AF Nursery Mngt Final Coverage PDF

Finals Coverage =============== Please Read 3. PLANNING CROPS AND DEVELOPING PROPAGATION PROTOCOLS ====================================================== a. Identify the seed dormancy of each species and apply treatments to overcome dormancy so that a reasonably uniform crop develops within...

Finals Coverage =============== Please Read 3. PLANNING CROPS AND DEVELOPING PROPAGATION PROTOCOLS ====================================================== a. Identify the seed dormancy of each species and apply treatments to overcome dormancy so that a reasonably uniform crop develops within a target timeframe. b. Understand the three growth phases crops go through (establishment, rapid growth, and hardening) and the distinct requirements for each phase. c. Develop growing schedules for crop production from propagule procurement from out-planting and detail changes as the growing cycle progresses. d. List space, labour, equipment, and supplies required to support the crop during the three growth stages. e. Keep written records, including a daily log and plant development record. f. Develop and record accurate propagation protocols so that success can be replicated next time. - Invaluable resource for crop planning and scheduling. - Beneficial for improving nursery productivity and seedling quality over time. - Useful for teaching and sharing information about the plants to clients, the public, or nursery staff. - A way to preserve and perpetuate propagation information. #### 3.1. Key Planning Components i. Determine available growing space. ii. Plan crop layout in the nursery based on the number of plants required. iii. Schedule seed treatment and plot planting. iv. Schedule pot treatment. v. Determine a growing schedule to meet a target date of delivery for "finished plants." #### 3.2. Crop Growth Phases ##### Table 1. The three phases of crop development for seedlings (Landis et al., 1999)[^1^](#fn1){#fnref1.footnote-ref} {#table-1.-the-three-phases-of-crop-development-for-seedlings-landis-et-al.-1999} +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | Aspect | Establishment | Rapid growth | | | | | Hardening | | +=================+=================+=================+=================+ | | | | | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | | | | | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | | - Maximize | - Minimize | - Stop shoot | | | uniform | stress | growth | | | germination | | | | | | - Encourage | - Encourage | | | - Fill | shoot | root and | | | containers | growth | stem | | | efficiently | | diameter | | | | - Maintain | growth | | | - Maximize | environment | | | | survival | al | - Bring | | | | factors | seedling | | | - Minimize | near | into | | | damping off | optimum | dormancy | | | | | | | | | | - Acclimate | | | | | to natural | | | | - Monitor as | environment | | | | seedling | | | | | approaches | - Condition | | | | target | to endure | | | | height and | stress | | | | roots fully | | | | | occupy | - Fortify for | | | | container | survival | | | | | after | | | | | out-plantin | | | | | g | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | | - Protect | - Protect | - Induce | | | from | from stress | moderate | | | weather | | moisture | | | | - Optimize | stress | | | - Keep temps | temperature | | | | optimal | s | - Decrease | | | | | temperature | | | - Irrigate to | - Irrigate | s | | | keep | regularly | | | | "moist, but | | - Reduce | | | not wet" | - Fertilize | photoperiod | | | | properly | ---Expose | | | - No or low | | to ambient | | | fertilizer | | temperature | | | | | s | | | | | and | | | | | humidity | | | | | | | | | | - Reduce | | | | | fertilizati | | | | | on | | | | | rates and | | | | | change | | | | | mineral | | | | | nutrient | | | | | ratios | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | | - Scout for | - Scout for | - Scout for | | | pests and | pests and | pests and | | | diseases | diseases | diseases | | | | | | | | - Monitor | - Monitor | - Monitor | | | germination | environment | crops and | | | | | environment | | | - Introduce | - Modify | carefully; | | | beneficial | density of | | | | microorgani | crops to | - Deliver | | | sms | encourage | crop to | | | | good | client in | | | - Thin | development | timely | | | | | fashion to | | | - Resow | - Adjust | avoid | | | and/or | culture to | problems | | | transplant | avoid | with | | | if | excessive | holdover | | | necessary | shoot | stock. | | | | height | | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ ###### 3.2.1. Establishment ###### 3.2.2. Rapid Growth ###### 3.2.3. Hardening #### 3.3. Problems with Holdover Stock and Improper Scheduling 4. PROPAGATION ENVIRONMENTS =========================== ##### Figure 4.1. Photosynthesis and transpiration #### 