Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

Type and Characters of Soil: Soil maps are available from the Soil Conservation
Service. Soil testing and a soil survey helps to determine soil quality and characteristics.
It is the soil quality and characteristics which determine the layout of the nursery.
Soil characteristics for a good nursery soil are, easy tillage, well-drained soil with
high water-holding capacity, land with less than a 5% slope to insure good aeration and
surface drainage, fertile soils, high organic matter content (3-5%), without large stones,
hardpans, or shale in the root zone.
Balled plants should be planted in a sandy-clay to clay-loam soil which will hold to
the roots when the plant is being uprooted. Bare-root plants require light-textured soils
that are sandy or sandy-loam in texture. These types of soils can be worked easily and
will readily fall away from the roots as the plants are being harvested.
Container production does not require good soil on site. Container growing medium
can be brought from remote locations. However, good soil on site as a resource in media
construction may be useful. A firm surface which allows for the placing of containers
and insures surface drainage is a must.
Source and Quality of Water: Seedlings contain over 95% water. The production
calendar in tropical countries is determined by the rainy season, rather than by rising
temperatures as in temperate regions. Proper irrigation and maintenance of high humidity
in the propagation environment are prime responsibilities of nursery managers.
Availability of ample amounts of good quality water is a very important factor in plant
production. Potential sources of water include lakes and ponds, streams, wells, and
municipal water supplies. Lakes, ponds and streams are the most inexpensive sources of
water.
Criteria to be considered while determining the source of water are: Level of
contaminants and debris, storage capacity to fulfill needs during the most demanding
time periods (June-August), reliability of source, environmental and legal limitations
which may be placed on natural water source.
Wells and municipal water sources have many limitations. It is expensive. There is
quantity restriction on use. It has a higher pH.
It is very important to determine water source and water quality prior to purchasing
land for nursery business. Water quality is a vital component and testing the water from
source prior to nursery site selection is critical. The acceptable value of total soluble salts
are between 175-525 ppm, with sodium levels between 20-40 per cent of the total salt
(ideal level is less than 175 ppm salts and 35 ppm sodium). Good water quality is
essential for healthy plant development. Saline water should be avoided unless salinity
tolerant crops, such as Casuarina or Prosopis, are produced. Treating water with low
concentrations of chlorine (1 ppm) helps to control water moulds.
Various irrigation systems have been developed locally. Gravity-fed systems are
preferred by many small local nurseries in remote locations. However, for controlled
irrigation a reliable water source supplying piped water year-round is absolutely
necessary. Overhead sprinklers require a maximum of 10 acre feet of water for each acre
of plants. Trickle irrigation systems are much more efficient than sprinklers. Drip
irrigation is recommended in arid areas to reduce evaporative losses. High amounts of
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