Agricultural Cultivation Techniques

Although gardening involves taking care of plants and surroundings, it should not be confused with agriculture. Agriculture is different from gardening in terms of the intention and the expanse or extent of the plants grown and cultured. Gardening is mainly intended for aesthetic and recreational value of plants and gardens while agriculture is wholly done for the purpose of mass production and marketing of agricultural produce specifically for food, raw materials and goods. Hence, agriculture is directed towards profit-making.

Agricultural Farms

Because agriculture involves growing and caring for plants in large numbers, it is more labour-intensive and requires more complex and heavy-duty machinery like tractors, automated harvesters and specialized sprinklers, chemical applicators and irrigation systems. Agriculture is also more expansive than gardening because it involves culture of herds, livestocks and aquatic resources. Agricultural products include cereals, grains, drugs (tobacco, alcohol, opium, cocaine), root crops, cotton, hemp, silk, fruits (orchards – oranges, strawberries, apples), lumber, rubber, resins, and more. Ornamental plants and products like fishes and birds are also massively produced in agriculture. Hence, gardening is smaller in scale than agriculture. Gardening supplements the self-sufficiency of a small family while agriculture supplements the self-sufficiency of a region or a nation. Another very obvious difference between agriculture and gardening is the amount of entertainment and amusement that gardens normally bring. Although, some people may find agricultural farms amusing enough. Horse farms, however, are used as venues for horse-back riding and rodeo events. A comprehensive list of links and sites are found at the bottom of the page in order to guide you to additional and helpful information regarding gardening.