Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

amount of nitrogen as microorganism in coco peat need to break down easily
degradable substrates present in Coco peat.
11. Polymers: Since container-grown plants rely on regular watering to survive, some
mixes contain polymers to hold moisture. Polymers, which may look like tiny plastic
marbles, act like sponges. They absorb and hold water when the medium is moist, but
release it back into the soil when dry. This helps maintain a consistent level of
moisture for plant roots. Several different brands and forms of polymers are available
at local nurseries.
Media Preparation for Nursery:
In a Nursery the propagated young seedlings or rooted cuttings are sometimes
planted directly in the field but frequently they are planted in soil mixtures in some type
of container such as peat or plastic pots or clay flower pots or metal cans.
Potting mixtures for rooted cuttings and young seedlings generally contains 1 part of
sand, 1 part of Loam soil and 1 part of peat moss or shredded bark or leaf mould is
generally recommended as potting mixture.
Potting Mixtures and Potting Yard
For better success of nursery plants a good potting mixture is necessary. The potting
mixtures for different purpose can be prepared by mixing fertile soil, well decomposed
FYM, leaf mould, oil cakes etc. in different proportions. The potting mixture may be kept
near the potting yard, where potting and packaging is carried out.
Sand, Loamy soil, FYM in 1:2:1 proportion in generally used to grow vegetable
seedling in rasied beds.
Different Media Combinations for Vegetable Nursery are as follows:
� Loamy soil + Sand + FYM + Vermicompost
� Loamy soil + Sand + FYM + Biofertilizers
� Loamy soil + Sand + Vermicompost + Biofertilizers
� Loamy soil + Sand + Vermicompost + Oil cakes + Biofertilizers
� Loamy soil + Sand + Compost + Biofertilizers
� Loamy soil + Sand + FYM + Oil cakes
� Loamy soil + Sand + FYM + Oil cakes + Biofertilizers
� Loamy soil + Sand + Leaf mould + Oil cakes
3.2.4. Water Quality and Water Management in Nursery
Ideal Water Quality for Nursery
All irrigation water contains varying amounts of soluble salts of calcium, sodium,
magnesium and others. Excess amount of any component in water degrade the quality of
water and develops toxicity. This can be affecting adversely on the nursery plants for
further growth and development. The representative sample of water should be tested
before use for nursery irrigation. The nutritional imbalance also observed because of
excess pH of irrigation water.
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