Nursery management part 1

PART - 1
Dr. P.B. Dharmasena, National Consultant
European Union - Support to District
Development Programme (EU-SDDP)
February 2017

CONTENT
The key elements of nursery management
Think before you start the nursery
Planning structures and flow of work
Planning crops and developing propagation protocols
Three phases of crop development
Propagation environments
Media for raising nursery
Mother block and raising rootstocks
Use of containers

What is a plant nursery?
A plant nursery is a place where any kinds of plants are
grown for the sake of being moved or transplanted later.
It can occupy a field, garden, greenhouse, or other form of
growing space.

The key elements of nursery
management are:
               (1) The place;
               (2) The plant; and
               (3) The person behind.

(1) The place
i) Selection of site:
 In our country, less
emphasis is given on
selection of site for
the nursery.
An unsatisfactory site
will increase the cost
of operation and poor
stock production.

ii) Layout:
The nursery lay out should be
compact and in rectangular or
square shape
Wind break/ shelter break must
be done all along the boundary
not only to protect against hot
wind and wild life but also to
modify the micro-climatic
situations.
The nursery should be connected
by main road for better approach
and disposal of produce.
There should be proper provision
for road and path, irrigation and
drainage channels, mother block,
nursery beds, growing structure,
store, compost pit, display site-
cum-sale counter etc.

(2) The plant
i) Plant types and propagation
techniques:
The type of planting materials are
based on the agro-climatic situations,
type of nursery e.g. for fruits,
vegetables, ornamental plants or
mixed plant types and farmers
demand.
Normally, seed propagation is not
recommended in fruit crops.
 However, where vegetative
propagation is unsuccessful, difficult,
expensive; the seed propagation is the
feasible alternative.
Seed propagation is commercially
practiced in case of papaya

(2) The plant
(i) Plant types and propagation
techniques: (contd…)
 Though, the availability of stock (seeds or
mother plant) of recent released varieties
are low at initial stage, by multiplying them
even at smaller quantity, one can earn a
better price in the market.
 The soil of seedbed should be worked well
to break the clods.
 The weeds, stones and stubbles should be
removed.
 Height of the raised bed should be 10-15 cm
with a width of 1.25 m and length may be
according to requirement and convenience
but generally, it is to be kept 6.25 m long.
 Two parts of fine soil, one part of FYM can
be incorporated to each bed to improve
aeration and fertility of the soil.

(2) The plant (contd…)
ii) Plant standard:
Production of quality planting
materials is another factor,
which not only decides the
establishment of plants in the
field but also useful in handling
and transportation and
ultimately earning of better
returns.
Therefore, there is need to
educate the farmers about the
standard of quality planting
materials, which differ with the
plant types.

(3) The person behind
The ultimate success depends upon the person who is
dealing the whole affairs of nursery management.
The nursery manager must understand the dynamics
of business terrain.
He should always keep in touch with the
organizations working on nursery management to
understand the innovations made in recent past.
A good nursery manager knows how to “think like a
plant”, and create a propagation environment that
modifies all physical and biological factors that may
be limiting to plant growth.
A good nursery manager knows how to “think like a
plant”, and create a propagation environment that
modifies all physical and biological factors that may
be limiting to plant growth.

(3) The person behind (contd…)
In brief, a nursery manager should have better understanding of
well defined goal,
ability to use innovations as tool,
 team spirit,
courage to face uncertainties,
ability to recognize opportunities
 channelizing human resource in right direction, and rapid
response.
Nursery manager should also consider the provision of incentives
for the workers, as nursery management is a teamwork. He
should analyze the reasons for success and failure, which will
help in refining the activities in subsequent year for better
outcome.

Think before you start the nursery:
• What are the truly needed and wanted plants for
your immediate customers?
• Who are the potential clients of our plant
materials at this time?
• Who might be potential clients in the future?
• What are the needs and priorities of the
potential clients?
Think before you start the nursery:
• What are the truly needed and wanted plants for
your immediate customers?
• Who are the potential clients of our plant
materials at this time?
• Who might be potential clients in the future?
• What are the needs and priorities of the
potential clients?

