eChapters

A well-managed nursery is essential for producing healthy, uniform, vigorous, and field-ready planting material. This chapter explains nursery planning, site selection, propagation structures, growing media, containers, trays, irrigation, fertilization, sanitation, pest management, hardening, and transplant quality assessment. Protected raising techniques using shade nets, polyhouses, insect-proof structures, and controlled environments are discussed for improving germination and seedling survival. Particular attention is given to biosecurity, disease prevention, substrate sterilization, water quality, and environmental control. The chapter also introduces quality indicators such as root development, shoot growth, and physiological fitness. Efficient nursery management reduces establishment losses and provides the foundation for productive and profitable horticultural enterprises.

There has been an increasing demand for horticultural crops more particularly fruit .With this, the demand for good quality planting materials has gone up and hence the nursery business has developed rapidly in the recent years in our country. Plant propagation aims at the reproduction of selected individuals or group of individuals, in this the basic principal of life impose certain requirements which must be met with in practices for successful propagation. Plants material of various fruit crops have not only to be raised efficiently and scientifically, for which skilled knowledge in raising and management of nurseries is needed, but also these have to be transported quickly from nurseries to place where these plants materials will be grown.

Availability of quality planting material is one of the most importanant requirement for increasing the production and productivity of any fruit crops. It becomes one of the great challenges for horticulturists to get the disease free quality planting materials of fruit crops from an efficient and reliable nursery.

Nursery

Nursery is a place where seedling, saplings or any other planting materials are raised, propagated, multiplied and sold out for planting. The prerequisites of a successful and remunerative fruit production are the availability of true-to-type, healthy and good quality planting materials. Setting up of a fruit nursery is a long term venture and requires careful planning and expertise, because mistakes committed initially cannot be rectified easily and may adversely affect the return from the investment. Thus, one should pay due attention on every aspects when nursery is to be established.

In the nursery seedlings, saplings, cuttings and grafts are raised, propagated and multiplied under favorable condition for transplanting in the main field. In nursery, plants are nurtured by providing them with optimum growing condition to ensure germination.

Benefits of Raising Seedlings in Nursery

1. Tender seedlings are looked after very conveniently.

2. Seedlings canbe protected very easliy from pests and diseases.

3. Land can be properly utilised (duration in the main field is reduced).

4. Costly and small size seeds can be raised effeciently without any wastage.

5. Uniformity in the crop can be be maintained by selecting healthy, uniform and vigorous seedlings from the nursery.

A nursery is a place, where seedling, saplings, trees, shrubs, and other plant materials are grown and maintained until they are placed in a permanent place.

Advantages of Nursery

1. The area being small and compact, it is convenient and easy to grow large number of seedlings per unit area.
2. Management of favourable growing conditions becomes easy and feasible.
3. Easy management of pests and diseases in compact area.
4. Establishment of disease free and virus free scion bank.
5. Ensure optimum utilization of labour, water, nutrients and other inputs.
6. Ensure easy and cheap availability of plants.
7. Promotion of export through supply and processing of quality plant materials.

Nursery is one of the important components of horticultural crop production. Nursery is place where young crop plants are raised under intensive care for later transplanting to the field. Nurseries may be classified as follows. On the basis of the irrigation facilities, the nurseries are dry or wet nurseries.

1. Dry Nurseries: Generally such types of nurseries are observed in forestry. It is maintained without any irrigation or artificial watering. The rab nurseries of Western Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat come under this category. The rab or semi-rab nurseries are made in the plantation areas on small well-burnt patches of land usually 0.01 to 0.05 ha mainly for supplying teak stumps. The seeds are sown in lines 45 cm apart just before the onset of monsoon. Normally no elaborate beds are made, no fencing is made and no irrigation is provided as compared to other nurseries.

5.1 INTRODUCTION

The importance of the best quality planting material as an initial investment is a well-realized factor for persons engaged in horticulture field. So, nurseries have great demand for the production of plants, bulbs, rhizomes, suckers and grafts. But in general, good quality and assured planting material at reasonable price is not available many a times. Nursery is the basic need of horticulture. Plant propagation techniques and practices is the core of horticulture nurseries. The planting materials for horticultural plantations are raised from seeds and vegetative parts. The difficulty of procuring tree seeds and their rising cost makes it necessary to find means to increase seedling survival and growth.

