Nursery bed preparation and raising different vegetable crops

The following slides give an insight into how to prepare the nursery beds and raising different vegetable crops. It can be helpful for all the related stakeholders especially students.

1. NURSERY BED PREPARATION AND RAISING OF DIFFERENT VEGETABLE CROPS PRACTICAL NO: 3

2. WHAT IS NURSERY? 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.

3. Grow and maintain large number of plants per unit area Effective care and management (hybrid seeds) Minimum care, cost and maintenance Manipulation of growing conditions Off-season sowing of seeds Less seed requirement as compared to direct sowing Time for preparation of main plots Easy management of diseases and pest in nursery Why is it important?

4. Selection of the nursery site SOME IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS: Location (Pollution free, adequate sunlight, no rough motorized roads etc ) Market Topography Soil Transportation Drainage Labor Protection from animals

5. Types of nursery On the basis of duration Temporary nursery Permanent nursery On the basis of plants produced Ornamental nursery Vegetable nursery Fruit plant nursery Forest nursery

6. on the basis of structure used Open field nursery Hi-tech nursery Thatched roof Shade-net Poly tunnel Greenhouse or poly house

7. Nursery bed It refers to a piece of land , which is made free from weeds, stumps, stones, pebbles, etc., and is used for sowing of seeds to raise seedlings and multiplication of different species of plants through asexual means.

8. Preparation of nursery bed Prepared in three different ways Sunken bed Level bed Raised bed

9. Sunken bed (Bed preparation) The soil of the seedbed needs to be sterilized by soil solarization or with chemicals to avoid contamination by pests and diseases. The soil of the nursery bed is thoroughly mixed with rotten farmyard manure. This type of nursery bed is prepared in dry and windy areas. In dry areas, the bed is kept 10−15 cm below the ground level , which helps in conserving water. Sunken bed facilitates the deposition of irrigation water or rainwater for a longer time. In case of water scarcity, this type of bed helps to conserve the moisture. Such a bed can be easily irrigated during dry season. A sunken bed provides protection to the seedlings during high wind conditions as they are covered.

10. raised bed (Bed preparation) Such a nursery bed is prepared during the rainy season . The land is levelled and made free of weeds, stumps, stones, pebbles, etc. The soil of the nursery bed is thoroughly mixed with 5−10 kg per sqm rotten farmyard manure . This type of bed is prepared about 15 cm high from the ground level . The width is kept at 1−1.5 m and length 3−5 m . This enables adequate drainage during rains and checks water stagnation . A space of 3−4 cm is left between two beds in order to carry out cultural practices smoothly.

11. level bed (Bed preparation) Such a bed is prepared during non-rainy season (summer and winter) so that there is no waterlogging. Adequate drainage provision is made and preference for sandy or sandy loam soil is given when preparing a flat bed. Soil sterilization process is must either by soil solarization or with chemicals. Irrigation and drainage channel are constructed in between the beds.

12. Precautions to be taken during bed preparation Sufficient nutrition Soil must be fertile Systematized drainage provisions Time of watering the beds depends on the soil type ( sandy soil requires frequent irrigation) Insect/pests should be avoided Generally width of the nursery bed must not be more than 1 meter and length according to slope of the soil. Site should be built in partial shade or should have provision of shade.