Think further…………………..
• The species the nursery is capable of growing.
• The types of environments in which plants will
be out-planted.
• Specific end-user requirements for species (for
example, seed source, special properties).
• The size and age of stock preferred.
• The season during which people prefer to plant.
• The quantities of species people may plant.
• The distance people are willing to travel to
obtain the plant materials.

Think further on financial aspects: …..
• How much money can be invested in the
nursery at the outset?
• The labour force that can be hired.
• In what timeframe the nursery can start to
produce plants for sale?
• How many plants can be produced?
• What price can be charged for the plant
materials?

Try with a pilot nursery – Many
questions will be answered
What infrastructure is truly necessary for production? (for example,
perhaps a big greenhouse isn’t needed at all).
Which container types and propagation strategies are optimal for the
plants?
How to take crops through all phases of development, from
germination through storage and distribution?
What labor and material costs are involved?
How clients respond to the plants produced?
How to develop realistic timelines and budgets for future production?
What aspects of the nursery vision are feasible to carry out at this
time?

Feasibility Assessment
Remember to account for the following factors:
• Material production costs (for example, growing media, water,
fertilizer, seeds, and pest control).
• Labour costs for production, maintenance, and delivery.
• Labour for customer relations (answering e-mail messages and phone
calls, handling correspondence, book keeping).
• Inventory required (the time, space, and materials each crop will
require, such as greenhouse benches, containers, trays).
• Structures (for example, greenhouse, shade house, storage).
• Overhead costs (for example, rent, insurance, water, utilities).
• Taxes.
• Time and funds for outreach, advertising, or educational programs.
Remember to account for the following factors:
• Material production costs (for example, growing media, water,
fertilizer, seeds, and pest control).
• Labour costs for production, maintenance, and delivery.
• Labour for customer relations (answering e-mail messages and phone
calls, handling correspondence, book keeping).
• Inventory required (the time, space, and materials each crop will
require, such as greenhouse benches, containers, trays).
• Structures (for example, greenhouse, shade house, storage).
• Overhead costs (for example, rent, insurance, water, utilities).
• Taxes.
• Time and funds for outreach, advertising, or educational programs.

Select a Site for the Nursery
Access to good-quality, affordable, abundant
water.
Unobstructed solar access.
Inexpensive and reliable energy.
Easy access by the nursery staff.
Adequate land area.
Freedom from problematic ecological concerns
(for example, free from neighboring chemical
pollution, unmanageable noxious weeds, and so
on).
Freedom from problematic political concerns
(for example, zoning restrictions, historical land
use issues).

Planning Structures and Flow of Work
Although crop production is the core of nursery activities, it is
only part of the whole picture.
Preparation, cleanup, and storage must also be well planned.
 Where will seeds be cleaned, stored, treated, and tested? Where
will containers be cleaned, sterilized, and stored when not in
use?
If crops are to be stored during rainy season, it is essential that
they are in an appropriate environment to ensure their survival.
 As nursery activities are planned, think about the flow of work
and the design structures that facilitate the movement of people
and plants in an efficient and safe way.

• Nursery stock is grown in different structures like
greenhouse, shade net house, walking tunnels, low tunnels,
mist chambers etc.
• These structures enable year round production in nursery and
efficient use of resources like planting material, irrigation
water, fertilizers, plant protection chemicals, etc.
Growing Structures:
Poly house for Banana NurseryShade Net House for Mango Nursery

The environmental manipulation i.e.
managing microclimatic conditions
(relative humidity, temperature, light
and gases), edaphic factors (propagation
media, mineral nutrients and soil
moisture) and biotic factors (interaction
of symbiotic mycorhiza fungi and other
organisms) is essential for better success
of nursery activities.
There are several type of growing
structures based on ecological situations,
requirements and cost involvements like;
plastic covered green house, fibre glass
house, Ultraviolet resistant fibre glass
house, polyhouse, shade net, lath
(wooden frame) house etc. with or
without provision of misting.
These structures are not only for
controlling temperature, humidity and
misting but also there is photoperiod
control system, heating and cooling
systems
Growing Structures:

Mostly, partially controlled structures are
used in our country. Now a days, fully
controlled automatic hi-tech nursery green
house has been developed to regulate
nursery activities year round.
However, in some cases if rootstocks are
raised inside the shade net, the stocks are
thin and long; resulting poor success when
they are used for grafting and budding.
To overcome this problem, the
photoperiodic requirement, and optimum
input supply coupled with proper
management should be standardized.
This problem is not serious when plants
are raised by cuttings. The plants raised
under control environments also require
hardening before planting at desired site.
The infestation of pest and diseases are
also low in controlled environments but
once plants infected it is transmitted easily.
Growing Structures:

