison to a horticultural crop. How could an ornamental be transformed into an industrial crop? What changes do occur during this transformation. How is an ornamental percepted by the consumer in comparison of an industrial crop? What changes in the production will take place when using an ornamental as feedstock for industry? The students work on an own example (e. g. edible flowers, ornamentals with interesting platform chemicals).
16.7 Labor and gender issues in horticulture
18. The contribution of horticulture to the Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on SDG 5 ‘Gender Equality’
Alina Gombert, Cory Whitney
The role that horticultural production plays in the achievement of SDG 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” Women and girls, everywhere, must have equal rights and opportunities, and be able to live free of violence and discrimination. Your paper will be a state-of-the-art overview of the current literature on horticultural production and the role that it plays in the achievement of this goal. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal5
19. The contribution of horticulture to the Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on SDG 8 ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’
Alina Gombert, Cory Whitney
The role that horticultural production plays in the achievement SDG 8 “Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all” - in particular SDG 8.8 “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments of all workers, including migrant workers, particularly women migrants, and those in precarious employment.” Horticulture is one of the most labor-intensive sectors of agriculture. Your paper will be a state-of-the-art overview of the current literature on horticultural production and the role that it plays in the achievement of this goal. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal8
16.8 Disease management and protected cultivation
20. How to protect plants in future?
Climate change will cause dramatic changes in horticulture. Horticultural production will move more and more to protected cultivation (e.g. tunnels, greenhouses). With that change in production new challenges in diesease management will arise. How we could protect our plants in future against climate change, weather extremes (e.g. drought) and new threats caused by insects or pathogens? In this term paper it should be analysed how climate change forced developments in horticulture (protected cultivation) and how this will affect disease management.
21. Biostimulants and Biorationals as new and emerging tools in plant health
Biostimulants and biorationals are “new” ways to strengthen plants to improve growth and tolerance against environmental stress (biostimulants) or to protect plants in an environmental friendly way against pest and diseases to replace synthetic chemicals. In this term paper the different approaches will be discussed. What are the differences between biostimulants and biorationals? How could they be used effectively to strengthen plant health? A critical review of literature based on examples like humic acid (as biostimulant) or drying linseed oil (as biorational).
16.9 Vertical farming
22. … up to the sky
Vertical farming has gained a lot of interest, often with high expectations concerning the goals on feeding the world population or being more sustainable. In a critical review the term paper should highlight what has been achived in the past, where we stand today, and which expectations were not met (yet). But it should also show future trends and what could be reached in the future. Could vertical farms supply the world with food? In a critical review the aims & wishes but also the reality and and future should be considered. Are we really going up to the sky or do we fall like Ikarus being over optimistic? (this term paper is somewhat related to urban horticulture topic “Back to the roots…”).
23. Plant Factories
Is it not consequent to produce crops in a complete closed environment (called plant factory) to be more efficient and sustainable? Is the future of horticulture the industrial production of crops as feedstocks in production plants? In this term paper the state of art of plant factories and future prospects should be reviewed. In a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis trends and challenges will be discussed.
16.10 Urban horticulture
24. Back to the roots…
It seems that horticulture is coming back to the roots, closer to the consumer, and often back into the cities. New forms of horticultural production have been and will be developed in an urban context (e.g community gardens, rooftop greenhouses and more). In this term paper these developments will be reviewed on basis of literature. How will horticultural production in cities look like in the future? What trends can be seen right now and what is the role of horticultural sciences and practice here? (This topic is somewhat related to Vertical farming topic “… up to the skies”).
25. Urban horticulture and the society
In this term paper the meaning of urban horticulture for society should be discussed. New forms of horticulture raises societal questions. Different topics are possible: (1) Is urban horticulture a common good? (2) Edible landscaping. (3) Urban horticulture and recreation. (4) Bring in your own topic. The aim of this term paper is to think out of the box of “production” to explore the meaning of horticulture for humans and society.
16.11 Climate change and horticulture
26. Climate change impacts on fruit tree phenology
This term paper reviews the recent literature regarding climate change impacts on (temperate) fruit tree phenology and their possible implications for production.
27. Climate change impacts on (selected) horticultural pests and/or diseases
Eike Luedeling, Prajna Kasargodu Anebagilu
This term paper selects a specific pest or disease (or a group of pests and diseases) of selected horticultural crops and reviews the evidence on how climate change is expected to affect it. It also critically evaluates the reliability of these expectations and speculates on implications for future production.
28. The use of climate change denial strategies on other controversial issues
Eike Luedeling, Prajna Kasargodu Anebagilu
The optional literature discusses “climate change denial strategies” that opponents of aggressive mitigation actions are pursuing. This paper selects another important societal debate with relevance to horticulture or agriculture and looks for applications of similar strategies there.
16.12 Berries
29. Enhancing the nutritional value of super foods - Current cultivation techniques to maximize the content of antioxidants and flavonoids in currants
Berries have substantially gained attention due to the benefits for human health. In this term paper, you will review the current literature regarding techniques applied to enhance the content of substances usually associated with good fruit quality.
30. Advantages and disadvantages of a long cane based raspberry production system
In this term paper, you will work on comparing two raspberry production systems. The focus of the work can be put into the growing consequences as well as other farm-related aspects (i.e. economical, labor intensiveness, etc.).
16.13 Robotics and Digitalization
31. Automization in Horticulture: Cutting valuable farm jobs or response to labour shortage?
Lars Zimmermann, Johannes Kopton
Horticultural production is comparatively labour intensive. Recent advances in robotics and automatization enabled farm managers to reduce manual workload. Is this just a response to the decreased availability of seasonal farm workers from abroad, or is it rather an economic decision leaving potential farm workers unemployed? This term paper should answer the question from a social-economical perspective.
32. Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) for Orchards: benefits and trade-offs for farm managers
Lars Zimmermann, Johannes Kopton
In recent years Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) have become more and more powerful. Nowadays multiple such software solutions are available even for complex horticulture production. This term paper should point out reasons for using or not using FMIS, including initial expenses, daily workload, benefits of better information and decision support, data security, and other possible variables.
16.14 Global horticulture for SDGs
33. The contribution of horticulture to the Sustainable Development Goals with a specific focus on SDG 2
In this term paper you will look into the various contributions horticultural production, processing and consumption make towards achieving the SDGs. You will also take a critical look into possible detrimental developments.