Methods of Nursery raising

There are three major methods of raising nursery in India. They are :

• The Wet Nursery
• The Dry Nursery
• The Dapog Method

The Wet Nursery
The general practice in India is to go in for wet nurseries. Wet nursery is that where sprouted seed is sown on the moist puddled soil. Wet nurseries are preferred under irrigated condition. Young, healthy and vigorous seedlings establish themselves faster and grow better and the major objective of nursery management should be aimed at obtaining such seedlings.

The Dry Nursery
In regions of non-assured water-supply, where wet-bed nurseries cannot be raised, dry nursery-raising is practiced. The dry nursery where the dry seed is sown in dry soil. The seedlings obtained from the dry nurseries are generally hardy and establish themselves very fast when transplanted.

The Dapog Method
Dapog method is commonly prevalent in Philippines, which is also practiced in India. The essential feature of this method is to have a very thick stand of the nursery seedlings without any contact with the soil. Generally, this method is used especially in places where there is assured water-supply and when early transplanting is needed. Seedlings become ready for transplanting in 12 to 14 days. This method of nursery is useful for raising a post-flood rice crop in Assam and West Bengal.