Agriculture vs. Horticulture — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 20, 2023
Agriculture is the broad practice of farming, including crops and livestock. Horticulture focuses specifically on cultivating plants for food, materials, and beauty.
Difference Between Agriculture and Horticulture
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Agriculture and Horticulture both revolve around plant cultivation, but their scope and focus differ. Agriculture is a widespread practice involving the cultivation of crops and the rearing of livestock on a large scale. In contrast, Horticulture specializes in the cultivation, processing, and sale of plants for food, ornamental purposes, and green spaces.
While Agriculture encompasses a vast range of practices, including the production of staple crops such as wheat, rice, and corn, Horticulture homes in on the detailed care of plants. This includes fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.
Agriculture is typically practiced on extensive plots of land and is often mechanized, aiming for large-scale production. Horticulture, on the other hand, is more intensive and might be practiced in smaller areas like gardens, greenhouses, or orchards. It demands a deeper understanding of plant growth and development.
Sustainability and environmental conservation can be goals in both Agriculture and Horticulture. However, Horticulture often has a more direct relationship with urban settings, providing aesthetic and functional green spaces that enhance city living.
A key distinction to note is that while Agriculture might involve both plant and animal production, Horticulture is exclusively about plants. The techniques and knowledge applied in Horticulture are specialized, often ensuring plants not only grow but thrive and achieve their desired purpose, be it for consumption or decoration.
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Comparison Chart
Scope
Broad, includes crops and livestock.
Narrow, focused on plants only.
Scale
Large-scale, often mechanized.
Smaller scale, more intensive care.
Main Focus
Staple crops and livestock.
Fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants.
Location
Extensive plots, fields, pastures.
Gardens, greenhouses, orchards.
Purpose
Food production, materials, livestock.
Food, beauty, urban green spaces.
Compare with Definitions
Agriculture
Farming Practice: The science and art of cultivating soil and livestock.
Agriculture has been foundational to human civilization.
Horticulture
Plant Specialization: The art and science of cultivating plants.
Horticulture techniques ensure healthy and productive plants.
Agriculture
Broad Scope: Covers both plant and animal production.
Agriculture includes both wheat fields and dairy farms.
Horticulture
Green Space Creation: Enhances urban living with green areas.
Horticulture plays a vital role in creating city gardens and green spaces.
Agriculture
Large Scale Cultivation: The production of food on a large scale.
Modern agriculture often employs machinery for efficiency.
Horticulture
Decorative Focus: Often centers on ornamental plants.
Horticulture beautifies urban spaces with flowers and shrubs.
Agriculture
Ancient Practice: A practice dating back thousands of years.
Ancient civilizations relied on agriculture for sustenance.
Horticulture
Intensive Care: Requires detailed knowledge of plant care.
Horticulture professionals often have expertise in plant diseases and care.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities.
Horticulture
Varied Applications: Ranges from food production to landscaping.
Horticulture techniques are used in both orchards and city parks.
Agriculture
The science, art, and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock; farming.
Horticulture
Horticulture is the art of cultivating plants in gardens to produce food and medicinal ingredients, or for comfort and ornamental purposes. Horticulturists are agriculturists who grow flowers, fruits and nuts, vegetables and herbs, as well as ornamental trees and lawns.The study and practice of horticulture have been traced back thousands of years.
Agriculture
The art or science of cultivating the ground, including the harvesting of crops, and the rearing and management of livestock
Horticulture
The science or art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants.
Agriculture
The art or science of cultivating the ground, including the harvesting of crops, and the rearing and management of live stock; tillage; husbandry; farming.
Horticulture
The cultivation of a garden.
Agriculture
A large-scale farming enterprise
Horticulture
The art or science of cultivating gardens; gardening.
Agriculture
The practice of cultivating the land or raising stock
Horticulture
Small-scale agriculture.
Agriculture
The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy); created in 1862
Horticulture
The cultivation of a garden or orchard; the art of cultivating gardens or orchards.
Agriculture
The class of people engaged in growing food
Horticulture
The cultivation of plants
Agriculture
Essential Industry: Vital to the world's food supply and economy.
Agriculture contributes significantly to the nation's GDP.
Common Curiosities
Can agriculture be practiced in a greenhouse?
While greenhouses are more associated with horticulture, some agricultural practices, like hydroponics, may use them.
Which is more common in urban settings?
Horticulture is more common in urban areas, especially in landscaping and city gardens.
Is horticulture a subset of agriculture?
Yes, horticulture is a specialized branch of agriculture focused on plants.
Are machines more common in agriculture or horticulture?
Machines are more common in agriculture, especially in large-scale farming.
Do horticulturists work with grains?
Typically, grains are the domain of agriculture, not horticulture.
Can agricultural practices be sustainable?
Yes, there are many sustainable agriculture methods like crop rotation and organic farming.
Can horticulture be practiced indoors?
Yes, many horticultural practices, like growing houseplants or hydroponics, occur indoors.
Do both involve food production?
Yes, agriculture produces staple crops and meat, while horticulture focuses on fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Which field requires more detailed knowledge of plants?
Horticulture often demands a deeper understanding of individual plant needs and care.
Which is older, agriculture or horticulture?
Both are ancient practices, but agriculture, as a broad practice of food production, likely predates specialized horticulture.
What's a common job in agriculture?
Farmer or rancher is common in agriculture.
Does horticulture involve soilless cultivation?
Yes, techniques like hydroponics or aeroponics are soilless and part of horticulture.
Is livestock a part of horticulture?
No, livestock falls under agriculture.
And in horticulture?
Landscape designer or greenhouse manager is common in horticulture.
Are ornamental plants a part of agriculture?
Typically, ornamental plants are the domain of horticulture.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