Cooling pad
Misting system
Foundation Floor
Exhaust fans
Roof covered with poly-carbonate
sheet Control pane! inside
Entrance
Growing Structures:

Planning Crops and Developing Propagation Protocols
In crop planning
Identify the seed dormancy of each species and apply treatments to
overcome dormancy.
Understand the three growth phases crops go through (establishment,
rapid growth, and hardening) and the distinct requirements for each
phase.
Develop growing schedules for crop production from propagule
procurement to out-planting.
List space, labour, equipment, and supplies required to support the
crop during the three growth stages.
Keep written records, including a daily log and plant development
record.
Develop and record accurate propagation protocols so that success can
be replicated next time.

Benefits of creating a propagation protocol
Invaluable resource for
crop planning and
scheduling.
Beneficial for improving
nursery productivity and
seedling quality over
time.
Useful for teaching and
sharing information
about the plants to
clients, the public, or
nursery staff.
A way to preserve and
perpetuate propagation
information.

Key Crop Planning Components
Determine available growing space.
Plan crop layout in the nursery based on the number of
plants required.
Schedule seed treatment and plot planting.
Schedule pot treatment.
Determine a growing schedule to meet a target date of
delivery for “finished plants.”

Three phases of crop development
1. Establishment
The establishment phase is the phase from
the sowing of the seeds through the
germination, emergence, and development
of the first true leaves or primary needles.
For plants grown from cuttings, the
establishment phase extends from placing
cuttings into containers through the
development of roots and shoots.
The establishment phase typically lasts than
6 to 12 weeks.
The goal of this phase is to maximize the
amount of growing space filled with
healthy plants, thereby minimizing losses.

2. Rapid Growth
During this phase, plants,
particularly their shoots,
increase dramatically in
size.
Often the terminal shoot
begins to approach target
size.
Plants are still at least
somewhat protected
during this phase. Rapid
(but not excessive) shoot
growth is encouraged.

3. Hardening
During the hardening phase, energy is
diverted from shoot growth to root growth.
Shoot growth is discouraged or even
stopped.
 It is a common mistake to rush hardening,
resulting in plants poorly prepared for
conditions on the out-planting site.
When plants are not properly hardened, they
may have the correct physical characteristics
but survival after out-planting will be low
because of an inadequate physiological
condition.
The goal of the hardening phase is to get
plants conditioned for stress, prepared for
out-planting, and ready to be delivered to
the client in a timely fashion to avoid
problems with holdover stock.

3. Hardening
The plants raised under growing structures
or protected environments with high
management become tender and require
hardening off before planting out in the field.
In fact, hardening off is a term applied to any
treatment that makes the tissues firm to
endure better in the unfavourable
environmental conditions.
The techniques employed for hardening are;
(i) by watering the plant sparingly till it is
not wilted and providing increased
ventilation
(ii) lowering of temperature also retards
growth and adds to the hardening process.
 These methods are employed according to
the kind of the plants e.g. tomato, brinjal,
and chillies are less hardy and they should
not be hardened severely.

3. Hardening
Vegetables like cabbage and lettuce
can withstand low temperature. In
hot region, hardening is done to
withstand plants against possible
burning due to sunshine, hot winds
and deposition of warm sand,
 While in cold region hardening may
develop protection against freezing.
The process of hardening should be
such that there is an assurance of
high survival and slow growth under
the conditions to be expected at the
time of transplanting.
Conditions, withholding watering
followed by shifting of the plants
under partial shade or lath house is
the best and practical method for
hardening.

3. Hardening
Over hardening should be
avoided as it delays renewal of
growth after setting out.
 Hardening should be gradual
in order to prevent a severe
check on growth or the possible
killing of plant.
 It is better to maintain a
moderate rate of growth
through out the plant growing
period than to have rapid
growth up to the time of
hardening and then check it
suddenly.

