Types and Components of

UNIT 1 TYPES AND COMPONENTS OF Nursery

NURSERY

Structure
1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Main Aspects to be Considered before Raising Nursery
1.2.1 Advantages of Modern Nursery Raising System
1.3 Types of Nurseries
1.3.1 On the Basis of Size
1.3.2 On the Basis of Business
1.4 Nursery Structures/Components
1.4.1 Store-house
1.4.2 Potting and Packing Shed
1.4.3 Nursery Beds
1.4.4 Mist Chamber
1.4.5 Cold Frames
1.4.6 Hotbeds
1.4.7 Greenhouses
1.5 Factors on which Environment of Greenhouse Depends
1.5.1 Heat or Temperature
1.5.2 Relative Humidity
1.5.3 Light
1.5.4 Carbon dioxide
1.6 Types of Greenhouses
1.6.1 Naturally Ventilated Greenhouses
1.6.2 Plastic Low Tunnel
1.6.3 Net Houses
1.7 Pre-requisites for Establishment of Nursery
1.8 Why Nursery is Needed ?
1.9 Planning and Layout of Nursery
1.10 Let Us Sum Up
1.11 Key Words
1.12 Further References
1.13 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

1.0 OBJECTIVES
After going through this unit, you will be in a position to:
explain the purpose of nursery raising designing,
discuss different types of nurseries, their designing and structure,
describe different types of greenhouses used for nursery raising, and
planning and layout nursery. 5
Nursery Management
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The nursery industry is literally a plant
growing industry. It produces billions
of plants every year making major
contributions to the forestry vegetable,
fruit, landscape, cut flower and park
industries. There will always be a
demand for quality planting material
and, in turn, there will always be a need
for reliable and reputed nurseries.

A nursery is a place, where seedlings,

saplings, trees, shrubs and other plant materials are grown and maintained until
they are placed in a permanent place. Establishment of a nursery is a permanent
venture. Any mistake made initially can’t be rectified in the later stage. Hence,
the availability of quality planting material is the foundation on which a healthy
crop is built. To raise plants in the nursery seems to be easy but to maintain them
in good state is very difficult. Raising of seedlings and maintaining the young
plants in the nursery is the continuous process. One must have full idea about
sowing time, sowing depth etc. to raise them effectively. Similarly, knowledge
about transplanting of seedlings, their handling and further management in the
nursery and afterwards is equally important for raising quality material.

1.2 MAIN ASPECTS TO BE CONSIDERED

BEFORE RAISING NURSERY
For growing high quality vegetables, flowers and fruits, it is of utmost importance
that the seedlings should be healthy, vigorous and disease free as the seedlings
are susceptible to a number of diseases, mainly viruses due to their delicate,
succulent and highly tender nature. On the other hand some of the vegetable
seeds are very costly particularly those of hybrid varieties which warrant urgent
attention of the growers to raise the seedlings under protected conditions because
every seed has its accountability owing to its cost, and the technological
advancement has contributed to the growth of nursery industry by reducing costs
and increasing reliability of high quality seedling production. By using multi-
celled plastic trays, with individual cell size and by using artificial soil less media
has made it possible for close and consistent control of seedling growth rate.

Raising nursery from seeds, provides an easy and convenient way to nourish
tender and young seedlings in a well-managed, small and compact area for better
germination of costly seeds.

1.2.1 Advantages of Modern Nursery Raising System

There are several advantages of modern nursery raising system in vegetables,
flowers and fruits.
i) complete possibility of raising virus free seedlings,
ii) no problem of soil borne fungus or nematodes,
iii) possibility of raising off season nursery,
6
iv) reduced seed rate, Types and Components of
Nursery
v) vigorous root development of seedlings,
vi) no or least mortality of seedlings,
vii) no transplanting shock,
viii) quick establishment,
ix) large number of seedlings can be raised in small protected area,
x) easy in handling,
xi) possibility of transportation to long distances, and
xii) lastly it can work as a small scale industry.

