Republic of the Philippines

Laguna State Polytechnic University

Province of Laguna
College of Agriculture
Siniloan Campus

CPT 103-Plant Propagation

Nursery Management
ESPERANZA O. CAÑA, LPT.
Course Instructor
PLANT NUTRITION
AND MANAGEMENT
IN NURSERY

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 TOPIC OUTLINE:
◍ Plant Nutrients and Their Requirements
◍ Manures and Fertilizers Application in Nursery
◍ Growth Media and Media Preparation in Nursery
◍ Water qualities and Water Management in Nursery
◍ Integrated Nutrient Management in Nursery

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Plant Nutrients
and Their
Requirements

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What is nutrient?
Nutrients
Are compound elements essential for the life
and health of a living organism.

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 PLANT NUTRITION

Plants are autotrophs,

they produce their own
food.

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Which among these elements are essential
for plant growth?

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 Criteria for Judging the Elements’
Essentiality
1. Deficiency of the nutrient makes it difficult for the plant to
complete the vegetative or reproductive stage of its growth.
2. The deficiency is specific to the nutrient in question and as
such can be prevented or corrected only by supplying that
particular element to the plant.
3. The nutrient must have direct influence on the plant. It must
be directly involved in the metabolism of the plant.

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 Essential Plant Nutrients
Plant Nutrients Class of Nutrient Plant Nutrients Class of Nutrient
Carbon Macronutrients Sulphur Macronutrients

Oxygen Macronutrients Iron Micronutrients

Hydrogen Macronutrients Manganese Micronutrients

Nitrogen Macronutrients Boron Micronutrients

Phosphorous Macronutrients Zinc Micronutrients

Potassium Macronutrients Copper Micronutrients

Magnesium Macronutrients Molybdenum Micronutrients

Calcium Macronutrients Chlorine Micronutrients

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 What are
macronutrients
and
micronutrients?

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Macronutrients
 These are the elements used in relatively large amount.

Micronutrients
 These are the elements used in small quantity.

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Macronutrients Micronutrients
Primary Macronutrients Iron
Nitrogen Manganese
Phosphorous Boron
Potassium Zinc
Calcium
Secondary Macronutrients Molybdenum
Chlorine
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulphur

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Role and Functions of Essential
Nutrients
 Hydrogen (H)
 Maintain osmotic balance; important in
numerous biochemical reactions; constituent
of carbohydrates
Source: Water

Carbon (C) Oxygen (O)

 Constituent of carbohydrates; necessary  Constituent of carbohydrates,
for photosynthesis. necessary for respiration.

Source: Air Source: Air & Water

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 Nitrogen (N)
 Constituent of proteins, chlorophyll and
nucleic acids (affect growth and yield).
Source: Air/Soil

Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K)

 Constituent of many proteins,
coenzymes, nucleic acids and metabolic  Involved with photosynthesis,
substrates; important in energy transfer. carbohydrate translocation, protein
synthesis, etc.
Source: Soil
Source: Soil 15
 Calcium (Ca)
 A component of cell walls; plays a role in the
structure and permeability of membranes.
Source: Soil

Sulphur (S) Magnesium (Mg)

 Important component of plant proteins.  Enzyme activator, component of
Source: Soil chlorophyll.
Source: Soil
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 Iron (Fe)
 Involved with chlorophyll synthesis and in
enzymes for electron transfer.
Source: Soil

Boron (B) Manganese (Mn)

 Important in sugar translocation and  Controls several oxidation-reduction
carbohydrate metabolism. systems and photosynthesis.
Source: Soil Source: Soil
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 Chlorine (Cl)
 Involved with oxygen production in
photosynthesis.
Source: Soil

Zinc (Zn) Copper (Cu)

 Involved with enzyme systems that  A catalyst for respiration; a
regulate various metabolic activities. component of various enzymes.
Source: Soil Source: Soil
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Molybdenum (Mo)
 Involved with nitrogen fixation and
transforming nitrate to ammonium.
Source: Soil

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Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
 Nitrogen (N)
Yellow or pale green color of
leaves. Drying of bottom
leaves and short plant height.

