Nurseries
“A crop nursery is a location or establishment where immature seedlings are raised or handled until they are ready for more permanent planting.” Young plants, whether propagated from seed or vegetative reproduction, require a great deal of attention, particularly in their early stages of development. They must be protected from extreme heat, heavy rain, drought, wind, and various pests and diseases.
When small vegetable seeds are directly sown in the field, germination is often bad, and the young plants develop slowly and take a long time to mature. There may also be constraints in terms of the season required for maximum production in the region. Vegetable crops are cultivated in nurseries before being transplanted into the field to avoid these issues. A vegetable or fruit nursery is a facility where plants are cared for during their early stages of development, providing ideal conditions for germination and eventual growth before they are healthy enough to be transplanted to their permanent location. A nursery might be as simple as a raised bed in the open field or as complex as a green house with microsprinklers and climate control. Plant propagation and nursery management are regarded to be the same thing. They are distinct, but they are linked. In fact, nursery management is a t inrade-oriented dynamic process that refers to optimal resource usage for economic returns, with mass multiplication of high-quality planting materials as the central subject. Nursery management is a collaborative effort to achieve a common aim.
Nursery rearing has a number of advantages in the production of vegetables
- It is simple to care for the ‘Baby' seedlings
- It is feasible to give optimal growing circumstances, including germination and growth
- Resolves the issue of tough soils
- Weed control is simple
- Costs of field management are reduced
- Crop homogeneity has improved
- Increased yields
- Increased use of hybrid seeds
- A shorter growing season and better land utilization
- More precise harvest date prediction
It is critical to produce healthy seeds and seedlings in order to increase the production of important horticulture crops such as vegetables, fruits and floriculture crops. In order to generate high-quality, disease-free seedlings in the off-season, seedlings must be raised in a protected structure with regulated climatic systems. The major goal of producing seedlings in a protected environment with a high-tech nursery management system is to increase yields of high-quality vegetables and floriculture crops. Greenhouses have been used to grow seedlings, flowers, and spices for a long time as a prefabricated building coated with transparent polythene, glass, and shade-net. Protected cultivation is the act of altering the natural environment in order to promote crop growth and output. Artificially regulating temperature, light, and humidity according to the needs of the crop in order to increase crop yield and lengthen the growing season.
Nursery management is a vital part of ensuring a steady supply of disease-free young seedlings, particularly for high-value vegetables and flowers, which need special attention. Young seedlings need extra protection because they are soft and tender, making sucking pests very appealing to suck the juice while also acting as vectors for the spread of many infectious and deadly diseases that can occur later in the plant growth stages. For a nursery with a convey capacity of 1000 m2 in a greenhouse. Commercial nurseries are now a highly lucrative company for experienced farmers who cultivate vegetable seedlings and sell them to various areas. Vegetable and flower seeds are transplanted types of crop that need a single location to grow with better care and are then transplanted to the main field after a few days. For the most effective, safe, and cost-effective nursery design, an appropriate site must be chosen.
Nursery management advantages for greenhouse cultivation
- Plants are safe from both biotic and abiotic stress, such as pests and soil-borne diseases, as well as temperature, rainfall, and heat waves
- As compared to conventional approaches, artificial soil-less media is generally free of soil-borne disease and nematode
- Weed infestation is kept to a minimum
- Labor at a low cost
- The percentage of seeds that germinate is very high
- Seedling production is year-round, with no major issues during the rainy season
- Reduce the number of pest infestations and the cost of pesticides used
- Small seeds, such as ornamental crops, germinate well
- Producing early seedlings results in a higher selling price and a higher profit margin
The most important task for nursery management and marketing is site selection:
- The terrain should be sloping
- Water of high quality is readily available in the immediate vicinity
- The location should be closer to the lane
- With the help of a wind break farm, you can avoid the wind
- To avoid disease and pests such as mites, whitefly, jassids, and thrips, stay away from the main planting area
A key factor in effective nursery development is the chemical and physical properties of the growing media. The physical characteristics of the media, such as water, aeration, and nutrient holding capacity, play a big role in root development. Apart from the nutrients in the cocopeat or rising media, nutrition is important for growing young seedlings. For the growing seedlings, nutrition is provided through foliar application.Seedlings should be irrigated periodically for improved growth and production of the seedlings. To irrigate seedlings, nursery growers use a rose can or a flush boom. Overwatering can also be harmful to growing seedlings, as it increases the risk of developing foliar, collar, and root diseases.
The plug tray method of seedling growth is best for loading and packing, as well as transportation with a special form of vehicle for long-distance markets. The re-usable tray is chlorine disinfected and can be used up to 3-4 times. To transport seedlings, a special form of plastic crate or seedling trays is available on the market.
It is impossible to overstate the value of good nursery practises. To ensure stable, vigorous, and uniform quality seedling, the nursery should be kept in top condition. High-quality hybrid seeds, growing media with good drainage and water-holding ability, and prescribed fertiliser and pesticide usage are all factors to consider. Seedlings germinate and grow uniformly in greenhouse conditions. For a sustainable and productive nursery, full-proof planning, adequate expenditure, adequate nursery infrastructure, scientific production system, good nursery management practises, and rigorous maintenance of planting material quality standards are needed.