Exercise 14: To demonstrate application of nutrients and plant

protection measures in fruit nursery

Exercise: To demonstrate application of nutrients and plant protection

measures in fruit nursery.

Part-I Application of nutrients

Materials required: Specific fertilizer, or nutrient source, hoeing tools,

spraying equipments, weighing machine (balance).

Procedures: 

The choice of method of application of nutrients to the nursery

plants depends on the nutrients and their ability to be effectively

absorbed, effect on soil environment, equipment availability and

the relative cost of nutrients. Three important methods of

application are:

 Surface application: The required quantity of fertilizer is

weighed and applied in band along the rows. It is an effective and

efficient method for the application of nitrogen, because nitrogen

fertilizers move into the root zone with the downward movement

of water. However, direct surface application is not advised for

the application of phosphorous, potassium and other nutrients

because they may get fixed on the exchange complex.

 Sub-surface application: Addition of the fertilizers into the

soil by surface application is the most effective method of

application of nutrients that are fixed (P&K etc) on the exchange

complex or are slow to move into the soil solution. The

manures/fertilizers are incorporated into the soil prior to

planting the nursery.

  Foliar application: Nutrients can be applied through foliar

application immediately, after the symptoms are observed. For

nursery plants, foliar application is more effective because

nutrients are absorbed at faster rates and wastage of nutrients

can be avoided. The nutrients should be applied in the morning or

late evening hours by using some wetting agents like Tween-20,

Titron-X-100 etc. in the solution, as these help to absorb the

nutrients even more effectively.

Precautions:

 The nutrient quantities must be calculated and weighed

exactly.

 The basal applied nutrients should be mixed thoroughly.

 For foliar spray, the nutrient source should be dissolved

properly.