UNIT V.

SOIL MEDIA PREPARATION, ➢ Nicking – cutting down of testa with

knife to expose a very small portion of
NUTRITION, AND MANAGEMENT
cotyledon
Seed Germination – resumption of growth by ➢ Use of fire – seeds break dormancy
the embryo plant. once heated
➢ By animals
➢ First stage of Germination –
awakening or activation, maybe Micro-organisms – Greek words “mikros” small;
complete within a matter of “organimos” organisms.
minutes/hours.
-Microscopic living which may be a
➢ Second stage of Germination –
single cell or a multi-cellular organism
involves digestion and
- The study of microorganisms –
translocation.
microbiology
➢ Third stage – consist of cell
➢ Beneficial Microorganism – naturally
division in the separate growing
occurring bacteria, fungi, and other
points of the embryo axis
microbes that play a crucial role in the
followed by the expansion of the
plant productivity and health.
seedling structures
o Mycorrhizal fungi
o Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

TYPES OF GERMINATION

➢ Epigeal Germination – cotyledons rise Biofertilizer – a substance which contains living

above ground microorganisms which colonizes the
➢ Hypogeal Germination – cotyledons rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and
remain below ground promotes growth
PRE-GERMINATION TREATMENT ADVANTAGES OF BIOFERTILIZER
➢ Water Treatment – soaking of seeds in ✓ Adds nutrients through the natural
water for varying periods process of nitrogen fixation
o Tap Water treatment – from ✓ Restores the soils natural nutrient cycle
faucet and build soil OM
o hot water treatment - boiling ✓ Provide eco friendly organic agro-input
water and are more cost effective than
➢ Chemical Treatment – Use of chemicals chemical fertilizers
➢ Scarification – thinning down of ✓ Expected to reduce the use of chemical
abrading the horny testa of seeds to fertilizers and pesticides1
facilitate water absorption
EXAMPLES OF BIOFERTILIZER
 ➢ Oxygen – needed to support the
breakdown of plant material by
bacteria
➢ Bacteria – real workers in the compost
process.

Soil – a dynamic habitat for an enormous

variety of life-forms. Gives mechanical support
to plant from which they extract nutrients

Grouped on the basis of:

▪ Size
▪ Species
▪ Functions; (topsoil may
contain:
• as many as one
billion bacteria
• up to 100 million
actinomycetes
• one million fungi
• 100 nematodes

COMPOSTING – is a controlled, aerobic VERMICOMPOST – the product / process of

process that converts OM into nutrient-rich, composting through the utilization of various
biologically-stable soil amendment or mulch species of worms mainly earthworms
through natural decomposition. VERMICAST – the end product of the
Compost – an OM that has been decomposed breakdown of OM by earthworms. Also known
and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. as worm castings, worm humus or worm
A key ingredient in organic farming. This manure.
requires: BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION
• Carbon - Discovered by the German
• Nitrogen agronomics HERMANN HELLRIEGEL
• Oxygen and Dutch microbiologist MARTINUS
• Water BEIJENRINCK
Carbon:Nitrogen mix of about 30 – 1 - Occurs when atmospheric nitrogen is
converted into ammonia by enzyme
MAIN COMPONENTS: called nitrogenase
- Conversion to nitrogen dioxide
➢ OM – includes plant materials and some
- All BNF is done by the way of
animal manures; should include a
nitrogenase metalo-enzymes which
mixture of brown OM and green OM
contains iron, molybdenum or
➢ Moisture – important to support the
vanadium
composting process
 - Microorganisms that can fix nitrogen Feeding Schedule – implement a consistent,
are prokaryotes called diazotrophs targeted feeding schedule to meet the
changing nutritional needs of seedling as they
BIOGAS – a mixture of different gases produced
mature.
by the breakdown of OM in the absence of
oxygen. Can be produced from raw materials ✓ Natural temperate hardwood forests
such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal require substantially more nitrogen,
waste, plant materials, sewage, green waste, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and
and food waste. magnesium than do temperate conifer
forests for tree growth (Cole & Rapp,
1981).

✓ Nursery managers should maintain a soil

pH between 5.0 and 6.0

Irrigation – artificial application of water to

crops or plants by controlled means to promote
growth or nourish crops or plants.

