Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

ooting in layering (ground or air layering) or cuttings, a 1000-2000 PPM of IBA
preparation is applied to the basal portion for rooting. A 15 centimeters long shoot tip
cutting with four leaves and five distal buds are placed in a rooting media of vermiculate
or any good soiled media and then rooted in a mist chamber. While planting in the open,
hardwood or semi-hardwood (15-20 cm long) cuttings with or without leaves are used for
multiplication. The hardwood cuttings of J. sambac may be planted directly in situ during
rainy season by which a success of 70-80 per cent rooting may be obtained. Layering of
tender shoots ensures better and quick rooting and multiplication is done in rainy season
or June-July. High humidity is maintained to promote rooting of the cutting.
Care of Flowering Nursery Plants:
Care of flowering nursery plants is an important operation of the nursery activities.
The young seedling stock and rooted cuttings as well as flowering nursery plant require
proper care and nourishment. The following operations are to be attended to
regularly in the flowering plant nurseries.
1. Shifting of Plants: The flowering plants grown in the pots or polybags are to be
shifted once in 2-3 months to avoid root penetration into the soil. If the tap root
penetrates deep into the soil the chances of mortality increases. Hence shifting of
grafted, budded and potted plants has to be done at regular intervals.
2. Removal of Rootstock Sprouts: One has to keep a constant eye on the sprouts
arising on the rootstock which are to be nipped off as and when observed. This
encourages rapid growth of scion shoots.
3. Nutrient Management: To get good growth of grafts and potted plants they are to be
fed with all major and minor nutrient elements. Application of one tea spoonful of
neem cake at 45 days interval and DAP 0.5% solution will enhance the growth of
flowering nursery plants. Foliar sprays with soluble fertilizer mixtures like 1 %
polyfeed (19:19:19) and correction of micronutrient deficiencies is also of paramount
importance in maintaining the healthy flowering nursery plants.
4. Pest and Disease Management: Root rot, leaf spots, die back and canker in citrus
are some of the important diseases, which are commonly observed in fruit nurseries.
Against root rot diseases, drenching with 0.3 per cent Blitox or 0.2 per cent Ridomil
or Kavach is useful in checking the incidence. Bavistin 0.1 % or Mancozeb 0.2% or
Captan 0.2% or Blitox 0.3%, are effective against leaf spot diseases. For control of
die back disease the affected portion may be pruned up to the healthier portion and
the cut end has to be smeared with Bordeaux paste/ Blitox paste. Pests like leaf eating
caterpillars, thrips, ash weevil etc. can be checked by prophylatic sprays with
Monocrotophos 1.6 ml per liter of water.
5. Weeding: The nursery beds, polybags, trenches, channels and bunds, paths and
roads s h o u l d a l w a y s b e kept weed free. This not only encourages good
plant growth and also improves the image of the nursery.
6. Provision of Partial Shade: It is essential to provide partial shade to the nursery
plants in summer season especially in arid regions where the humidity and water
availability are less. Depending upon the climatic conditions prevailing in the area,
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