Raising a nursery needs a great skill. Nursery business has become an agro- business for the unemployed youths. Generally, various commercial crop growers require a good quality saplings or grafts of genuine type. So, nursery raising is quite a remunerative enterprise.

Nursery is a special place where seeds are sown, plants are propagated, grown, nurtured to usable size for planting or for sale. Nurseries provide the necessary control of moisture, light, soil and predators and allow production of healthy and hardy seedlings.

Pot mixture is the media, used in the pots for propagation of nursery plants. It is the combination of different materials in a particular proportion to create better environment for rooting, growth and development of plants.

The most commonly used ingredients to make potting mixture areas follows

1. Introduction

Buckwheat is one of the most important life supporting nutritious crops, which has come as a secondary crop in many countries and has now attained its position in the agriculture of many countries where cereals form the stable food for the people. Though the crop is not a cereal, the seeds themselves can bring the name ‘pseudocereal’ due to their similar usage as cereal grains. There are many species of buckwheat in the world, of which mainly nine species have agricultural value (Krkoskova and Mrazova, 2005). Generally, the genus Fagopyrum in the family Polygonaceae includes two buckwheat species used for food around the world: common buckwheat (F. esculentum Moench), which is almost grown on all continents, and tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum (L.) Gaertn), which originated in eastern Tibet or northwestern Yunnan in China and is grown only in Asia, Europe, and North America (Bonafaccia et al., 2003; Tsuji and Ohnishi, 2001).

Buckwheat is grown throughout a large area as a crop that fits the farming system on marginal and fairly unproductive land. It is used as a subsistence crop in many of the more mountainous areas where it is often grown with barley at the higher altitudes. Tartary buckwheat, because of its frost tolerance, is generally grown at the higher altitudes whereas common buckwheat is grown at the lower altitudes. In many areas the trend is for replacement of common buckwheat, which has lower yielding ability and lacks frost tolerance, with finger millet or other crops.

The arid region of India covers about 12 % of countries geographical area and occupies over 3.17 lakh Km² of hot desert located in the parts of Rajasthan (61%), Gujarat (20%), Punjab and Haryana (9.0%), Andhra Pradesh (7%), Maharashtra (0.4%) and Karnataka (3.0%). In addition to this an area of about 78 thousand Km² of cold desert in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh presents an entirely different set of agro climatic conditions as compared to hot arid zone. The hot arid region is characterized by low and erratic distribution of rainfall (< 100 to 400 mm), high temperature, low relative humidity, high potential evapo-transpiration, high sunshine and high wind speed during summer. Soils of this region are dry for most part of the year and suffer from water stress. Besides growing annual crops, a great emphasis is being laid on the development of agroforestry systems in this region which also includes cultivation of arid fruit crops in cropping systems. Horticulture based production systems are considered to be the most ideal strategy to provide food, nutrition and income security to the people (Chundawat, 1993). Integration of annual crops with fruit trees yields multiple outputs that ensure production and income generation.

According to the present state of our knowledge, sixteen-elements are considered to be essential for plant growth and development. These nutrients are chemical elements, which are absorbed by the plants in more or less quantity to transform light energy into chemical energy and to keep up plant metabolism for the synthesis of organic material. These elements are regarded as essential in higher plants.

These are Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potash, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Boron, Molybdenum and Chlorine. Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen are obtained from air and water. Carbon makes up the great bulk of the plant and is obtained from carbon dioxide in the air. Hydrogen is derived mainly from the breakdown of water. Oxygen is obtained from air as well as water. Other thirteen elements are obtained from mineral and organic components of the soil. These elements are further grouped into major/macro and minor/micro-elements. The nutrients that are required in relatively larger quantities are termed as macro elements. Micronutrients that are required in relatively lesser quantities are termed as micro nutrients.

Nutrient management is one of the key aspects that ensure good quality produce in optimum quantity. Nutrient availability influences growth and productivity of crops. Sixteen elements are recognized as essential nutrients for growth and development of plants. These essential elements are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, molybdenum and chlorine. While carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are derived from air, soil and water, other elements are taken by the plant roots from the soil, according to the requirement of the plant. The soil contains these elements in varying quantities depending on the origin of the soil. According to the quantity of requirement of these elements by plants for its various growth processes,the elements are classified into different categories.

Major nutrients or primary nutrients - These are required by plants in large quantities because they are involved in all the processes of plant growth and development. Major nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Secondary nutrients - These are required by plants in relatively smaller quantities for growth and development. Secondary nutrients are magnesium and sulphur.

Micro nutrients - As the name suggests, these are required by plants in minor quantities for their physiological processes. These elements are iron, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, molybdenum and chlorine.

Each of the plant nutrients has a definite quantitive role and specific function in the physiological processes of plants. If any of the essential element is deficient or absent in the soil sysem, the plant growth is affected negatively and this is reflected as inferior quality produce. On the contrary, if a nutrient is excess in the soil system, it hinders in absorption of other nutrients and also may itself be toxic. Hence to get the required growth, quality and quantity of the produce, optimum availability of all the nutrients should be ensured.

Fruits and vegetables are the major constituents of daily diet. They provide not only body building elements but also energy yielding food for the wellbeing of humans. Main object of the nutrition garden is to make availability of the requisite quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables to family members. It is generally raised in the backyard of home. It is also called as a home garden or kitchen garden. Most of the day to day cultural operations are performed by family members. Working in the nutrition garden during their spare time is a pleasure, an inspiration, a means of recreation to all the family members. The foremost advantage of nutrition garden is to daily supply fresh fruits and vegetables as per the needs of family members. Nutrition garden has an important role in enhancing national food security and dietary diversity to combat malnutrition.

Points to be considered, while the planning and layout of nutrition garden

The term essential element was proposed by Arnon and Stout (1939).They concluded three criteria must be met for an element to be considered essential. These criteria are:

1.A plant must be unable to complete its life cycle in the absence of the mineral element.

2.The function of the element must not be replaceable by another mineral element.

3.The element must be directly involved in plant metabolism.

The number of elements considered essential for the growth of higher plants now varies from 16 to 20 or more, depending upon the definition of essentiality. Other scientists such as Nicholas (1961) believed that an element should be considered essential if its addition enhances plant growth even though it merely substitutes for one of the 16 elements that Arnon declares to be essential. For example, sodium can substitute in plant nutrition for some potassium and vanadium for some molybdenum, Nicholas would consider both sodium and vanadium as essential, but Arnon would not. On the basis of the criteria used, Arnon specifies 16 elements and Nicholas 20 elements as being essential for the growth of higher plants. Three other debated nutrients are nickel (urea transformations), cobalt (N₂ fixation) and silicon. These criteria are important guidelines for plant nutrition but exclude beneficial mineral elements. Beneficial elements are those that can compensate for toxic effects of other elements or may replace mineral nutrients in some other less specific function such as the maintenance of osmotic pressure. The omission of beneficial nutrients in commercial production could mean that plants are not being grown to their optimum genetic potential but are merely produced at a subsistence level.

Nutrients

The nutrients are chemical elements which are absorbed by the plants in more or less quantity to transform light energy into chemical energy and to keep up plant metabolism for the synthesis of organic materials. These materials constitute among other things, foods for humans and animals and a range of raw materials for various industrial uses. Feeding of plants with nutrients is termed as nutrition. Successful growth and production of the plants in general requires a proper supply of the 17 elements. These elements are regarded as essential to life in higher plants.

Healthy body maintains a healthy mind. Fruits and vegetables are said to be protective food as they provide proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, roughages, organic acids, enzymes and energy for normal growth and sustenance of physiological activities of human beings. Fruits and vegetables provide palatability, taste and improve appetite. It also provides fiber to prevent constipation. They reduce the ill-effect of acids produced during digestion of proteins and fatty acids. Thus, they protect the human body from various deficiency disorders.

Important fact is that most of the Indians are vegetarians. The incorporation of fruits and vegetables in daily diet is essential as body building elements and calorie yielding foods for good health. Comparatively fruits and vegetables are the cheapest source of natural nutritive foods and are an important component of a balanced diet Balanced diet is a diet which contains body building elements and calorie yielding foods in an appropriate proportion for normal growth and well-being of a person. According to ICMR, New Delhi; 120 g fruits and 280-300 g vegetables should be consumed per day per capita. Vegetables include 80-100 g of leafy vegetables, 100-125 g of tubers as energy source and remaining as other vegetables.

A family of over 33 genera and 391 species, Nyctaginaceae are distributed mainly in tropics, but also in South America particularly Brazil, Asia, Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, Australia, Africa and New Zealand are the chief centers of distribution. Presently, bougainvilleas are popular ornamental plants in warm climates including India, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Mediterranean region, the Caribbean, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, and southern Texas. Some of the largely represented genera along with the approximate number of their world over reported species are Bougainvillea (300), Mirabilis (60) and Pisonia (50). The C3 physiology recorded directly in Bougainvillea, Mirabilis.
Bougainvillea is a versatile and hardy climbing shrub commonly grown in Indian gardens. It is a short day plant. C3 and C4 photosynthesis is reported in bougainvillea cv. Mary Palmer. It is a fast growing garden plant admired for its brightly coloured bracts, profuse flowering round the year, wide adaptability to soil and climatic conditions, and easy growing. It is, grown as hedge, pergola, standard, pot plant, and bonsai for display. In city designs, newer roads, and flyovers are introduced with bougainvilleas as dividers. Bougainvilleas also have been utilized as a kind of folk medicine developed into dietary supplements as insulin substitute and for pollution tolerance. The insulin like compound, pinitol, was first isolated from leaves of B. spectabilis.

Nyctanthes, commonly known as Harsingar or Parijata, is an important flowering shrub valued for its fragrant white flowers with orange centres. The flowers have long-standing cultural and religious significance and are traditionally collected for worship and other uses. This chapter presents the botanical identity, origin, distribution, genetics and characteristics of Harsingar. It discusses suitable climate and soil conditions, propagation, planting, nutrient management, irrigation and cultural practices. The chapter also covers pests and diseases affecting the crop and provides information on flower harvesting, particularly the importance of morning collection. Postharvest management, yield and traditional and modern uses of Harsingar flowers are included to support commercial and practical understanding

This family of sub-class polypetalae is represented by only 5 genera and over 70 species. Members are cosmopolitan in distribution, except in very cold regions, and are favorite plants for garden pools. Plants are mostly ornamental, few are medicinal or edible. Flowers of water lily are variously coloured and open just above the water surface in ponds while that of crow lily (Nuphar) are golden yellow and extend up and out of the water in the pond. Nymphaea nouchali is the Indian red water-lily. Victoria regia is a native of South America. Genus Nymphaea attained wide spread fame as ornamentals in Europe and North America in the early 19th century. Word ‘Nympha’ in Greek and in Roman mythology means ‘Nature-goddess’. Nymphacine is an alkaloid present in all parts except seeds and contain 47% starch and fatty oils. Flowers are used as cardiac tonic to relieve pains and cures diseases of liver and skin and rhizomes are used in tannin industry, seeds for culinary purposes and leaves as dining plates. Dried rhizome powder is used to cure piles.
Among the few bulbous ornamentals which survive only in water, one of them is water lily. Water lilies constitute an important element in tropical aquatic ornamental horticulture because of their strikingly beautiful flowers with wide spectrum of colours. Its flowers are very formal in shape and rather more attractive than lotus. Many are fragrant and there is great variation even in size of the flowers and leaves. Unripe fruits of Nymphaea rubra are used as vegetables and flowering stalks as vegetables and salad. Rhizomes are used in tannin industry and seeds for culinary purposes. Leaves are used as dining plates. Nymphacine alkaloid is available in all parts of the plant except the seeds which are free from this alkaloid and contain 47 per cent starch and fatty oils. Rhizomes of N. stellata are edible and also used to relieve cardiac pains. Rhizomes of N. nouchali are used to cure dysentery and diarrhoea. The vegetable ‘kamal kakri’ is actually the rhizome of N. nouchali.

1. Introduction

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a popular seed spice crop, used for dual purpose seed and leaves both. Since ancient times, coriander leaves have been used in the production of many popular Asian and East European foods. It improves the taste and flavor of vegetable, chicken, fish, and meat dishes when combined with other kitchen herbs and spices. Blending of green coriander leaves with other spice crops is used to make chatni (paste) which is a good appetizer, flavour enhancer and rich source of medicinal properties of coriander. The green leaves of coriander are a rich source of minerals like calcium, phosphorus and iron as well as vitamin A, C, riboflavin and folic acid. Coriander is one of the few plants which can be termed both as herb and spice, the seeds being used as spices (coriander) and leaves are widely used as herbs (cilantro). The green leaves of this herb contain 160 mg/100 g vitamin C, 12 mg/100 g vitamin A and 87.9% moisture, 3.3% protein, 0.6% fat, 6.5% carbohydrates and 1.7% mineral matter