UNIT VI. NURSERY SEEDLING CULTURE Nursery Operation Use – the use of water for
operation of a commercial nursery which may
✓ The choice of nursery practices is include temperature control, watering of
important to the production of high- containerized stock. Soil preparation,
quality seedlings and to increase the application of chemicals, watering within
survival rates of reforestation plantations greenhouses and uses to construct, operate
in the dry tropics. and maintain nursery facilities.
Balanced Fertilization – provide a complete, ✓ The objective of nursery irrigation
well-balanced fertilizer regimen to ensure o To avoid unwanted seedling
seedlings receive all essential macro and moisture stress
micronutrients for optimal growth o Negative consequences for
seedlings
Monitoring Soil pH – maintain the ideal soil pH
range to promote nutrient availability and root Soil water potential – tensiometer
development
Plant water potential – pressure chamber – the • A thin, light-colored layer of fibrous or
single most useful indicator of seedling moisture particulate organic matter can help
stress. hold down surface temperatures in
newly sown seedbeds.
Moisture stress – occurs whenever in the rate of
• A light-colored mulch has a higher
transpiration exceeds the rate of absorption,
heat capacity, greater surface area,
leaving plant cells and tissues less than fully
and higher albedo (reflectivity) than
turgid.
most nursery soils and can reflect or
Monitoring Irrigation dissipate incoming solar radiation.
• A dark porous mulch, on the other
• Soil-moisture retention curves for hand, absorbs more sunlight and can
individual nursery soils allow soil-surface temperatures to rise
• An effective procedure for rapidly high enough to damage young
assessing soil moisture status seedlings
• An accurate means of monitoring
seedling moisture stress LIGHT MANAGEMENT
• An understanding of seedling response
- A key cultivation practice for future
to irrigation
planting success. Because of the
Controlling Heat in Seedbeds with Irrigation morpho-physiological changes that
plants usually undergo in different
✓ Effects of heat light conditions.
o Direct Heat Injury – sue to cellular - Shows potential as a cultivation
membrane injury, cell component practice by affecting the quality of
decomposition; effects are seedlings, which is improved in the
immediate and obvious nursery
o Indirect heat injury – due to ➢ Optimal Light Exposure – provide the
metabolic disturbances—more appropriate level of light intensity and
subtle and varies from minor duration for the specific seedling species.
reversible damage to death. ➢ Shading and Protection – use shading
Young seedlings – more susceptible to heat structures to prevent seedlings from
damage receiving too much direct sunlight
➢ Monitoring and Adjustment – regularly
Heat lesions – depressed areas of monitoring light conditions and make
necrotic tissue necessary adjustments to ensure optimal
Older seedlings – developed lignifies outer stem growth.
that insulates sensitive tissues from hot soil INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)
Fresh lesions – typically pale but sharply IPM – a system that combines cultural,
defined or just above soil surface biological, and chemical technologies to
Shading – prevents buildup of soil-surface reduce insect, fungal, and weed population to
temperatures by intercepting solar radiation levels below those that result in economic
and, insulating seedlings from the heat source. damage

Mulching – INPM – the most practical ad ecologically

sound approach for control of nursery pests
Sandy soil – very porous because it is integrated with all other nursery
management procedures.
Finer textured soils (clays) – contain less
air space in a thin surface
 Transplant – a seedling that has been physically
removed from its seedbed or container then
replanted I another location for additional
growth.

TRANSPLANTING AND ESTABLISHMENT

✓ Timing – transplant seedlings at the

optimal growth stage for successful
establishment
✓ Soil Preparation – ensure the planting site
has well-draining, nutrient-rich soils to
support the transplants
✓ Watering – provide consistent, targeted
HARDENING ANG PLANTING OUT watering to help the seedlings acclimate
Hardening / Hardening Off – the process of to their new environment
allowing a plant to transition from a protected ✓ Protection – implement measures to
indoor or greenhouse environment to the harsh shield the transplants from environmental
outdoor conditions of fluctuating spring stresses and pests.
temperatures, wind, and full sun exposure. 2 – 3
Months

Hardening – the process of exposing transplants

gradually to outdoor conditions

SEEDLING HARDENING

✓ Reduce Irrigation – gradually decrease

watering to toughen up seedlings before
transplanting
✓ Expose to sunlight – gradually increase
light exposure to acclimate seedlings to
outdoor conditions
✓ Lower temperatures – expose seedlings
to slightly cooler temperatures to harden
off their growth.

