Exam (elaborations) Nursery 321908

It is an area, in which new saplings are raised and nourished until they are ready for sale or transplanting at a permanent place in a field. Raising of seedlings in a nursery is important for various reasons. Importance of nursery • It is possible to grow and maintain a large number of plants per unit area. • Small and expensive hybrid seeds can be raised more effectively due to better care and management. • When seeds are sown in seedbeds, their germination percentage increases and the vigour of the seedlings also improves. • The management of seedlings can be done in a better way with minimum care, cost and maintenance as the nursery area is small. • Manipulation of growing conditions for plants becomes easy. • Better and uniform crop growth can be obtained in the main field by selecting vigorous and healthy seedlings. • Off-season sowing of seeds becomes possible, which ultimately results in fetching more returns. • The seed requirement of nursery raised crops is less as compared to direct seed sowing of the same crop due to better management. • Sowing seeds in a nursery allows additional time for doing preparatory tillage in the main plot. Harvesting of the previous crop can also be prolonged, if needed. • Management of insect-pests, diseases and weeds is easy in a nursery. Selection of the nursery site Several factors are responsible for the selection of a suitable nursery site. Some important considerations are as follows: Chapter - 16 07-May-19 5:08:28 PM NURSERY MANAGEMENT 17 Location notES A nursery must be located in a pollution-free environment — away from brick kilns, smoke-emitting industries and rough motorised roads as dirt and dust settle on plants, covering the foliage, which not only reduces the photosynthetic efficiency of plants but also gives them a dull look. It must be ensured that the nursery site gets adequate sunlight. However, care must be taken that the plants are protected against severe heat. Topography of land The topography of land at the nursery site must be even. If it is undulating, it must be levelled. In hilly areas, it may be divided into levelled terraces. Soil The soil must preferably be loam or sandy loam with large quantity of organic matter. The pH of the soil must be near neutral (6.5 – 7.5). It must have adequate water retention capacity and aeration. Water The quality of water used in a nursery is important for the growth of plants. Saline and polluted water must not be used. It must be ensured that there is adequate water supply for irrigation. Besides, the nursery must be located near a water source so that there is no water scarcity at any time in the course of raising plants. Drainage The nursery site must have adequate drainage facility and be free from waterlogging. Water must not stagnate at any time. Transportation The nursery site must be accessible by road. It must not be far from potential markets so that there is no damage to the seedlings during transportation. Labour As nursery work is labour-intensive, the nursery site must have enough number of labourers. Chapter - 17 07-May-19 5:08:28 PM GARDENER – CLASS XI 18 Protection