The demand for high quality planting material is steadily increasing due to interest
in vegetable gardening, fruit tree cultivation, social forestry, agro-forestry and
plantation crops. The need of setting up plant nurseries to meet the demand of
the people has been felt by small and marginal farmers as well as by gardeners
and farm house owners. In order to meet this demand, there is ample scope for
introduction of small nurseries which will serve to augment the income of needy
sections of rural society.

1.3 TYPES OF NURSERIES

Throughout the world, nurseries come in all types and sizes; many are small
family businesses, sometimes just a small hobby business to supplement the
family’s normal source of income. At the other end of the scale are large
commercial enterprises that employ skilled workers and require good management
if it has to be a financially viable enterprise.

The nursery can be broadly classified on the basis of its size and business.

1.3.1 On the Basis of Size

i) Home Nursery : It is a small area in the garden in which the new plants are
raised to meet the demands of grower’s own garden. The main objective of
such a nursery is to provide the quality planting material. Usually, costly
methods of nursery practices are followed in this type of nursery for raising
various planting materials of high quality.
ii) Commercial Nursery : The main aim of such a nursery is to earn money on
the investment. Such nurseries have a large area and costly nursery practices
are usually avoided. These are of two types:

a) Rural Nursery: This type of nursery is located in a village near some

high way or near a railway station. Usually, the size of rural nursery is
large because land and labor is not a problem in rural areas.

b) Urban Nursery: This type of nursery is located in a town or a city. The

size of the nursery is usually small because the land is costly and not
easily available.

7
Nursery Management 1.3.2 On the Basis of Business
i) Wholesale Nursery : In wholesale nursery, the plants are produced in large
quantities for sale to retail outlets. These nurseries are usually located in
rural areas.
ii) Retail Nursery : The retail sellers purchase plants from wholesale nursery.
The retail nursery is largely dependent on house owners for its trade; it is
located near a town or a city. These nurseries also keep goods like fertilizers,
seeds and tools etc. required for raising the home garden plants.
iii) Landscape Nursery : These nurseries should be located near a populous
town or city because urban people require the landscape plants for beautifying
the land of their bungalows/houses.
iv) Mail Order Nursery : It is a specialized whole sale nursery. It depends
primarily on a catalogue display of the stock, which it offers for sale.
Customers of distant locations order from the catalogue and receive the
plants through mail or parcel service. Now-a-days customer use e-mail
services for placing their orders to the mail order nurseries.
v) Agency Nursery : The agency nursery sells its stock through agents or
sales representatives. Such nurseries are highly specialized and are usually
few in number.

1.4 NURSERY STRUCTURES/COMPONENTS

In a large nursery, certain structures are absolutely necessary which are described
below:

1.4.1 Store-house
A store house is necessary for storing implements, fertilizers, sprayers and nursery
stocks such as seeds, bulbs, corms, cuttings etc.

1.4.2 Potting and Packing Shed

Along with the store-house, potting and packing shed is constructed for the
purpose of packing of nursery stocks and for potting during rainy season or hot
weather. The length and the breadth of the shed will depend upon the volume of
work.

1.4.3 Nursery Beds

These are raised boxes made of brick and mortar, provided with drainage holes
at the bottom. The dimensions of the boxes are 60 cm high, 120 cm broad and the
length may be as required but preferably not exceeding 10 meters. The boxes are
first filled with broken bricks and crocks for drainage and the top layers are
filled with sterilized soil or compost.

1.4.4 Mist Chamber

This is a novel structure in a nursery where propagation of leafy soft-wood cuttings
is done with great success. Many difficult to root plants and shrubs root
successfully under mist.

8
The principal is to spray the cuttings with a minimum quantity of water to maintain Types and Components of
Nursery
the desired humidity level. This is best achieved by providing the cuttings a
series of short bursts of spray, termed as intermittent spraying, rather than a
continuous spray. Such intermittent spraying can be done easily by means of a
high pressure pump and a time switch. In mist chamber, cuttings can be raised
round the year, except during December - January and April - May in northern
and eastern India respectively. In southern India it is possible to raise cuttings
throughout the year. The ideal temperature range in a mist chamber is 22-35°C.

