This document discusses nursery bed preparation and raising different vegetable crops. It defines a nursery as an area used to raise and nurture seedlings until they are ready to be sold or transplanted. The document outlines different types of nurseries and considerations for selecting a nursery site, including location, soil type, and drainage. It describes three methods for preparing nursery beds: sunken beds, which are below ground level to conserve water; raised beds, which are 15 cm high for drainage; and level beds for non-rainy seasons, with provisions for drainage. Precautions during bed preparation include providing sufficient nutrition, fertile soil, drainage, and insect protection.

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
1. THATCHED ROOF
2. SHADE-NET
3. POLY TUNNEL
4. 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
1. SUNKEN BED
2. LEVEL BED
3. 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.

12. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.