Tuesday 17 September 2013

Nursery practices:

Eucalyptus can be easily propagated from seeds, as well as, through vegetative propagation by cuttings (clonal propagation). On an average, there are about 642,000 viable seeds per kilogram of seed and chaff mix. Dry seeds at 5-8% moisture content, can be stored in air tight containers under refrigerated conditions (3-5 0C) for more than 10 years without losing its viability.
 Under nursery conditions, seeds are sown on raised beds under shade. Addition of mycorrhiza innoculum to the nursery soils by adding soil from natural eucalyptus forest is highly beneficial for establishment and growth of the plants. No pre-sowing treatment is required. Rapid and complete germination is achieved under moist, warm (25 - 35 0C) conditions in presence of light. Seedlings are pricked out and transferred to polybags at the second leaf -pair stage i.e. about 6 weeks from sowing. Seedlings are planted out in the field when they reach a height of about 25 cm i.e. about 3-5 months after sowing. This should coincide with the onset of monsoon season.
 Plants at nursery stage are highly susceptible to damping off and other fungal diseases, which can be limited by strict attention to hygiene, reducing watering and shade and allowing good ventilation.

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