Session 2: Nursery Bed Preparation and Seed Sowing
Unit 2: Seed Selection and Seedling Production
Textual Question-Answers
Check Your Progress
Fill in the Blanks
1. All solanaceous vegetables except ……………… are transplantedcrops.
Ans: potato
2. The …………… high from ground level beds are prepared 15–20 cm.
Ans: raised
3. The width of a raised bed should not be more than ……………m.
Ans: 1
4. In ……………… method of soil treatment, the energy from theSun is used.
Ans: solarisation
5. Certain biological agents, like ……………… are effectively usedfor controlling of soil-borne pathogens.
Ans: Trichoderma
6. Temperature range of ……………… is found favourable for thegermination of seeds of solanaceous crops.
Ans: 20–30°C
7. The depth of sowing solanaceous crop is usually …………… cmin a nursery bed.
Ans: 1–2
8. The spacing of sowing solanaceous crop seeds is …………… cm.
Ans: 5
9. A by-product of the coir industry, which is a part of the germinationmedium, is known as ……………
Ans: cocopeat
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Raised beds are …………… cm high from the ground level.
(a) 5–10
(b) 15–20
(c) 25–30
(d) 30–35
Ans: (b) 15–20
2. A space of …………… cm is left between two beds.
(a) 30–40
(b) 20–25
(c) 15–20
(d) 20–25
Ans: (a) 30–40
3. The soil is sterilised in an autoclave at …………… °C for 30minutes.
(a) 100
(b) 140
(c) 121
(d) 80
Ans: (c) 121
4. In hot water seed treatment, seeds are placed at a temperature of…………… °C for 10–30 minutes.
(a) 48–55
(b) 30–35
(c) 20–25
(d) 15–20
Ans: (a) 48–55
5. Fungus used for seed treatment to control seed and soil-borneinoculums is ……………
(a) Trichogramma
(b) Trichoderma
(c) Rhizopus
(d) Rhizobium
Ans: (b) Trichoderma
6. The capability of a seed to germinate and produce normal seedlingsis called ……………
(a) seed vitality
(b) seed viability
(c) seed dormancy
(d) compatibility
Ans: (b) seed viability
Descriptive Questions
1. What is a nursery bed? How is it prepared?
Ans: A nursery bed is a small prepared area where seeds are sown to raiseseedlings for transplanting. It is prepared by loosening the soil, removingweeds, mixing well-decomposed farmyard manure, levelling the surface andforming raised or sunken beds depending on the season.
2. How can the soil for a seed bed be sterilised chemically?
Ans: Soil can be sterilised chemically by treating it with chemicals likeformalin or fungicides to kill harmful pathogens, insects and weed seedspresent in the soil.
3. Why is seed treatment followed before sowing?
Ans: Seed treatment is done to protect seeds from seed-borne and soilborne diseases, improve germination and ensure healthy seedlingestablishment.
4. Describe soil sterilisation.
Ans: Soil sterilisation is the process of killing harmful microorganisms, insects and weed seeds in the soil. It can be done by physical methods likesolarisation and steaming or by chemical methods using formalin andfungicides.
5. How is the medium for pro-trays prepared?
Ans: The medium for pro-trays is prepared by mixing cocopeat, vermiculite and perlite in suitable proportions to provide good aeration, moisture retention and nutrients for seed germination.
6. List the factors that affect seed germination.
Ans: The factors affecting seed germination are temperature, moisture, oxygen, light, seed quality, depth of sowing and soil condition.
7. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of a soil nursery.
Ans: Advantages of soil nursery include low cost, easy preparation andavailability of materials. Disadvantages include higher chances of soil-bornediseases, uneven germination and difficulty in maintaining uniform seedlings.
Match the Columns
A
1. Bio-agent
2. Thiram
3. Sunken beds
4. Formalin
B
(a) Protection to seedling during high winds
(b) Trichoderma
(c) Chemical for soil sterilisation
(d) Seed treatment
Ans:
1. (b) Trichoderma
2. (d) Seed treatment
3. (a) Protection to seedling during high winds
4. (c) Chemical for soil sterilisatio