1.4.5 Cold Frames

Such frames may be permanent or movable. The permanent ones are constructed
by masonry walls on the sides with slanting covering of one or more glass sashes.
It should be made of light material so that they may be easily handled by single
person.

1.4.6 Hotbeds
Heated frames are used for propagating cuttings and sowing seeds in the cold
season. Hotbeds, heated by steam or electricity, are easy to operate and the
temperature can be regulated according to need. But the conventional type of
hotbed is quit useful. This consists of a bed of stable manure mixed with equal
volumes of leaf-mould, compost, or peat. The beds are 45-60 cm larger in size
on all sides than the frames covering it. The manure should be well pressed to
bring the final depth to 60 cm. Generally, such beds are made on the surface but
good light and well drained soil is needed for it. Sunken pits can also be prepared.
Mixing of stable manures of farmyard alternatively with leaf manure, ensures a
steadier and longer heat. No portion of manure is allowed to dry up. When the
temperature becomes steady around 70-75°F, a layer of 10-15 cm well sifted soil
is placed over the manure; the desired temperature of such beds lasts for 3-4
months.

1.4.7 Greenhouses
A greenhouse is quasi-permanent
structure, covered with a transparent
or translucent material, ranging from
simple self-constructed designs to
sophisticated pre-fabricated
structures, wherein the environment
could be modified suitable for the
propagation or growing of plants.
Materials used to construct a
greenhouse frame may be wood,
bamboo, and steel or even aluminum
while the coverings can be of glass
or various rigid or flexible plastic materials. Greenhouse provides protection to
plants against adverse environmental conditions and also prevents damages from
insects and pests. Environmental conditions inside a greenhouse can be modified
suiting to the growth of nursery plants. The extent of environmental/climatic
modification will, however, depend on the design of greenhouse and is generally
related with its cost. Higher the capability of greenhouse to modify its climate,
higher will be the cost of its construction. 9
Nursery Management
1.5 FACTORS ON WHICH ENVIRONMENT OF
GREENHOUSE DEPENDS
The aerial environment for the plant growth is largely determined by the following
four factors:

1.5.1 Heat or Temperature

The way in which a greenhouse gets heated when exposed to sunlight is similar
to heating of the earth’s surface and its adjacent atmosphere. When solar radiation
reaches the earth, a small portion is reflected back into the space while the
remainder is absorbed at the surface raising its temperature. In the same way,
when solar radiation reaches the greenhouse cover-surface, a small amount
(normally 15-20 %) is reflected back from the surface while the remainder is
transmitted to the interior. Plants, soil and other objects absorb most of this
transmitted radiation and remainder is reflected. The absorbed radiation raises
the temperature of absorbing surfaces and objects with the heat energy being
immediately transferred to the greenhouse air by convection and evaporation
thereby increasing the temperature and humidity. Thus, increase in temperature
of the growing environment in a greenhouse during the day time is unavoidable,
but it is also the most important function of a greenhouse. Enhanced temperatures
accelerate plant growth, and allow sustained plant growth even when outside
ambient temperatures are unfavorably low. However, during summers, inside
temperatures rise higher than the optimum levels and, therefore, cooling/
ventilation provisions are necessary.

1.5.2 Relative Humidity

Most plants seedlings grow better within the range of 75 - 85 % relative humidity
(RH) of air. Low RH increases the evaporative demand on the plant, while high
RH can depress this demand inhibiting the uptake of nutrients, particularly of
calcium. In general, the RH inside the greenhouses is higher than outside, mainly
due to transpiration load. Effective ventilation is required to control higher RH
levels.

