1. Healthy planting material is necessary for successful horticultural plantation. But raising healthy planting material is a high skill and resource oriented activity. Many farmers now a days purchase planting materials from professional nurseries, which provide healthy seedlings, in required number and at right time to farmers. Irrigation system, finance, land, structures, labour, planting material, chemicals and fertilizers etc are some of the resources required for raising healthy nursery plants. Introduction:

2. Information about nursery resource management at appropriate time is important for the success of a nursery enterprise. Credit /Finance: Nursery production for horticultural plants is highly capital intensive. Timely availability of finance is necessary for management of day to day activities in a nursery. Credit can be obtained from Government agencies like National Horticultural Board, High Value Agriculture, National Horticulture Mission, Nationalized Banks, Cooperatives. Resources:

3. Land: Availability of sufficient space for all nursery activities can enable proper management of all other resources. Location of nursery also affects the sale of products and expenses incurred on transportation of inputs. Available land must be laid out well into various sections and all the sections must be connected by pathways. Land can be purchased or leased. It is one of the costliest input in a nursery. Resources:

4. Planting Material: Supply of healthy planting material to customers is the prime objective of horticultural nursery for which production of disease and pest free robust nursery plants is necessary. An extensive study of varieties demanded by farmers, prevalent pest and disease incidences and agro-climatic situation must be conducted before selecting the variety to be propagated in the nursery. Planting material must be collected from authentic sources like Government horticulture Nurseries, State Agricultural Universities and should be free from diseases and pests. Resources:

5. Structures: Nursery stock is grown in different structures like greenhouse, shade net house, walking tunnels, low tunnels, mist chambers etc. These structures enable year round production in nursery and efficient use of resources like planting material, irrigation water, fertilizers, plant protection chemicals, etc. Resources: Poly house for Banana NurseryShade Net House for Mango Nursery

6. FYM: FYM is a rich organic source of nutrients and an important constituent of media used in nursery. Best quality FYM is a natural source of nutrients. Resources: Composting of farm residues for FYM preparation FYM can be prepared in the farm using animal and crop residues. It is a cheap source of nutrients to plants. It improves physical condition of soil through moisture and nutrient retention.

7. Fertilizers: They are concentrated sources of plant nutrients which promote growth and development of plant. Water soluble as well as conventional fertilizers are used in nurseries. They are applied into soil, by hand or with irrigation water. Water soluble fertilizers are also applied as foliar sprays which improves the absorption of nutrients by plants. Resource:

8. Irrigation: Water is the most important resource in a nursery as all metabolic activities in plant tissue take place in presence of water. Irrigation water with good quality and quantity must be available. Plant Protection : Plants are prone to diseases and pests which can be controlled by both organic and inorganic pesticides and fungicides. Timely application of pesticides can control diseases and pests without affecting growth of plants. Resource:

9. Media: Planting material is planted in medium which is soil or non-soil media. Amongst soil less media, Coco peat is used on large scale in India as it best suited for germination and development of plant. Trays and Containers: Different containers are used in nursery like wooden or plastic trays, pots, plastic sills, plug trays etc depending upon the size and number of plants to be raised. Other Resources:

10. Vegetable seedlings in Protrays Grape Plants in Polybags. Types of Trays and Containers:

11. Labor: A nursery requires skilled and unskilled labors to carry out various operations. In case of labor shortage, mechanization is essential. Other Resources: Labors working in a Shade net House of a Nursery.

12. Technology: Technological advances like new propagation methods, safer chemicals, better management practices need to be adopted to maximize quality, quantity and profit from the production. With expensive labour, day to day operations in nursery become difficult to perform. This affects the productivity and sustainability of a nursery. Operations like filling, sowing, irrigation, climate control, spraying etc. can be mechanized. Other Resources: