3. WHAT IS A SEEDLING NURSERY?•If we use the transplanting method rather than the direct
seeding method for crop establishment, we need to produce
seedlings. These seedlings are produced in a nursery.
•Seedling nurseries use 15 to 20% of the total farming area. In
preparing the nursery seedbed, the surface needs to be level,
free of weeds, and well drained. Low rates of nitrogen and
phosphate fertilizer can be applied to the nursery.
•Usually seeding rates vary from 400 to 800 kg per hectare of
nursery depending on locality, soil type, and seed quality.
4. DIFFERENT NURSERY SYSTEMS
The choice of a particular nursery system depends on the
availability of water, labor, land and agricultural implements.
There are 3 nursery systems for transplanting:
The wet-bed nursery
The dry-bed nursery
The dapog or mat nursery
5. 1. WET-BED METHOD
•The wet-bed nursery is mainly used in areas where there is enough
water.
•Here the wet tillage is practiced.
• Pre-germinated seeds are broadcasted uniformly on raised beds of
puddled soil.
•The seedlings are ready in 20-25 days.
•The seedlings produced from the well managed nurseries are
expected to give better yields.
6. • Line planting ensures proper crop stand and facilitates working
of rotary weeder for controlling weeds as well as incorporation
of N fertilizers.
•Shallow planting of 3-4 cm deep with a spacing of 20 x 10-15
cm @ 2-3 seedlings per hill is desirable. If need arises, gap
filling has to be done
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10. ADVANTAGES:
•Situated right in the field.
•Seedling will be free from weeds
•Seedlings easy to uproot.
•Minimal disease and pest problems.
•Less seed is required per unit area.
•It can withstand slight salinity.
11. DISADVANTAGES:
•Seeds are easily carried away by rainwater if a heavy rain occurs shortly
after sowing.
•Preparation and care of seed bed and pulling of seedlings are laborious.
•It is difficult to arrest seedling growth.
•Seedlings cannot be kept longer in the nursery as they tend to tiller and
produce nodes under the favorable conditions.
•It requires more space and this leads in loss of space where crops are
standing.
•Seedlings cannot withstand drought.
12. 2. DRY-BED METHOD
•It is followed in areas where the water is insufficient.
• In this method, dry tillage is followed.
• Sowing of pre-germinated seeds may be done by broadcasting or
sown in hand drawn shallow furrows spaced at 8-10 cm and covering
with soil.
• Irrigation is done frequently to keep the beds moist.
•the seedlings obtained from these nurseries are hardy and can
tolerate adverse conditions better. But weeds problem is more than
wet bed method.
13. • Seed beds of convenient dimensions are prepared by raising the soil
to a height of about 5-10 cm.
•A layer of half burned paddy husk could be distributed on the nursery
bed to facilitate uprooting.
•The site should be free of shade and with adequate irrigation facilities.
•Uprooting of seedlings should be done between 15 - 21 days after
germination.
• Nursery should be maintain without any moisture stress.
•A basal fertilizer mixture can be applied and incorporated between
rows if the soil nutrient supply is low.
15. ADVANTAGES:
•Seedlings develop excellent root.
•Seedling easy to uproot.
•Beds can be made near to farmers house.
•Seedlings can be raised with limited water supply.
•Seedlings get, established quickly due to favorable conditions
in the planted fields.
•Seedlings are hardy and can resist adverse condition to some
extent.
16. DISADVANTAGES•Roots may get damaged while pulling.
•Seedlings of upland nurseries may also get infected by blast.
•And are more prone to pests such as rodents etc.
•It requires more time for preparation.
•It is not suitable, for all types of soils, especially in sandy and stiff clay
soils.
•As seedlings cannot withstand even traces of salinity, dry nursery in
such soil is not suitable.
•Higher seed rate is required
17. 3. DAPOG METHOD (MATS)
•Dapog method of nursery is used for machine transplanting.
•In this method, the raised beds of one meter width, 10 cm height
and convenient length are prepared.
• On these beds a polythene sheet is placed and above which a
mixture of FYM and soil (1:1) of 2.0 cm thickness is placed.
•Pre-germinated seeds are broadcasted @ 1.0 kg/m2 and covered
with straw mulch.
• Irrigation is done frequently to keep the beds moist.
18. • Seedlings are ready for transplanting in 18-20 days.
• For machine transplanting mats of seedlings are used. It is a
portable paddy nursery.
• Paddy seedling can be raised within 2 weeks without affecting
its quality.
• Dapog nurseries can be located anywhere on a flat firm surface
but water supply/control should be very reliable.
• Area - 40 - 50 sq. M to cover one hectare of land
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27. ADVANTAGES:
•Time in the seed bed is greatly reduced.
•Area required for seed bed is reduced.
•More choices of location of seed bed.
•Seedlings do not suffer from root or stem injury.
•Pul1ing of seedlings is eliminated.
•Seeds will not be carried away by rain.
28. DISADVANTAGES:
•The seedlings are delicate, thin and slender.
•If the seedlings are allowed to remain in the bed they may fade
away and die after 3-4 weeks.
•Number of seedlings per hill can not be controlled easily.