1.5.3 Light
In most parts of the country, solar radiation is not a limiting factor for plant
growth. Light control inside the greenhouse can be affected conveniently either
by shading or by supplementary lighting whenever required. Growers in northern
India should, however, be careful in monitoring light levels in winters especially
during prolonged foggy conditions. In peri-urban areas, particulate pollutants
get deposited on the plastic roof thereby reducing the light transmission
significantly. This problem is compounded during winters when it becomes
necessary to wash the roof frequently, to maintain adequate light levels inside
the greenhouse.

1.5.4 Carbon dioxide

Plants use carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere for photosynthesis.
Greenhouses are, evidently, closed structures where crops utilize the CO2 available
in greenhouse air. The CO2 in the greenhouse air keeps getting replenished with
10
the help of ventilation. However, under bright sunshine hours, greenhouse crops Types and Components of
Nursery
have been noticed to suffer from a lack of CO2 availability. Carbon dioxide
concentration inside the greenhouse in the early morning is always higher than
outside. With sunrise and subsequent warming, this level quickly depletes and
goes down the normal level during the day if adequate air exchanges are not
maintained. Carbon dioxide enrichment is generally accomplished by burning
suitable fuels like propane.

Check Your Progress Exercise 1

Note : a) Space is given below for answers.
b) Compare your answer with that given at the end of the unit.
1) What are the advantage of modern nursery raising ?
.......................................................................................................................
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2) Classify nurseries on the basis of business.
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3) Describe the mist chamber.
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1.6 TYPE OF GREENHOUSES

Greenhouses are classified according to their shapes, which also determine their
cost, climate control and use in terms of crop production. The greenhouses design
and cost range from a simple plastic walk-in tunnel costing about Rs.100/- per
sq. meter, to a climate-controlled, saw-tooth greenhouse with automatic heating,
ventilation and cooling, costing more than Rs. 3000/- per sq meter. The selection
of the greenhouse design should be determined by the local climatic conditions,
grower’s expectations, need, experience, and above all its cost-effectiveness for
the nursery production system. Obviously, the cost of greenhouse is very important
and may outweigh all other considerations. Simple design of greenhouse, as
11
Nursery Management shown in the Figure-1, can be used to grow nurseries round the year that would
have low initial cost and would require minimum energy for operation. The
following two types of greenhouses will be suitable:
a) Naturally ventilated (saw-tooth type)
b) Tunnel type with side ventilation (Plastic Low Tunnels)

1.6.1 Naturally Ventilated Greenhouses (Saw-tooth Type)

Saw-tooth design of greenhouse with 4 meter rain gutter height and side ventilation
is best suited for regions of moderate climate where temperature variations occur
within 10 to 40 deg Celsius during the year. No electricity is required for climate
management inside these structures. Conducive climate can be achieved by
manual regulation of ventilation.

Tunnel type greenhouses with side ventilation can be used for raising nursery
and some vegetable crops almost round the year. Propagation of carnation and
chrysanthemum can also be successfully done in these greenhouses using plug
trays. There is a huge demand of these plants and can accrue substantial profits.
Besides, growing seedlings of selected vegetables in off-season is also highly
profitable.

1.6.2 Plastic Low Tunnels

These structures are laid in open fields to cover rows of plants with insect-proof
net or transparent plastic film stretched over steel hoops of about 50 cm height
spaced suitably along the rows. Insect net of 40 to 50 mesh or polyethylene film
of 20-30 micron thickness are used. The main advantage of plastic covered tunnels
in northern India is to grow seedlings in winters. In cold conditions, they conserve
warmth, stimulate germination and early growth, protect plants from frost injury,
and improve quality of the seedlings. Insect-proof nets on these tunnels are very
effective to provide protection against pests and different vectors. These are low
cost options for raising nurseries of desired standards. However, these are
temporary structures and require good maintenance for their effectiveness.

