Nursery management, tree propagation and marketing strategy: a training manual for smallholder farmers and nursery operators

Seedling production is one of the key steps in scaling up or domestication of any species. Each step has to be properly planned and implemented. The way seedlings are handled and managed in a nursery contributes to their survival rate after planting and their subsequent growth performance. Improving seedling quality correlates positively to their survival, growth and productivity. Seedling quality is governed by the genetic make-up of the parent trees and the physical growth of the seedlings. Several types of nurseries exist: individual or private, community or group, central or research, commercial and training nursery. Nursery practices must be consistent and the various techniques closely integrated. If one element in the chain is lacking there will be a negative impact on seedling quality. Good quality seedlings cannot be produced without care and tending. Nursery plants need to be protected from extremes of environmental conditions until they are strong enough to withstand them. To ensure high quality of seedlings and to provide more opportunities (income, technology transfer), local people are encouraged to establish small-scale community nurseries.

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