4.1. Types of Propagation Environments #### 4.2. Managing the Propagation Environment 5. GROWING MEDIA ================ - an optimum rooting environment for physical stability; - storage of air for the roots; - water absorption and retention \--\> availability to the plant when needed; and  supply of nutrients for the roots #### 5.1. Types of Growing Media - for young trees and shrubs a substrate with wood fibers or bark is often used as it provides more physical stability - clay is frequently used for plants with high water needs as it can store the water longer - perlite is a material used to enhance the drainage of water ##### Figure 5.1. Growing media available in the market i. Seed Propagation Media. For germinating seeds or establishing germinant, the medium must be sterile and have a finer texture to maintain high moisture around the germinating seeds. ii. Media for Rooting Cuttings. Cuttings are rooted with frequent misting, so the growing medium must be very porous to prevent water logging and to allow good aeration, which is necessary for root formation. iii. Transplant Media. When smaller seedlings or rooted cuttings are transplanted into larger containers, the growing medium is typically coarser and contains compost. #### 5.2. Functions of Growing Media i. ii. iii. iv. #### 5.3. Characteristics of an Ideal Growing Media #### 5.4. Selecting a Growing Medium #### 5.5. Creating a Homemade Growing Medium 5.5.1. Use of Field Soil  ##### Figure 5.2. Preparation of a growing media with native soil ###### 5.5.2. Making Compost ##### Figure 5.4. A mixture of green and brown organic materials for composting  ##### Figure 5.5. Measuring temperature in compost ###### 5.5.3. Determining Maturity of Compost #### 5.6. Mixing Growing Media 6. CONTAINERS ============= ##### Figure 6.1. Different types of containers available in the market - Plants that develop shallow, fibrous root systems grow better in shorter - Plants with long taproots, such as fruit plants, grow better in taller containers. - Plants with multiple, thick, fleshy roots, and species with thick, fleshy rhizomes grow better in wide containers. #### 6.1. Considerations in Choosing Containers 6.1.1. Size 6.1.2. Plant Density 6.1.3. Root Quality 6.1.4. Economic and Operational Factors 6.1.5. Holdover Stock #### 6.2. Types of Containers i. One-time-use containers (figure 6.2) ii. Single, free-standing containers (figure 6.3). iii. Exchangeable cell containers held in a tray or rack (figure 6.4). iv. Book or sleeve containers. v\. Block containers made up of many cavities or cells.  ##### Figure 6.2. One-time-use containers ##### Figure 6.3. Single, free-standing containers  **Figure 6.4. Exchangeable cell containers held in a tray or rack** ##### Figure 6.5. Book or sleeve containers  ##### Figure 6.6. Block containers made up of many cavities or cells #### 6.3. Cleaning Reusable Containers 7. SEED GERMINATION AND SOWING OPTIONS ====================================== #### 7.1. Seed Dormancy #### 7.2. Types of Seed Dormancy[^3^](#fn3){#fnref3.footnote-ref} {#types-of-seed-dormancy} #### 7.3. Determining Seed Dormancy Type #### 7.4. Treatments to Overcome Dormancy and Enhance Germination - Treat seeds that are dry and at room temperature. - Require workers to wear safety equipment, including face shield, goggles, thick rubber gloves, and full protective clothing. - Add acid to water, never water to acid. Immerse seeds in an acid-resistant container, such as a glass, for the duration required. - Stir seeds carefully in the acid bath; a glass rod works well. - Immerse the container with seeds and acid in an ice bath to keep temperatures at a safe level for the embryos (this temperature depends on the species; many do not need this step). - Remove seeds from the acid by slowly pouring the seed-acid solution into a larger volume of cool water, ideally one in which new, fresh water is continually being added. - Stir seeds during water rinsing to make sure all surfaces are thoroughly rinsed clean. #### 7.5. Germination Stimulators ##### Tips for Using Gibberellic Acid - Because gibberellic acid takes a long time to dissolve, stir it constantly or prepare it the day before use.  