Plant Propogation and Nursery Management

Exercise 2

Exercise 2: Preparation of Nursery beds and Sowing of Seeds

Exercise: Preparation of nursery beds and sowing of seeds
Materials required: Digging and hoeing implements, seed, measuring tape, rope and wooden pegs, organic manures (FYM), mulching material.
Procedure: A nursery beds are of three types

• Flat nursery bed
• Raised nursery bed
• Sunken nursery bed
Flat nursery bed:

• It is prepared during spring-summer when there is no risk of rain and in the areas where the soil is light sandy to sandy loam and has no problem of water stagnation.
• The area selected for nursery is well prepared till the pulverization of land and well rotten FYM at the rate of 10 kg per square meter area and is thoroughly mixed in the soil. The field is divided into small plots comprising of beds of uniform size depending upon the requirement, with the help of layout rope and measuring tape.
• Ridges are prepared around each bed, which facilitate the cultural practices. In between two rows of beds, control irrigation channel is prepared through which each bed is connected.
Raised nursery bed:
• It is especially useful for raising seedlings during rainy season when stagnation of water becomes problematic and causes damping off disease. Raised bed of 10 to 15 cm height from ground level is prepared.
• All the stumps, stones, pebbles, weeds etc. are removed from the bed and FYM at the rate of 10kg per square meter is mixed in the soil.
• In between two rows, a space of 45 to 60cm is left so as to carry out cultural practices easily. The seeds are sown in lines in the bed.



Plate 2.1. Preparation of nursery beds Plate 2.2 Nursery beds after sowing of seeds

Sunken nursery bed:

• This type of bed is useful and prepared during winter season. This type of nursery is prepared 10 to 15cm downwards from the soil surface.
• The air blows across the surface of soil and the seedlings in sunken bed is not hit by the cool breeze of the air.
• Further, covering of sunken bed with polyethylene sheets becomes easy which is required for protecting the seedlings from cool air.
Sowing of seeds: Till the soil to a fine tilth by removing stones, pebbles, crop residues etc.Break the clods and level the land/bed. Mix FYM@ 3 to 4kg, 250 g ammonium sulphate and 250 g super phosphate per square meter area.

• The seeds are sown about 2 to 4 cm deep and 8 to 10 cm apart. The depth of the furrow depends upon the size of seeds.
• Bigger are the seeds, deeper the furrow. After sowing, the seeds should be covered with a mixture of FYM and coarse sand in the ratio of 3:1.
• Level the bed and sprinkle water after mulching the seed beds, as per requirement.
• Over watering should be avoided, as excess moisture encourages root rot disease.
In situ sowing: In situ sowing refers to sowing of seeds directly in the field and grafting and budding are performed there itself.

• It is particularly important in some fruits like walnut, pecan nut, jackfruit and ber, which has long tap root system, In situ sowing enables to avoid the damage to tap root at the time of transplanting or uprooting of plants from the nursery.
• Similarly, for high density planting in Amrapali mango, in situ orchard establishment is recommended.
Precautions:

1. The seed source should be genuine and good quality.
2. The depth of sowing should be decided carefully depending upon the size of seed.
3. Avoid over watering of nursery beds and stress conditions.