1.6.3 Net houses

These structures can be classified in two distinct types based on the covering
material and their purpose of use.

i) Shade net house : Shade net houses use perforated plastic nets as covering
material to cut down the solar radiation and prevent scorching or wilting of
leaves caused by marked temperature increases within the leaf tissue from
strong sunlight. These nets are available in different shading intensities
ranging from 25-75 %. These structures are highly useful to moderate the
micro-climate around the plants especially in summers. During winters, these
provide protection against frost and chilly
winds.

ii) Insect-proof net house : These types of

net houses are covered with insect-proof
nylon nets in different intensities of
perforations, ranging from 25 mesh to 60
12 mesh. Nets of 40 or higher mesh are
 effective means to control entry of most flying insects and save crop from Types and Components of
Nursery
diseases. These structures ensure raising of nursery without the risk of vectors.
Higher mesh size, however, reduces the air exchange of the structure. Now-
a-days, UV- stabilized nets are available which have a longer life. These
structures are low-cost options to minimize damage by insects and pests to
the crop plants.

A bamboo - framed greenhouse is quite suitable for places where bamboo grows
in plenty. Preference for local materials should be given if the construction is to
be cost-effective in the long run. However, cellulose based materials are prone
to termite which would shorten the life of the structure.

A simple wooden framed, saw-tooth design of naturally ventilated greenhouse

for raising nursery or for crop production can be easily built with local artisan
skills. These structures have superior ventilation and can be used for year-round
production. Solid wooden poles are better than hollow bamboos for constructing
a greenhouse.

Tunnel type greenhouses are easy to build in low cost. These may be of two
types: (i) walk-in tunnel with no side ventilation and (ii) the raised arch with side
ventilation. The walk-in tunnel has poor ventilation and, thus, of limited annual
use with plastic cover. Its annual use can be enhanced by replacing the plastic
cover with insect proof net during hot season. The raised arch structures have
better ventilation and can be used almost year around for crop production.

Tunnel type greenhouse with side ventilation is quite suitable to grow vegetables
and nursery. These can also be built with local skills to reduce the cost. Insect-
proof net houses are low cost options to grow nurseries in plug trays. Such
protective structures can be built at the cost
ranging from Rs. 80 to Rs. 150 per sq
meters. Except in rain and severe cold,
these structures provide effective means
to grow healthy and disease-free nursery.
In northern Indian plains, these would not
be suitable to raise nursery during high
winters. The structures may be made from
wooden poles, bamboos, steel or cement
poles. The net used to cover the structure must be minimum of 40 mesh
perforations. Low tunnels covered with plastic nets (40 mesh) are also useful in
growing in-situ nurseries on large scale, especially in warm season. Sprinkles
can be used to irrigate the nursery beds without uncovering the tunnels.

1.7 PRE-REQUISITES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF

A NURSERY
Following points should be kept in mind while establishing a nursery:
1) As far as possible, the nursery should be located in the important production
areas.
2) The soil should be deep, fertile, well drained and free from soil borne
pathogens.
3) The locality should have adequate supply of sweet water.
4) Climatic condition should be favorable for the plants to be propagated. 13
Nursery Management 5) The site should be well connected by different means of communication
and must be easily accessible.
6) Sufficient labour, budders and grafters should be available to handle different
operations.
7) The materials like fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, grafting waxes,
lanolin paste and other necessary equipments etc. should be readily available.
8) There should be sufficient provision for different propagation structures like
glasshouses, net houses etc.
9) The nursery should have its own resources to provide parent material (mother
plants) for propagation.

1.8 WHY NURSERY IS NEEDED ?

1) The young plants can be easily maintained in the nursery. Similarly, it is
easy to look after the young and tender seedlings in the nursery rather than
in the field.
2) Propagation of plants by asexual means requires special skill and necessary
care of plants before transplanting in the field, can be done easily in the
nursery.
3) Many crop plants do not respond to direct seed sowing (cabbage, tomato,
and papaya) in the field as compared to transplanting of seedlings raised in
the nursery.
4) Cuttings of different horticultural plants for rooting are first planted in the
nursery for better care and management.
5) For “hardening” of seedlings/grafts/layers etc., nursery is the right place for
this treatment.
6) “Seasoning” of the seedlings against natural calamities is possible only in
the nursery.

