Nursery Techniques - Afforestation, Reforestation and Forest Restoration in Arid and Semi-arid Tropics - page 45

Table 2.9 Rooting hormones and their use
Hormone/auxin Concentration Method of application

IAA: indole-3-acetic acid 100 mg/l Dip 4-cm portion of cutting for 24 h

IBA: indolebutyric acid 100 mg/l Dip 4-cm portion of cutting for 24 h

NAA: L-naphthylacetic acid Not recommended

other reasons for shifting of plants, they should be shifted at least once before taking
them to field. Some plants may not withstand the stress and may die. This will reduce
mortality during transportation and after outplanting.
Sometimes plants raised for outplanting in a season may be surplussed or left
over. Such plants will become overgrown and pot-bound and may die subsequently,
especially in case of xerophytic species that have a large root system. One option in
such cases is to cut off the top portion of shoot (topping), or if possible, to prepare
root-shoot stumps out of these. Another option is to change these over to larger pots
(transpotting) so as to let them grow into tall plants which can be used in the next
planting season.

2.15 Preparing and Planting Cuttings

Many species can be preferably and advantageously propagated through cuttings.
Plants raised from cuttings will be true-to-type, have better and faster growth, and
are likely to be hardy. Cuttings should be prepared in the right season (e.g. in mild-
temperature seasons of October-November and February-March) and planted in
polypots or beds almost immediately.
Branch cuttings are obtained from mother plants (raised for this purpose in the
nursery) or from adult plants growing outside in the field. Branches about 1-2 cm
thick are suitable for cuttings. While cutting them, a sharp tool such as a pair of
secateurs should be used and at least two internodes should be included in the cutting.
Almost immediately, the cuttings should be brought to the nursery if it is nearby. If
the cuttings must be transported over longer distances and kept for longer duration,
these should be wrapped in moist bags and water sprinkled over to keep them moist
throughout. About a week is the longest these can be kept this way, although decline
in rooting rate will be seen. Often it is advantageous to cut large entire branches
of plant material, if available, and after bringing these to the nursery, the branches
can be cut into smaller pieces and immediately put into polypots or mother beds.
Application of rooting hormones (Table 2.9 ) can improve rooting percentage in case
of species with low rooting success.
Cuttings of root and shoot portion of whole plants (the stumps)—raised for the
purpose in the nursery or naturally found growing in the field—should be prepared
in case of certain species that will not grow from branch cuttings. Normally, 1-1.5-
year-old plants are used. The plants are uprooted, and about 15-20 cm long stumps
are prepared. To prepare a stump, the shoot is chopped off at 3 cm above the collar,