4 – 6 weeks before planting out; 15-30cm

SIGNS OF OVERGROWN PLANTS

➢ lack of leaves, as old leaves fall and

young ones are not produced
➢ a root system that lacks young, fibrous
roots
➢ the tap root is often grown into the
ground
➢ root deformities, for example roots coiling
at the bottom of the bag
➢ lignification of the whole stem
➢ very short tip internodes but in general a
tall, thin stem.
UNIT VII. TREE PLANTATION, ESTABLOSHMENT, ➢ Triangular Pattern – should always be
MAINTENANCE, AND INVENTORY pointing out to the sun rise or sun set.
Provides more open space for the trees.
Site Preparation and Clearing

➢ Establishing a successful tree plantation

requires careful planning and execution
across several key stages
➢ From site preparation to monitoring and
evaluation, each step plays a vital role in
cultivating a thriving and sustainable
forest ecosystem
➢ Careful site selectin and clearing are
essential for providing the ideal
conditions for tree growth. This includes
➢ Contour Planting Pattern – are not
removing any unwanted vegetation. necessarily east to west oriented. Should
Leveling the ground, and ensuring the be planted across the slope in a shorter
soils is nutrient-rich and well-draining. distance between hills and wider
Manual – clear brushing with the use of distance between rows as long as we hit
agricultural tools if applicable the number of trees per ha.

Mechanical – site clearing using brush cutter

and tractor if applicable

Chemical method – blanket spraying of

herbicide to eradicate weeds; not suitable for
areas dominated with ferns

Combination method – most efficient method,

mostly done by means of manual brushing with
the use of lampas or mechanical brush cutter.

PLANTATION LAY OUT

- Must always depend on the

PLANTATION LAYOUT
preference of the owner purpose of
the plantation and land ➢ Spacing – crucial for maximizing sunlight,
transformation nutrient, and water access for each
plant.
METHODS OF PLANTATION LAYOUT
➢ Boundaries – helps maintain the
➢ Square Pattern – simplest of all the system plantation’s integrity and prevent
and is adopted widely encroachment over time
➢ Orientation – aligning rows to optimize
sunlight exposure can enhance tree
health and growth rates.

Holing – should be done with the minimum

dimension of 20cm diameter and 30cm depth
enough to accommodate the seedling with the
compost as basal fertilizer at about one to two
liters.
 ➢ Depth – planting holes should be dug to ➢ Pest and Disease – identifying and
a depth that allows the root ball to sit addressing any issues that may threaten
slightly above the surrounding soil. the plantation.
➢ Width – holes should be 2-3 times wider
than the root ball to encourage root
growth and stability.
➢ Soil preparation – loosening and
amending the soil in the hole can
improve drainage and nutrient
availability.

PROPER HANDLING OF PLANTING MATERIAL

➢ Root Care – avoiding damage to the root

system is crucial for the tree’s successful
establishment and growth
➢ Transport – seedlings and saplings should
be transported with care, shielded from
wind, sun, and physical impact
➢ Storage – proper storage, including
temperature and moisture control, helps
maintain the health of planting material.

PLANTING TECHNIQUES

➢ Site preparation – ensuring the planting

hole is ready to receive the tree
➢ Root placement – carefully positioning
the root ball in the hole for optimal
growth
➢ Backfilling – filling the hole with soil while
avoiding air pockets around the roots.

AFTERCARE AND MAINTENANCE

➢ Irrigation – ensuring regular, deep

watering to support root establishment
and growth.
➢ Fertilization – providing essential nutrients
to promote healthy growth and
development
➢ weed control – removing competing
vegetation to minimize resource
competition for the young trees.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

➢ Survival rate – tracking the number of

trees that successfully establish and
thrive
➢ Growth metrics – measuring height,
diameter, and canopy spread to assess
performance