3. Hardening
Hardening procedure
(i) increases the quantity and modifies the nature of colloids in the plant
cells enabling them to resist the loss of water,
(ii) increases the percentage of dry matter and sugars in the plant but
decreases percentage of freezable water and transpiration per unit area
of leaf,
(iii) decreases the rate of growth in the plants,
(iv) greater resistance to plasmolysis and deplasmolysis due to greater
resistance to the injurious effects of the protoplasmic strain,
(vii) hardened plants can withstand better against unfavourable
conditions of transplanting such as lesser intakes of water, hot dry
winds and low temperature.
They tend to be hard and stiff rather than succulent.

Aspect Establishment Rapid growth Hardening
Definition From germination through
emergence and formation of
true leaves
From emergence of true
leaves to when seedling
approaches target
height; rapid increase in
size, particularly in
terminal shoot
Energy diverted from shoot to root
growth; seedling reaches target height
and root-collar diameter; lateral buds
are set, seedling is conditioned to
endure stress
Duration Typically 14 to 21 days for
germination;
4 to 8 weeks for early growth
Varies widely, typically
about 10 to 20 weeks
Varies widely by species, from 1 to 4
months
Objectives • Maximize uniform
germination
• Fill containers efficiently
• Maximize survival
• Minimize damping off
• Minimize stress
• Encourage shoot
growth
• Maintain
environmental
factors near
optimum levels
• Monitor as seedling
approaches target
height and roots
fully occupy
• Stop shoot growth
• Encourage root and stem diameter
growth
• Bring seedling into dormancy
• Acclimate to natural environment
• Condition to endure stress
• Fortify for survival after out-
planting

Aspect Establishment Rapid growth Hardening
Special
needs
• Protect from weather
• Keep temps optimal
• Irrigate to keep “moist,
but not wet”
• No or low fertilizer
• Protect from stress
• Optimize
temperatures
• Irrigate regularly
• Fertilize properly
• Induce moderate moisture stress
• Decrease temperatures
• Reduce photoperiod —Expose
to ambient temperatures and
humidity
• Reduce fertilization rates and
change mineral nutrient ratios
Labour • Scout for pests and
diseases
• Monitor germination
• Introduce beneficial
microorganisms
• Thin
• Resow and/or
transplant if necessary
• Scout for pests and
diseases
• Monitor
environment
• Modify density of
crops to encourage
good development
• Adjust culture to
avoid excessive
shoot height
• Scout for pests and diseases
• Monitor crops and environment
carefully;
• Deliver crop to client in timely
fashion to avoid problems with
holdover stock.

Propagation Environments
Two essential
processes:
photosynthesis and
transpiration

environment
Atmospheric – light, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide,
and organisms
Propagation structures can be built to modify the local
climate so that plants will grow more rapidly. For example,
a greenhouse will modify light, temperature, and wind
compared to the outside environment, which affects not
only temperature but also humidity and carbon dioxide
levels inside the greenhouse.
The greenhouse also affects the organisms that interact
with the crop. For example, although a greenhouse
structure can exclude insect pests, it also creates a more
humid environment for new pests such as algae and moss.

Growing Medium – Growing
medium limiting factors
include water and mineral
nutrients. The type of
propagation environment can
certainly affect water use;
mineral nutrients are supplied
through fertilization, both
water and mineral nutrients
are held for plant uptake in the
growing medium.
Organisms can be limiting in
either the atmosphere or the
growing medium. Animal
pests, including insects, can be
excluded from a nursery
through proper design, and
beneficial microbes, such as
mycorrhizal fungi, can be
promoted.
environment

Types of Propagation Environments
Minimally Controlled
Environments – A minimally
controlled environment is the
simplest and least expensive
of all types of propagation
environments. The most
common type is an open
growing compound. It
consists of an area where
plants are exposed to full
sunlight and usually nothing
more than an irrigation system
and a surrounding fence.

Semi-controlled
Environments – This next
category of propagation
environments is called
“semi-controlled” because
only a few of the limiting
factors in the ambient
environment are modified.
Semi-controlled
environments consist of a
wide variety of growing
structures ranging from
simple cold frames to shade
houses.