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 Phosphorous (P)
• Slow and stunted growth.
• Older leaves dry and develop
purple coloration underside,
between veins and leaf petioles.

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 Potassium (K)
• Bottom leaves are scorched on
margin and tips.
• Leaves thicken and curl.
• Deficiency first develops in the
portion of field.

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 Calcium (Ca)
• Young leaves of the terminal buds develop
wrinkled appearance and dieback at the
tips and margins.
• Stalk finally dies at the terminal bud.
• Fruit quality is affected with the occurrence
of blossom-end rot on fruits.

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 Magnesium (Mg)
• General loss of green color starting with
the bottom leaves and moving upward.
• Vein of the leaves remain green (interveinal
cholorosis).
• In cotton, the lower leaves turn purplish red
with green veins.

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 Sulphur (S)
• The veins and the tissue between them
become light green in colour in young
leaves.
• The growth of the plant is slow.

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 Iron (Fe)
• Young leaves turn chlorotic.
• The main veins remain green.
• The stalk is short and slender.
• There is a dieback of young growing
tissue.

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 Manganese (Mn)
• Spots of dead tissue scattered over
young leaves.
• Veins tend to remain green.

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 Boron (B)
• Abnormal development of the growing
points (meristematic tissue)
• Young leaves of the terminal bud
becoming light green at the base, with
final breakdown.
• Flower and fruits will abort.

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 Zinc (Zn)
• Interveinal chlorosis appears on the
lower leaves first, then gradually moves
up.
• Plant is severally dwarfed.

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 Copper (Cu)
• Young leaves permanently wilted
without spotting or marked chlorosis.
• Yellowing and chlorosis of normally
green leaves.
• White tip or yellow tip diseases is
observed in grains with dwarfed or
distorted heads.

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 Molybdenum (Mo)
• Symptoms similar to N deficiency,
older and middle leaves become
chlorotic.
• Leaf margins are rolled.
• Growth and flower formation are
restricted.

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Manures and
Fertilizers
Application in
Nursery
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 These are used as manures in crop production.

Decomposed manure is called Farm Yard Manure.

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The average composition of well decomposed farm yard manure is…

N P K
(Nitrogen) (Phosphorous) (Potassium)

0.5% 0.3% 0.5%

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Balance nutrition can be achieved by supplying nutrients in both
organic and inorganic form.

Organic manures Inorganic Fertilizers Biofertilizer

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MANURES
Manures are prepared by using plants and animal’s debris.
It can be categorized as follows:
1. Manures from plant origin e.g. green manures
2. Manures from animal origin e.g. Poultry manure
3. Manures from plants and animal origin e.g. Compost, Farm Yard
Manure.
4. Organic fertilizers e.g. Bone Meal, Fish Meal, Blood Meal.

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BIOFERTILIZERS
1. Nitrogen supplying biofertilizers- Azotobacter,
Rhyzobium, Acetobacter, Azospyrillum.
2. Phosphate supplying biofertilizers – Phosphate
solubalizing bacterias (PSB)
3. Microbial decomposers- Tricoderma viridae

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Important Points regarding
the Nutrition Management
in Nursery Plants
 Selective and balanced nutrition should be
given to the mother plants through soil or
irrigation. Excess nitrogen will reduce the root
growth.

 In nursery different types of rooting media are

used. It doesn’t contain nutrients so we have
to provide nutrition according to plants need.

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Important Points regarding
the Nutrition Management
in Nursery Plants
 Extra attention should be given to nutrition in
sprouting, root initiation stage, hardening of
plants. Nutrient deficiency can be reclaimed
through application of foliar sprays.

 For balanced nutrition organic manures,

inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizers should be
used together.

