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J 3061: FUNDAMENTALS OF FRUIT PRODUCTION, J 3061 EXERCISE NO 3/10092020/10:00-11:30 AM, PREPARATION, OF, NURSERY, BEDS, FOR, RAISING, ROOTSTOCKS AND SEEDLINGS, Introduction:, Horticultural crops are propagated either through seeds or vegetative plant parts., Vegetable crops propagated through seeds are either directly seeded or are, transplanted in the field by raising the seedlings in the nursery beds. A nursery, could be considered as a location where plants are cared for during the early, stages of growth by providing optimum conditions for germination and, subsequent growth until they become strong enough for planting in the open, field conditions, Theory:, Factors to be taken into consideration for raising nursery, Location of the nursery:, 1. Nursery should be situated near the main field for transplanting., 2. Nursery area should receive sunlight right from morning till evening i.e., south-west aspect is most suitable as this aspect is very sunny., 3. Area must be free from water stagnation i.e. proper drainage must be, provided., 4. Area should be well protected from stray animals and strong winds., 5. The area should be near the water source for continuous supply of good, quality water., Soil, 1. Soil should have good organic matter., 2. Soil texture should be neither too coarse nor too fine., 3. Soil should be sufficiently porous and adequately aerated., 4. It should have a fair degree of water holding capacity., 5. Soil pH of nursery bed should be in the range of 6 to 7., 6. Acidic and alkaline soils are not suitable for raising nursery rather, neutral, soils are suitable., DR R CHANDRA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE, AMAR SINGH COLLEGE, LAKHAOTI, BULANDSHAHR, W Edit with WPS Office

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J 3061: FUNDAMENTALS OF FRUIT PRODUCTION, 7. Soil should normally be rich in all essential nutrient elements. Preferably, soil testing of nursery area should be done so as to mix additional, nutrients accordingly for improving its soil fertility status., Procedure for nursery bed preparation:, 1. The soil of the nursery area should be fine and fertile with good water, holding capacity. For the preparation of beds, the field should be ploughed, and levelled well. Soil should be worked thoroughly to obtain a fine, textured soil free of clods and debris., 2. Prepare raised beds to facilitate proper drainage of excess water. The level, of the bed surface should be made little slanting on the two sides., 3. The length of nursery bed should be 3-5 m but it can be increased or, decreased according to the availability of land and requirement of plants, but the breadth of the beds should not be more than 1.00 -1.2 m and the, beds should be 15-20 cm raised from the ground surface., 4. The standard size of nursery bed is 3m x 1m x 15 cm., 5. A space of 30-45 cm should be left between two beds. This space can be, utilized to perform intercultural operations such as weeding, disease and, insect-pest management and also for draining out the excess rain water, from the nursery beds., 6. Add 20-25 kg well rotten farmyard manure in each standard size nursery, bed along with 200g single super phosphate and 15-20 g each of, fungicides and insecticides such as mancozeb and dusts like methyl, parathion., 7. The number of nursery beds depends on the particular crop, season and, growing area of crop for transplanting., 8. The beds should be prepared in the east and west direction and lines/, rows for sowing of seeds should be made from north to south direction on, the beds., Seed Sowing in nursery bed, 1. Treat the seed with fungicides like bavistin or thiram or captan @ 3g/kg of, seed to check the infection of soil borne diseases., 2. Make rows at a spacing of 5 cm., 3. Sow the seeds at 1 cm depth. The general rule for sowing depth is 2-3, times of the thickness of seed., 4. Mix a little of sand in the seed for uniform distribution in the rows and, cover it with soil or farmyard manure., DR R CHANDRA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE, AMAR SINGH COLLEGE, LAKHAOTI, BULANDSHAHR, W Edit with WPS Office

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J 3061: FUNDAMENTALS OF FRUIT PRODUCTION, 5. Avoid broadcasting seeds in the nursery-bed. Thick sowing or sowing with, broad casting also leads to increase in an incidence of damping off, disease, 6. If seeds are sown too deep, nutrient reserves will be exhausted before the, plant emerges or emerging plants will be weak or liable to die. If sown too, shallow, then it is likely to be eaten by birds or washed away by the splash, of rains or irrigation water., DR R CHANDRA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE, AMAR SINGH COLLEGE, LAKHAOTI, BULANDSHAHR, W Edit with WPS Office