Store unused solution away from direct sunlight. - Using unbleached coffee filters cut the filters into squares and fold them diagonally to form a container. - Pour gibberellic acid solution evenly into an ice cube tray to a depth sufficient to cover the seeds. - Place each folded coffee filter containing the seeds into the wells of the tray. - After 24 hours, remove the seeds, rinse them with water and either sow them or prepare them for stratification. #### 7.6. Environmental Factors Influencing Germination #### 7.7. Seed Coverings (Mulch) - Create an ideal "moist but not saturated" environment around germinating seeds by making a break in the texture of the potting medium (water will not move from the medium into the mulch). - Keep seeds in place. This practice improves contact with the medium and minimizes the number of seeds washed out of the containers by irrigation or rainfall. - Reflect heat when mulches are light colored, so seeds do not get too hot on bright, sunny days. - Reduce the development of moss, algae, and liverworts 8. VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION ========================= - Seed propagation is difficult, very time consuming, or few viable seeds are produced. - Larger nursery stock is needed in a shorter period of time. - An individual, unique plant needs to be propagated. - There is a need to shorten time to flower for seed production. - A uniform stock type is needed. - Specific genotypes are desired. - Disease-free nursery stock is required. - Greater production costs than seed propagation, usually because of increased labor. - Reduced genetic diversity. - Specialized propagation structures may be required, depending on the species or time of year. - Develop a smooth production line, from the collection of material to the final product. - Train nursery staff how to properly collect, process, plant, and grow material. - Build a dibble for making holes in the rooting medium. - Control waste caused by poor propagation or growing practices. - Lift and harden cuttings properly to reduce mortality. - Develop a good system for overwintering cuttings. - Keep good records to improve your results and to document production costs. #### 8.1. Striking Cuttings #### 8.2. Shoot or Stem Cuttings 8.2.1. Hardwood Cuttings ###### Figure 8.1. Illustration of wood cutting categories 8.2.2. Softwood Cuttings 8.2.3. Semi-hardwood Cuttings #### 8.3. Root Cuttings #### 8.4. Considerations in Selecting Cuttings from Mother Plants #### 8.5. Striking, Monitoring, and Growing Cuttings - Wear gloves if the cuttings were treated with rooting hormones. - Maintain polarity (keep the correct end of the cutting up). - When using stem cuttings, make certain that at least two nodes are below the surface of the rooting medium. - If cuttings were wounded, make certain that wounded tissue is adequately covered with rooting hormone and is below the surface of the rooting medium. - Strike cuttings firmly in the rooting medium. Make certain to avoid air pockets around the base of the stem. - Try to strike cuttings within 1 to 2 days so that all the plants will have the same level of root development and thus can be hardened off properly prior to lifting. 8.5.1. Environmental Conditions for Direct Struck Cuttings 8.5.2. Environmental Conditions in Special Rooting Environments #### 8.6. Establishing Mother Plants at the Nursery ::: {.section.footnotes} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. ::: {#fn1} Landis, T.D.; Tinus, R.W.; Barnett, J.P. 1999.The container tree nursery manual: volume 6, seedling propagation. Agriculture Handbook 674.Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.167 p.[↩](#fnref1){.footnote-back} ::: 2. ::: {#fn2} Martin, D.L.; Gershuny, G. 1992. The Rodale book of composting. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press.278 p. Wightman, K.E. 1999. Good tree nursery practices: practical guidelines for community nurseries. International Centre for Research in Agroforestry. Nairobi, Kenya: Majestic Printing Works.93 p.(1999), Castillo, J.V. 2004. Inoculating composted pine bark with beneficial organisms to make a disease suppressive compost for container production in Mexican forest nurseries. Native Plants Journal 5(2): 181185.[↩](#fnref2){.footnote-back} ::: 3. ::: {#fn3} Baskin, C.C.; Baskin, J.M. 1998. Seeds: ecology, biogeography and evolution in dormancy and germination.San Diego, CA:Academic Press.666 p.[↩](#fnref3){.footnote-back} ::: 4. ::: {#fn4} Chambers, K.J.; Bowen, P.;Turner, N.J.; Keller, P.C. 2006. Ethylene improves germination of arrowleaved balsamroot seeds. Native Plants Journal 7: 108-113. Feghahati, S.M.J.; Reese, R.N. 1994. Ethylene-, light-, and prechill-enhanced germination of *Echinacea angustifolia* seeds. Journal of American Society of Horticultural Science 119(4): 853-858. Sari, A.O.; Morales, M.R.; Simon, J.E. 2001. Ethephon can overcome seed dormancy and improve seed germination in purple coneflower species *Echinacea angustifolia* and *E. pallida*. HortTechnology 11(2): 202-205.[↩](#fnref4){.footnote-back} ::: 5. ::: {#fn5} Landis, T.D.; Tinus, R.W.; Barnett, J.P. 1999.The container tree nursery manual: volume 6, seedling propagation. Agriculture Handbook 674.Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.167 p.[↩](#fnref5){.footnote-back} ::: 6. ::: {#fn6} Growth of a plant part at an oblique angle to a stimulus, such as gravity[↩](#fnref6){.footnote-back} ::: :::