Seedbed preparation: Seedbed/growing bed may be defined as well prepared small plot where seeds are sown and they are provided with favourable conditions for germination to give rise to good seedlings.
Seedbed preparation/growing bed
An ideal seedbed/growing bed is 3 m in length 1 m in breadth and 21 cm in height. The lowermost 7 cm layer consists of broken bricks, middle layer of 7 cm consists of 50% soil and 50% sand and third or top layer consists of 50% well decomposed cow dung and 50 % loamy soil.
Objectives
- Ensure early production of vegetables and extend the growing period.
- Unfavorable environmental effects such as heavy rainfall, searching sunlight etc. can be avoided by taking the advantage of Ideal growing condition.
- Easy and high percentage of germination is expected due to control environmental conditions.
- Seedlings grown in the seedbed/growing bed receive a healthy growth with luxuriant root system.
- Proper individual care of the seedlings is possible due to optimum size of seedbed/growing bed.
- Water logging condition can be avoided in the seedbed/growing bed.
1. Site selection
In selecting a site for seedbed/growing bed the following points should be considered.
- The land should be in a sunny place and well aerated location.
- It must be well drained and not in a dumpy and water-logging place.
- The selected side should be near to farm office for proper and frequent care and management.
- The site should be nearer to the water source for easy irrigation.
- Soil of the seedbed/growing bed should be light fertile and sandy loam.
- Large tree should be avoided near the seedbed/growing bed.
2. Materials required
- Spade
- Seed
- Rope
3. Preparation of seedbed/growing bed
Manuring: in a seat belt it is advisable to use only organic manure if the organic manure is not available and the soil of the seedbed/growing bed is not sufficiently fertile it is then only advisable to apply chemical fertilizers at the following dose
- Urea 200
- TSP 100 gram
- MP 50 gram
- Cow dung 10 kg
Fertilizers should be applied at least one week before seed sowing it is is necessary to keep the seedlings for many days in the seedbed/growing bed then a foliar application of chemical fertilizers may be recommended.
4. Intercultural operation
- Wedding and mulching should be done as and when necessary.
- Watering should be done as and when necessary.
- Thinning out of seedlings should be done in case of dense population.
- Spraying of pesticides should be applied if necessary.
- Shading should be provided.
5. Precautions
- Application of raw cow dung is strictly prohibited because it produce methane gas during the decomposition which is harmful for root growth and development.
- The seed should not be sown densely in the seedbed/growing bed.
- The seedlings should not be kept away always under shade.
- Application of excess water should be avoided.
- The soil of the seed bed should be kept loose.
