Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

Important Considerations for Organization and Development of Nursery:
(A) General Considerations: Best site in the nursery should be allocated to production
area. Transport, receiving and storage facilities should be located close to the road.
Enough space should be provided around, for restroom, parking and raised platform
etc. Short-term intercrops should be planted between long term species.
(B) Economic and Cultural Considerations: Most efficient land use. Plant size for
market: If small size of plants are demanded the spacing between plants is reduced
and vice-versa. The spacing for the upright growing varieties should be relatively
less and in case of spreading varieties the spacing should be sufficient so as to
accommodate the canopy of the plant. Mechanized operations require wider
spacing whereas manual operations need narrow space.
Important Nursery Operation
A. Field/Bed Preparation and Eradication of Competing Vegetation:
Preparation of field/beds includes eradication of competing vegetation, leveling
and cultivation of soil. Deep ploughing the field twice helps to loosen the soil and kill
weeds and other vegetation. The stones and roots found in the soil while ploughing
should be removed as they obstruct the growth of seedlings. Burning of dry grass and
shrubby material helps to reduce the insect and weed problem and the left over mineral
rich ash improves the fertility of the seed beds.
B. Layout of Beds and Leveling
Rectangular beds are preferred to other shapes. The width of the seed bed should
be kept such that weeding and hoeing can be accomplished without entering the seed
bed. It should be 1.2 to 1.5 m. The length of the seed beds should be not more than 12.5
m. The types of seed beds used in a nursery are, Raised beds: The nursery beds are
raised to about 10-15 cm above the ground level. These types of beds are used in high
rainfall areas. Sunken beds: To avoid flow of water outside the beds in dry areas.
Sunken beds which are usually 15 cm deeper than the normal ground level are made.
Level beds: Level beds are made in normal rainfall areas.
C. Mixing of Farm Yard Manure
Farm yard manure (FYM) crushed into fine powder should be thoroughly mixed
with the top soil of the bed before sowing the seeds or planting the other planting
materials (cuttings, suckers, rhizomes etc.). If the soils are sandy, addition of clay/pond
soil proves beneficial.
D. Sowing
Sowing is done with the best seed available, to obtain the maximum number of
healthy and sturdy seedlings for transplanting or field planting.
Sowing on Beds: Seeds should be sown in lines, so as to facilitate the interculture
operations such as weeding, fertilization, etc. Shallow furrows of 0.5-1.0 cm depth
should be made by fingers or using a stick, at a distance of 12-15 cm. Seeds should be
<strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Book</strong> on Horticulture Nursery Management : 114