Fully Controlled Environments –
Fully controlled environments are propagation structures in
which all or most of the limiting environmental factors are
controlled. Examples include growth chambers and
greenhouses.
Fully controlled environments are often used because they
have the advantage of year-round production in almost any
climate.
In addition, most crops can be grown much faster than in other
types of nurseries.
These benefits must be weighed against the higher costs of
construction and operation.
The more complicated a structure is the more problems that
can develop. This concept is particularly true in the remote
locations of many rural areas, where electrical power outages
are more common and it is difficult, time consuming, and
expensive to obtain specialized repair services.

Media for raising nursery
 Proper media is required for satisfactory germination of
seed, subsequent seedling growth and anchorage or
directly planted vegetative part of a plant and their root
and shoot development;
The media may be solid, liquid or spongy moss. In general;
good soil, compost, Farm Yard Manure, shredded bark,
saw dust, sand, peat, vermiculite and perlite having better
water holding with acidic pH.
These media are being used either alone or in
combination.
Sometimes, the amendments like gypsum and pyrite are
also added in the beds while raising the nursery.
In some cases, organic media may also contain some toxic
materials to plants, especially when fresh.

The media should have sufficient amount of plant
nutrients, which are essential for growth and
development.
 For raising seedling, soil should be friable and should
absorb water readily and dry quickly at the surface,
but it should not become dry too early.
Loam and sandy loam soils well supplied with organic
matter are good, provided that they are free from
pathogen.
To make the soil free from soil borne diseases
especially damping off, it may be disinfected by soil
fumigant.

In general, the media should have following
characteristics;
(i) The media must be sufficiently firm to provide
anchorage to seeds or cuttings.
(ii) It should be decomposed materials with high C/N
ratio.
(iii) Its volume must be fairly constant when either wet or
dry.
(iv) It should have better water holding capacity.
(v) It should be porous to drain excess water.
(vi) It should be free from weed seeds and harmful
pathogens.
(vii) Slightly acidic medium is preferred.
(viii) It should be readily available, reusable and cheaper.

When considering native soil, several things should be kept in
mind.
Soils are naturally variable, so it is difficult to maintain the
same quality from container to container or crop to crop.
Ecological sustainability should also be considered.
Harvesting topsoil is actually a mining operation that uses up a
limited resource that took thousands of years to develop.
Be aware that most topsoil contains weed seeds that will
germinate quickly in the ideal growing environment of a
nursery. When selecting soil, use dark topsoil that has a high
percentage of organic matter; and lighter sandy loams are
better than heavy clays.
Creating a Homemade Growing Medium
Use of Field Soil

Because of the risks of using soils, many farmers prefer organic
compost as a “green” alternative to other growing media.
Composts are an excellent sustainable organic component for
any growing medium and significantly enhance the medium’s
physical and chemical characteristics by improving water
retention, aeration porosity, and fertility. Some compost has
also been found to suppress seed-borne and soil-borne
pathogens.
Many brands of commercial compost are available in the
market, but compost can also be made on-site.
Suitable organic materials for composting:
grass, leaves, fruit wastes, groundnut shells, rice hulls, wood
waste such as sawdust or bark, sugar cane, manure, and even
chicken feathers.
Organic nursery wastes, such as used growing media or cull
seedlings, can be composted, which reduces the costs and
hassle of their disposal.
Making Compost

Composting is a natural process in which a succession of
insects, fungi, and bacteria decompose organic matter and
change its composition.
The purpose of composting is to accelerate and control
this process by modifying environmental conditions,
especially moisture and temperature.
Other factors that can be controlled include carbon-to-
nitrogen ratio (C:N), aeration, and particle size.
Finished composts should have a C:N of about 30:1.
A mixture of 25 – 50 % green organic matter and 50 – 75 %
brown organic matter is desirable obtain the proper C:N
ratio
Green organic materials (fresh grass and fruit wastes) have
more N and brown organic materials (tree leaves or
sawdust) have more C
Making Compost – Basic Principles

Maintain an adequate aeration.
Microorganisms need an adequate and continual
supply of oxygen, so it is important to turn over your
compost pile once or twice a week. Poor aeration can
delay or even stop the composting process.
Moisture content must be high enough to promote
microbial activity but not so high as to reduce
aeration and decrease temperature. Compost with a
moisture content of approximately 50 – 60 % has the
feel of a damp sponge, which is ideal.

