Nursery Techniques - Afforestation, Reforestation and Forest Restoration in Arid and Semi-arid Tropics - page 47

In no case should the laggards be carried over to the next season in the expectation
that these will 'improve' with time. Growing taller with passage of time is not an
indication of genetic quality; it is the growth within a given period of time that
indicates the inherent quality. Therefore, holding back laggards for the next season
is a negative practice of keeping inferior stock alive and sending this low genetic
quality to field. The laggards should therefore be systematically rogued.
It is easier to manage culling, grading, and selection of plants in a nursery if
these operations are combined with the pot turning operations. This would avoid
extra labour costs, as each time quality control operations are carried out, plants
will have to be shifted and then sorted. Similarly, polypots in which no plants could
germinate should be segregated in this process, so that no statistical error is left in
quality control operations.

2.17 Transportation of Plants

Even if proper shock-proofing, drought-proofing, and pest-proofing operations have
been carried out, plants still can have significant rate of mortality if not handled
properly during loading, transportation, and unloading. Proper loading trays or pans
should be used for loading and unloading. Pots should not be dumped on the floor of
the vehicle; these should be carefully placed and in order. Double-layered loading is
often necessary in order to save cost of transportation, in which case extra care should
be taken in stacking polypots on top of others. If possible, two-tiered or three-tiered
vehicle body can be designed to avoid need for stacking plants over each other. If
prolonged drought-proofing has been carried out, plants should be given a thorough
irrigation about 12 h before the time of loading in a vehicle.
Long-distance transportation can by itself cause mortality in plants. Sustained
shaking and vibration can put plants to discomfort. Transportation can also lead to
desiccation if the winds are dry and hot. Plants risking desiccation should be covered
with tarpaulin during transportation. Means of transportation should be chosen with
a consideration to cost and speed, but given all other factors equal, transportation
using animal-driven carts will be better suited because these are slow and free from
vibrations. Of course, this method also provides employment to the local people and
is ecofriendly.
Unloading from vehicle should be carried out with the same amount of care as
loading. Soon after unloading, irrigation should be given if it is not raining already.
If planting work is already in progress, plants may be unloaded at one or a number
of points, taken to pits, and planted immediately. In case plants are transported to
a site a considerable period of time in advance, suitable arrangements for watering
and protection (from heat, winds, pests, and animals) should be made.
Transportation of bare-root plants is much simpler. Uprooted plants are tied neatly
into bundles and wrapped in wet tissue and sprinkled over with water periodically
to keep moist. These must, however, be immediately taken to the site of plantation
and planted out the same day or in any case by the next day. The best time for this
operation is while it is raining or immediately thereafter.