3. Production Environment

Although Horticulture can be distinguished by the specific crops being produced, the different production systems can also be either distinguished or associated by the environmental conditions under which the crops are produced. Some of these conditions obviate the distinction between the groups.

'Natural' systems (Limited environmental control)
Fields, orchards, nurseries. These systems share common issues of site selection, irrigation, susceptibility to local climate, etc; even though one may be a tomato field and the other a field of oak saplings. At right you see a field being sprayed with herbicides before small plants are planted. Only limited control of competition with weeds is possible.
Artificial systems (Controlled environments)
Greenhouses, growth chambers & laboratories. Greenhouses can be used for production of cut flowers, potted plants, vegetables, and trees; in these systems, significant energy input is necessary for continuous climate control. At right is illustrated one extreme of artificial environments, where plants are grown in test tubes in a laboratory and almost every aspect of the culture condition is tightly controlled.
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