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Fertilizer Requirement of Different
Nursery Plants
 Fertilizer Requirement of Vegetable Nursery
Plants
1. Fully decomposed organic manure and chemical fertilizer grade is used to
fortify sterilized coco peat.
2. Drenching: Soluble fertilizers as 19:19:19, 12:61:00, 00:52:34, 00:00:50,
13:00:45 are used at 2gm/lit of water along with fungicides. In vegetable
nursery tomato, chilly, brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, melons at the interval
of 6-7 days for the period of 25-30 days 3-4 times till the date of
transplanting.
3. Foliar application: The same grades of soluble fertilizers are used in the
foliar application @ 2 gm/ liter of water. The foliar application is done 4-5
times according to the growth stage of nursery plants until the seedlings
are ready for transplanting. 42
 Fertilizer Requirement of Fruit Nursery
Plants.
1. Media for filling polythene bags – Red soil and decomposed FYM or
compost are mixed thoroughly.
2. Drenching of soluble fertilizers is done 5-6 times according to growth
stages @ 2gm/liter of water.
3. Foliar application of fertilizers 5-6 times through spraying is done
according to plant growth stage @ 2gm/liter of water.

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Methods of Application of Manures
and Fertilizer
Broadcasting
Bulky organic manure like FYM
and compost are broadcasted
over the beds and mixed
thoroughly with the help of a
spade or rake. The seeds are
sown once the beds are well
prepared.

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 Ring Around
Stem
Grown up trees and plants are
given manures and fertilizers by
making ring around the trunk or
stem of the plant.

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 Fertigation
Adequate dose of fertilizers can
be mixed in the irrigation water
and given to nursery plants
through drip or sprinkler irrigation
or drenching near the stem.

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 Foliar
Fertilization
Fertilization of plants or feeding
nutrients to the plants by
spraying fertilizers on the foliage.
This is also known as foliar
feeding or spray fertilization

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Growth Media and Media
Preparation
 Media for Vegetative
Propagation and Growing
Nursery Plants
• A mixture of few media is always
preferred and used in commercial
nurseries.
• Many times soil is one of the main
parts for mixtures.
• Media must be selected on the basis
of the availability, cost, ease in
handling etc. The media should be
procured and stored and kept ready
for use in nursery.
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Characteristics for Good Media
The growth media should have the following characteristics for good
results:
1. Must be sufficiently firm to hold the cutting in place during rooting.
2. Must be fairly constant when it is dry or wet.
3. It must be sufficiently retentive of moisture so that frequency in
watering can be minimized.
4. It must be porous so that excess of water can be drained out.

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Characteristics for Good Media
The growth media should have the following characteristics for good
results:
5. Should be free from weed seeds, pathogens, termites, nematodes
etc.
6. Capable or suitable for getting sterilized without any ill effects

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 Some Important Media
SOIL
• Very common easily available and
comparatively cheaper medium;
• Contains both organic and inorganic matters.
• The gaseous portion of the soil is important
to keep the balance of air and water in
proper and desired condition.
• The texture of the soil depends on the
relative proportions of sand, silt & clay.
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 Some Important Media
SAND
• The result of weathering effect on parent rocks.
• The usual size of sand is from 0.05 to 2.0 mm.
• The sand used in plastering is very much
suitable for rooting of cuttings.
• The sand should be heated or fumigated before
being used as media.
• Has no buffering capacity.

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 Some Important Media
PEAT
• Consists of the residues from a marsh
swamp.
• Vegetative peat moss is available but should
be broken into fine parts before used in
mixtures or as media.
• Contains some organic nitrogen and is
favorable for newly rooted cuttings or
germinated seeds.
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 Some Important Media
SPHAGNUM MOSS
• Dehydrated remains of acid hog • Acidic in nature having pH about
plants. 3.5.
• Growing naturally in damp humid • Contains a fungistatic substance
forest lands. which inhibit damping off.
• Sterile, light in weight and has a • Used for air layering in woody
very high water holding capacity. perennials like pomegranate and
• It absorbs and holds water 20 figs
times to its weight.
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 Some Important Media
SPHAGNUM MOSS

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 Some Important Media
VERMICULITE
• Expands when heated.
• Chemically it is hydrated magnesium,
aluminum, iron, silicate.
• When expanded it is very light in weight.
• It is neutral in reaction and has good
buffering properties
• Insoluble in water.

