Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

5.2 Contents
5.2.1 Sanitation, Drainage, Training and Pruning in Nursery
(A) Sanitation :
Sanitation is defined as “the formulation and application of measures designed to
protect plant health”. Maintenance of sanitation is necessary in any plant propagation
work. If all the necessary sanitary precautions are taken at the onset, the problems
would be less in magnitude and its management can be done effectively. It is
necessary to use clean growing media, sterile containers, a sanitized bench and
pathogen free planting materials in all plant propagation processes. However, soil
borne pathogens may contaminate the soil mixture and media even when all
precautions are taken. Small outbreaks of diseases can be controlled by using
appropriate fungicides.
Sanitation practices in nursery include,
1. Prevention of insects, pests and diseases
2. Inspection for insect, pest and disease incidences
3. Environmental control leading to protection from harmful environment factors
like hot sun, freezing temperatures, storms, etc.
4. Eradication of pests, diseases and weeds.
Sanitation Treatments
1. Sterilization of the propagation media, tools, and implements used is necessary in
nursery plant production. Propagating media and tools can be easily sterilized by heat
or by chemicals. A temperature of about 71 0 C for 30 minutes is considered sufficient
to kill almost all disease producing pathogens.
2. Chemicals used for sterilizations are Chloropicrin, Formaldehyde, Methyl Bromide,
etc.
3. Fumigation with chemicals is useful for destroying harmful bacteria, fungi and
nematodes in a relatively small quantity of soil that is used for propagation of plants.
4. Drenching the medium with certain fungicides is also useful in eliminating pathogens
from the soil, coco peat and other media.
5. General cleanliness of nursery area (inside and outside) and all the implements are
necessary.
(B) Drainage
Drainage means the process of removing excess water from the soil using artificial
means so as to enhance crop production. In order to facilitate healthy and sufficient
vegetative and reproductive growth of plants, a good drainage system must be developed
in the beds and around the nursery. Adequately gentle slope in the pot and bed surface is
also desirable. It is extremely important to ensure that water logging does not occur in
and around the pots and beds.
Soil needs artificial drainage for various reasons, when there is a high water table in
the bed and when excess surface water cannot move downward through the soil.
<strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Book</strong> on Horticulture Nursery Management : 95