Nursery crops Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is a nursery?
A nursery is a prepared or designated place which could be on the ground or container where seed in sown for the first time with intensive care so that young and weak seedlings can have a good start in life before they are moved to the field.
Mention vegetables that can be planted by nursery
amaranthus, onions, spinach , tomatoes
What are the types of nursery?
Peasant, intermediate and standard nursery.
State the Quick Survey of Nursery
- The soil should be pulverized , removed big stones and clogs
- The soil is assumed to be sterilized
- The soil should be watered before planting to bring it to field capacity
- Thick mulching is important
- It should be watered judiciously using a good hose spray
- before transplanting, harden the nursery plants by taking them out of the shade and gradually exposing to the sun
- at transplanting water the nursery and transplant them with a ball of earth .
State the advantages of nursery
- It helps to save cost
- It helps in economy of seed
- It helps to manage available land
- It helps in selecting uniform, vigorous seed with no diseases
- It is useful in doing seed testing
- It protects the plants from rodents because it is done in a greenhouse where the environment can be controlled
Why is the top soil alone not a good medium for making the nursery?
- It has inherent infertility
-the presence of toxic compounds - compaction
- presence of phytopathogens that attack crops
What is the medium combination for a nursery
3:2:! (topsoil, manure, riversand or saw dust or rice husk)
What are the functions of the different mediums
Topsoil - give anchorage to the plant, provides nutrients and basic elements
manure provide nutrients
sawdust provides aeration, good porosity, good soil structure, increases CEC.
How do you sterilize your nursery soil?
You use chemical (formalin at 20%), spray it on the soil, cover with polythene sheet for one or two days .
What are the ways of sowing in a nursery box
Use the grove or dribbler method. These are better methods than spraying methods because by spraying the seeds may not be able to imbibe water to germinate or they may be picked up by birds.
What is hardening
Hardening is the process of gradually introducing the seedlings planted in the nursery to field conditions, so they can start getting acclimatized to the conditions of when they will be taken to the field..
Ways of hardening
gradually removing them from shade
reduce application of water
- reduce fertilizer application
Explain manure application
Manure can be added to the soil through green manure, compost or animal dung.They are usually mixed with the soil during tillage or ploughing.
Explain animal dung
Animal dung is the fermentation of animal feaces and litter. Some animal dung are of higher quality than the rest ( poultry>horse>sheep>goat>cattle>pig)
Explain Composting
Composting is the decomposition of organic waste from animals or homes. They can be done in a pit during the dry season and in a heap during the wet season. It is advised for beginners to do it in a heap, because a heap cost less labour and also the pit compost might become saturated in water during the heavy rains.
How to locate your compost heap
- Moisture : It should be in a shaded area like under a tree, to avoid it from becoming too dry when the weather is very dry and also it should not be too wet as well
- aeration: The compost heap should have appropriate air around it, so it should not be in an enclosed place
- space: there should be adequate space around the compost pit to allow for mixing it
- danger: It should not be located very close to settlements because it can attract and habour harmful rodents.
- transportation cost: compost heaps should be created where it is close to organic waste source and also where the compost will be used, to avoid transport cost.
What are green manures
Green manures refers to plants that are worked into the soil to enrich the soil. This can be seen in stems and leaves of leguminous plants which are nitrogen rich. The root of leguminous plants also help to fix nitrogen into the soil. eg bambara nut, common beans, cowpea, jack beans, pigeon pea, groundnut.
Explain chemical and artificial fertilizers
They can be applied as single fertilizers , or compound fertilizers. Vegetable crops respond very highly to high nutrient content, but it also depends on the nutrient requirement of the crop, precipitating levels and also the soil characteristics. If labour allows it when crops are transplanted they should be watered with 3 table spoons of NPK in the ratio of 1:3:3 or 1:4:4 with about four liters of water. Phosphorous can be given in one dose, but N and K should be given in smaller doses in like 14days interval depending on the absolute needs of the plant, the length of the crop growth cycle, soil requirement, and the precipitating levels.
How should fertilizers be applied
Fertilzers can be applied in a parallel grove line or circular groove band around the plant , but it should a couple centimeters from the plant so it doesnt go close to the stem and lead to burning of the plant.
What is pest control
Pest control refers to the activities carried out to counter or prevent the undesirable effects of organisms such as birds, rodents, insects , pathogens on plants.
Explain ways pest control can be carried out
Scarecrows with noises can be used to control birds
Good hygiene in the farm like discarding of waste and garbage can be used to control rodents
Pest traps can also be used
caterpillars and snails can be handpicked
heavily infested plants should be burned or removed
wood ash can be used to control caterpillars but they can cause the leaf to be dirty and rot
What are insecticides
Insecticides are specifically used to prevent insects from attacking crops
What influences the choice of insecticide to be used
The feeding habit of the insect would influence it, if it is a biting and chewing or sucking and piercing insect.
mention the groups of insecticides based on the way they kill the insects
- stomach poison
- contact poison
- systemic poison
