Which term refers specifically to the science involved in vegetable crop production and management?

The term that specifically refers to the science involved in vegetable crop production and management is olericulture. Olericulture focuses on the cultivation, growing, and harvesting of vegetables, encompassing various aspects such as breeding, physiology, and crop management techniques specifically tailored to vegetable crops. This field of study aims to improve techniques for production and management, ensuring optimal yield and quality of vegetables.

In contrast, floriculture deals with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants, while pomology is concerned with fruit cultivation. Agronomy, on the other hand, encompasses the broader field of crop science, focusing on the production of both food and fiber crops, making it more inclusive of various types of crops, not just vegetables. Thus, olericulture is the precise term for the study and management specifically of vegetable crops.