Temperature within the first few days: 38 – 49 °C as
the smaller and easily biodegradable materials
decompose.
Temperature during next few days rises to 54 – 65 °C)
as materials that are more resistant to decay.
Maintain a peak temperature of about 71 °C for
several days to kill weed seeds and fungal pathogens.
Finally, temperatures fall to around 40 °C and lower
during the “curing” stage.
(Growers can check the progress and detect problems
in their compost heaps by monitoring with long-
stemmed thermometers)

FYM is a rich organic source of nutrients and an important
constituent of media used in nursery. Best quality FYM
is a natural source of nutrients.
Farm Yard Manure (FYM):
Composting of farm residues for
FYM preparation
• FYM can be prepared in the
farm using animal and crop
residues. It is a cheap source
of nutrients to plants.
• It improves physical
condition of soil through
moisture and nutrient
retention.

Mother block
The planting stock that maintained as a source for
commercial propagation is referred to as a mother
block.
 As far as possible mother block should be in the close
proximity of the nursery site. The scion shoots should
be taken only from bearing plants.
There should be proper record and certification of
planting stock.
Commercial planting stock can be referred as certified
stock if it is grown under supervision of the DOA with
prescribed regulations designed to maintain
minimum standards of cleanliness and clonal identity.

Mother plant of mango – Nivethini Nursery, Vavuniya

Mother plant of mango – Senura Nursery, Vavuniya

Mother plant of mango – Sinthuja Nursery, Vavuniya

The plants propagated by grafting or
budding require raising of rootstocks,
upon which scion shoot or bud of a
promising cultivar is grafted or
budded.
 Plan for activities such as collection/
purchase of seeds to be sown for
rootstock purpose, preparation of
seed bed, use of poly containers,
filling mixture, type of seeds, seed
quality, seed treatment, time and
method of sowing, irrigation, pest,
disease and weed management,
thinning, removal of basal and side
branches if required, after care etc.

Use of polythene bags/ tubes
This is very useful particularly under
sandy soil.
 This is very cheap and convenient
method for raising large-scale
plantations.
It is normally transparent but black
and blue coloured polythene bags are
also used some times.
The size of polythene bags should be
decided judiciously as small bags do
not give large seedling and large bags
require more filling mixture owing to
more cost.
The per unit production efficiency of
planting materials is also reduced by
using over size polybags, besides
difficulty in transportation.

Use of polythene bags/ tubes
The chief advantage of using
polybags is that the seedling
can be raised almost year the
round under controlled
conditions; therefore
plantation programme will
not suffer due to dry spell or
shortage of labourers. It has
suggested that the rootstock
can be raised in polythene
tubes (25x 10 cm) filled with
a mixture of FYM, sand and
clay (1:1:1).

Nursery is not raised generally in
wooden boxes, clay pans and
earthen pots except for the flowers
but it is convenient to raise
particularly vegetable seedlings as
it has several advantages like;
i) it is very easy to sow and
transplant comfortably.
ii) sowing or transplanting may
be continued whatever may be the
weather outside,
iii) it is convenient to check the
plant growth during abnormal
temporary weather condition,
Use of containers

Plants raised in boxes can
easily be removed for
transplanting without any
damage to their roots and
there is an economy of
labour and space if trays or
boxes of standard size are
used for this purpose.
There are different types of
pots available in the
market which can be use
for growing of ornamental
plants particularly under
indoor gardening.
Use of containers

Root trainers
 There should be a strong uncoiled tap root system with sufficient
lateral roots. Though, the use of poly containers/ poly bags have
several advantages, if seedling or component plant left for a
longer period or undersized poly bags used; the tap roots coiled
up, thereby poor performance after out planting.
 In order to overcome these problems, root trainers are used and
the seedlings grown in root trainers are vigorous and have rapid
growth rate as compared to seedlings grown in poly bags.
Use of containers

The root trainers are semi-rigid or rigid containers with
internal vertical ribs or corrugated walls and thus roots
tend to develop straight down rather than spiral growth.
There are various types of plastic or metal containers e.g.
simple plastic trainers, corrugated walled plastic trainers
etc. designed to prevent root coiling. They have holes at
the bottom for aerial pruning of tap-root, aeration and
drainage. These root trainers are generally made of black
colour plastic.

Simple type Conical shape
Joint block type
Square shape
Different types of root trainers

Nursery management part 1

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Nursery management part 1