1.9 PLANNING AND LAYOUT OF THE NURSERY

The ideal “propagation environment” is at the heart of the nursery, and, therefore,
the entire facility should be arranged with respect to it. Container nurseries should
always be laid out to utilize the maximum sunlight in the propagation areas.
Open growing compounds should be situated to receive maximum sunlight while
receiving due protection from wind. They should not be located near large trees,
buildings, or other obstructions that can cause shade during the major part of the
day. As a general rule, a growing compound should be located at a distance of at
least 2.5 times the height of the nearest object to the south, east, and west. Properly
located shelterbelts can reduce adverse effects of wind. A well-designed wind
barrier or a tree shelterbelt can significantly reduce heat losses of propagation
structures, decrease the irrigation wind drift in shelter houses or open growing
compounds, and provide protection from damaging storms. The most important
steps for raising seedlings in the nursery are to select a proper site for seedbeds,
seed sowing, care of seedbeds, care of seedlings and then transplanting of the
seedlings. Growing of plants in the nursery seems to be easy in words but in
reality it is a difficult job and can be done effectively and efficiently only after
attaining some experience. Thus, it is considered as a specialized job because
14
one has to acquire fair knowledge about the plants to be raised. Similarly, one Types and Components of
Nursery
should have sufficient knowledge about the cultural requirements of the plants
to be raised in the nursery.

Usually seeds of most vegetables (tomato, chillies, brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower

etc.) and flowering annuals (daisy, calendula, zinnia, marigold, larkspur etc.) are
sown about a month prior to their planting in the field. The seeds of tropical and
sub-tropical fruits are sown during monsoon (June - July) or in the beginning of
spring (February - March). Generally mango, kagzi lime and jack fruit seeds are
sown during June - July while those of guava, ber and aonla, during February -
March. Seeds of temperate fruits are generally available during June - October
and their sowing should be done after their dormancy period is over.

The seeds are usually sown at a depth 3-4 times of their size. Sowing may be
done a little deeper in light soils than in heavy soils. The seed sale depends on
many factors, particularly on the species, purpose and spacing.

Check Your Progress Exercise 2

Note : a) Space is given below for answers.
b) Compare your answer with that given at the end of the unit.
1) What are the prerequisites for establishment of a nursery ?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
15
Nursery Management 2) Why nursery raising is necessary, why not one can directly raise seedlings
in a open field environment ?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
3) What are different types of low cost greenhouses ?
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................

1.10 LET US SUM UP

In this unit, you have studied about the purpose of nursery raising, designing
types of nursery used for seed germination. You have also learnt about different
types of low cost greenhouses, their construction method and raising seedling of
different horticulture crops. We have also discussed about the need of nursery,
planning and layout of nurseries and the time when different flower, vegetable
and fruits seeds should be sown in the nursery.

1.11 KEY WORDS

Insect – proof net house : Net house covered with insect proof nylon nets
in different perforations ranging from 25 to 60
mesh.
Mist Chamber : It is a normal structure in a nursery where
propagation of leafy soft-wood cuttings is done
with great success.
Shade Net House : Greenhouse covered with shade net to cut down
the solar radiation and prevent scorching and
wilting of leaves caused by high temperature.

1.12 FURTHER REFERENCES

1) Sharma, R.R.; Srivastav, M. (2004). Plant Propagation and Nursery
Management, International Book Distributing Co. India
2) Davidson, Harold, et al (1999). Nursery Management, Administration and
Culture (4th Edition), Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA.
3) Singh, B. (2005). Protected Cultivation of Vegetable Crops, Kalyani
16 Publishers, Delhi, India.
4) Singh, B.; Singh, M.C. (2006). A practical manual on “Protected cultivation Types and Components of
Nursery
of Horticultural Crops”, Discipline of Horticulture, IARI, New Delhi.

