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Plant Propagating Structures

Plant propagating structures are designed to optimize environmental factors for better seed germination, rooting of cuttings, and plant growth. These include greenhouses, plastic tunnels, hot beds, cold frames, lath houses, and mist propagation units, each serving specific purposes and utilizing different materials and technologies. Advantages of these structures include year-round cultivation, higher yields, moisture conservation, pest control, and protection from adverse weather conditions.

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2 views

Plant Propagating Structures

Plant propagating structures are designed to optimize environmental factors for better seed germination, rooting of cuttings, and plant growth. These include greenhouses, plastic tunnels, hot beds, cold frames, lath houses, and mist propagation units, each serving specific purposes and utilizing different materials and technologies. Advantages of these structures include year-round cultivation, higher yields, moisture conservation, pest control, and protection from adverse weather conditions.

Uploaded by

panigrahisiddhi73
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PLANT PROPAGATING STRUCTURES

The structures which facilitate propagation process of plants are known as propagating
structures.These are designed by controlling the environmental factors such as temperature, light,
relative humidity in order to facilitate better germination of seeds, rooting of cuttings and
hardening of tissue culture plants or it provide shade for growing tender plants and to carryout
grafting operations.
Types
A. Greenhouse – It is the framed structure, covered with cladding materials where the
environment factors are partially or fully modified to facilitate propagation and growing of plants
throughout the year.
According to covering material it is named differently:-
1. Glass house – Glass is the cladding material over Fe/Al frame. Usually expensive, but
permanent, long term installation and better control over inside environment. It is fully
automated, where the entire environment is controlled by computerized device.
2. Poly house– UV stabilized polythene, polycarbonate sheet are used as cladding material over
GI pipes. Fan and pad cooling system is used to control the temperature. Medium cost, manual or
semi-automated structure.
3. Net house – Shade nets of different mesh size are used as cladding material. Constructed on
wood, bamboo etc. The main aim is to reduce the light intensity.
According to structure/shape it is classified as:-
1. Quonset- Framework consists of the pipe arches or trusses are supported by pipe. Often
covered with white, polyethylene film and used to over-winter nursery stock.
2. Even span - Provides more usable space and can be lengthened. Can accommodate two to
three benches for growing crops. Better shape for air circulation.
3. Uneven span - One roof wider than the other. Different pitch angles. Used on hillsides. Wider
roof faces south for maximum solar gain.
4. Sawtoothed - Specific natural ventilation flow path develops in a saw tooth type greenhouse
5. Ridge and furrow - Consist of many even-span structures placed one after another forming a
range of greenhouses. Structure serves as furrow or gutter to carry rain and melted snow away.
Advantages
 Provides favorable microclimatic conditions for the plants.
 Cultivation in all seasons is possible.
 Higher yield with better quality per unit area.
 Conserves moisture thus needs less irrigation.
 More suitable for cultivating high value/off- season crops.
 Helps to control pest and diseases.
 Helps in hardening of tissue cultured plants. Helps in raising early nurseries.
 Round the year propagation of planting material is possible
 Protects the crops from wind, rain, snow, bird, hail etc.
 Generates self- employment opportunities for educated
B. Plastic/Poly tunnels – A tunnel like frame is made by using wooden or steel or plastic pipes
and covered with UV stabilized polythene sheets. Ventilation and temperature control is done by
lifting one side cover above ground, Now-a-days perforated sheets are used for ventilation
purpose.
C. Hot bed – These are low heighted, small structures, use for preparation of nursery plants and
rooting of cuttings. It has wood/steel frame (for permanent brick/cemented structures are made),
covered with plastic or glass and heat is provided artificially below the propagating medium by
providing hot air/water by pipe or placing electrical heat units. Commonly used in high altitude
or in colder climates where frost/cold weather can easily kill the plants.
D. Cold frame – It is similar to hot bed except that no provision of bottom heat. No heat is
required except provided by sun. so placed in sunny location to absorb maximum sun light.
Mostly used in cooler areas/ winter seasons. Used for rooting of cuttings and growing young
seedlings. It is movable from one place to other.
E. Lath house – Aim is to provide shade to tender plants by protecting against high temperature
and light intensity. Frame made up of wood/iron. Agro shade nets of different shading intensities
are used.
F. Mist propagation unit – The aim is to maintain continuous water spray to maintain turgidity
of cuttings and humidity of microclimate until rooting takes place. It is constructed with in green
house by using fogger or sprinklers.

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