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 Some Important Media
PERLITE
• Gray white material having volcanic origin.
• It is neutral.
• It has no buffering reaction and it contains
no mineral nutrients.

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 Some Important Media
LEAF MOLD
• Prepared by using fallen leaves of various tree
species available locally, eg Oak, Silver oak,
Maple, Azadirachta, Ficus, etc.
• prepared by stacking a few layers of leaves
then covering them with a thin layer of soil and
cow dung slurry.
• Some live culture of decomposing organisms is
added to hasten the process of decomposition,
ready for use after 12 to 18 months.
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 Some Important Media
SAW DUST
• It is a byproduct or waste material from
saw mills.
• The quantity and quality depend on the
parent wood material.
• It is mixed while preparation of media.

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 Some Important Media
GRAIN HUSK
• Paddy husk is one of the important
wastage from rice mills.
• It is light in weight and cheaply
available.
• It is suitable for mixing with other types
of media.

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 Some Important Media
COCO PEAT
• Coco peat, cow dung etc. are
also used as media.

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 Some Important Media
POLYMERS
• Tiny plastic marbles that hold
moisture, then release it back
when the soil is dry.

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 Media Preparation for Nursery
In a Nursery the propagated Potting mixtures for rooted cuttings
young seedlings or rooted and young seedlings generally
cuttings are sometimes planted contains 1 part of sand, 1 part of
directly in the field but frequently Loam soil and 1 part of peat moss or
they are planted in soil mixtures shredded bark or leaf mould is
in some type of container such as generally recommended as potting
peat or plastic pots or clay flower mixture.
pots or metal cans

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 Potting Mixtures and Potting
Yard
◍ Good potting mixture is necessary. The potting mixtures
for different purpose can be prepared by mixing fertile
soil, well decomposed FYM, leaf mould, oil cakes etc. in
different proportions. The potting mixture may be kept
near the potting yard, where potting and packaging is
carried out.
◍ Sand, Loamy soil, FYM in 1:2:1 proportion in generally
used to grow vegetable seedling in raised beds.

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 Different Media Combinations for Vegetable
Nursery are as follows:

• Loamy soil + Sand + FYM + Vermicompost

• Loamy soil + Sand + FYM + Biofertilizers
• Loamy soil + Sand + Vermicompost + Biofertilizers
• Loamy soil + Sand + Vermicompost + Oil cakes + Biofertilizers
• Loamy soil + Sand + Compost + Biofertilizers
• Loamy soil + Sand + FYM + Oil cakes
• Loamy soil + Sand + FYM + Oil cakes + Biofertilizers
• Loamy soil + Sand + Leaf mould + Oil cakes
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Water Quality and Water Management in
Nursery
 Ideal Water Quality
for Nursery\
• All irrigation water contains varying amounts of
soluble salts of calcium, sodium, magnesium
and others.
• Excess amount of any component in water
degrade the quality of water and develops
toxicity which affects the growth and
development of the plants.
• The nutritional imbalance also observed
because of excess pH of irrigation water.
• The representative sample of water should be
tested before use for nursery irrigation.
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 Collection of Irrigation
Water Sample
• Water sample is collected about 500 ml
glasses or polythene bottle which should be
preferably be transparent.
• The container should be thoroughly cleaned
before use and should be rinsed three to four
times with the water from which the sample
is to be drawn.
• If the source of irrigation water is tank, canal
or river the sample should be drawn either
from a spot away from the sides or from the
middle of the stream.
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 Collection of Irrigation
Water Sample
• After running the pump for 30 min the tube well
sample has to be collected.
• In case of open well, several buckets of water
have to be thrown out first before sampling.
• The water sample after proper labeling and
sealing must be sent to the laboratory
immediately for testing to avoid any change or
deterioration.
• If a few days delay is inevitable than two or
three drops of pure toluene may be added to
prevent bacterial activity.
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Thank You!
Any question?