1.13 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

EXERCISES
Check Your Progress Exercise 1
1) These are advantages of modern nursery raising system viz.
i) complete possibility of raising virus free seedlings.
ii) no problem of soil borne fungus or nematodes; possibility of raising off
season nursery.
iii) reduced seed rate (40-60 % compared with traditional system).
iv) vigorous root development of seedlings which is not possible in
traditional system.
v) no mortality after transplanting in main field.
vi) no transplanting shock after transplanting in main field.
vii) quick establishment of seedlings in the field after transplanting.
viii) large number of seedlings can be raised in small protected area, and
their raising in off-season is possible.
ix) easy in handling and possibility for transportation to long distances.
2) On the basis of business:
i) Wholesale nursery : In wholesale nursery, the plants are produced in
large quantities for sale to retail outlets. These nurseries are usually
located in rural outlets.
ii) Retail nursery : The retail sellers purchase plants from wholesale
nursery. The retail nursery is largely dependent on house owners for its
trade; it is located near a town or a city. These nurseries also keep goods
like fertilizers, seeds and tools etc. required for raising the home garden
plants.
iii) Landscape nursery : These nurseries are located near a populous town
or city because urban people require the landscape plants for beautifying
their houses.
iv) Mail order nursery : It is a specialized whole sale nursery. It depends
primarily on a catalogue display of the stock it offers for sale. Customers
of distant locations order from the catalogue and receive the plants
through mail or parcel service. Now-a-days customer use e-mail services
for placing their orders to the mail order nurseries.
v) Agency nursery : The agency nursery sells its stock through agents or
sales representatives. Such nurseries are highly specialized and are
usually few in number.
3) Mist Chamber: This is a novel structure in a nursery where propagation of
leafy soft-wood cuttings is done with great success. Many difficult to root
plants and shrubs root successfully under mist.
The principal is to spray the cuttings with a minimum quantity of water to
maintain the desired humidity level. This is best achieved by providing the 17
Nursery Management cuttings a series of short bursts of spray, termed as intermittent spraying,
rather than a continuous spray. Such intermittent spraying can be done easily
by means of a high pressure pump and a time switch. In mist chamber,
cuttings can be raised round the year, except during December - January
and April - May in northern and eastern India respectively. In southern India
it is possible to raise cuttings throughout the year. The ideal temperature
range in a mist chamber is 22-35°C.
Check Your Progress Exercise 2
1) Following point should be kept in mind while establishing a nursery:
i) As far as possible, the nursery should be located in the important
production areas.
ii) The soil should be deep, fertile, well drained and free from soil borne
pathogens.
iii) The locality should have adequate supply of sweet water.
iv) Climatic condition should be favorable for the plants to be propagated.
v) The site should be well connected by different means of communication
and must be easily accessible.
vi) Sufficient labour, budders and grafters should be available to handle
different operations.
vii) The materials like fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, grafting
waxes, lanolin paste and other necessary equipments etc. should be
readily available.
viii) There should be sufficient provision for different propagation structures
like glasshouses, net houses etc.
ix) The nursery should have its own resources to provide parent material
(mother plants) for propagation.
2) i) The young plants can be easily maintained in the nursery. Similarly, it
is easy to look after the young and tender seedlings in the nursery rather
than in the field.
ii) Propagation of plants by asexual means requires special skill and
necessary care of plants before transplanting in the field, can be done
easily in the nursery.
ii) Many crop plants do not respond to direct seed sowing (cabbage, tomato,
and papaya) in the field as compared to transplanting of seedlings raised
in the nursery.
iii) Cuttings of different horticultural plants for rooting are first planted in
the nursery for better care and management.
iv) For “hardening” of seedlings/grafts/layers etc., nursery is the right place
for this treatment.
v) “Seasoning” of the seedlings against natural calamities is possible only
in the nursery.
3) These low cost green house nurseries are natural ventilated green house,
plastic low tunnels, net houses – insect proof net house and shade net house.

18