PROSPECTS OF FLOWER CULTIVATION IN WASTELAND
PROSPECTS OF FLOWER CULTIVATION IN WASTELAND
Because of high growth rate of our population, the land utilization is becoming more and more important every day not only feed the teaming millions but also to raise their living standard. A sizeable area in the country is either barren or does not yield the desired level of productivity and hence can be classified as waste land. The total geographical area in the country is328 m ha, out of which 130 m ha is under degraded land which includes any type of land having less than 20% of its optimum biological productivity.
Flowers are associated with mankind from dawn of civilization. It is said that man is born with flowers, lives with flowers and finally dies with flowers. Flowers are used for various purposes in our day to day life like worshipping, religious and social functions, wedding, interior decoration and self-adornment. Besides the beauty and aesthetic value of flowers, they are important for their economic value as sale of flowers (loose as well as cut blooms), extraction of essential oil and making of economic products like Gulkand.
In the recent times with the advancement of science and technology, India has emerged as a potential country for the production of flowers and ornamental plants. There is great increase in demand of floricultural products with increasing income and globalization of economy. Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Japan have strong tradition for growing and consumption of flowers. In India it is mainly grown in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Prospects of flower cultivation in wasteland:
The efforts indicated that there are enormous prospects of utilization of waste lands by selecting suitable flowering plants and standardization of the Agro techniques.
(1) SELECTON OF HARDY FLOWERING PLANTS :
There is an ample scope of cultivation of flowers which are ideally suited for their cultivation. Plants with extensive deeper root system, reduced leaf surface, sunken stomata, waxy coating on leaf lamina, reduced growth during moisture stress and selective or reduced absorption of cations such as Na+ and anions like Cl- and S04 are few of the Characteristics which make them suitable for their cultivation in the waste lands.
Flowering Plants for the waste land:
(a) Annuals :
Coreopsis, Portulaca, Cosmos, Gaillarardia, Tagets, Pe tunia and Annual Chrysanthemum
(b) Shrubs:
Thevetia nerifolia, Bougain villea, Hibiscus, Lantana sallowiana, Chaita roses(R. Damascena), TMC, Achania malvaviscous
(c) Bulbous plants :
Tuberose, Gloriosa superba
(d) Tress :
Plumaria, Callistemon
(2) ADOPTION OF MODERN AGRO- TECHNIQUES :
(a) USE OF FARM YARD MANURE: Sandy soils with poor organic matter content generally gets compacted and affects the seedling emergence and crop growth. The water holding capacity of sandy soil is very poor due to high infiltration rate. Continuous application of farm yard manure shall be helpful in improving the microbial activity and also its water holding capacity.
(b) USE OF POND SEDIMENTS: Ponds and Rivers are scattered in villages used to be the major source of drinking water for animals and to human beings. They get dry during summer and their sediments can be used for raising the productivity of sandy and salt affected soil. Its application improves the moisture retention capacity of soil. It also increases nitrogen and organic matter content of the soil.
(c) USE OF PRESS MUD/GYPSUM: Use of press mud 3-5 kg per square met area or Gypsum 5-6 kg per square met. Is very useful for improving the soil condition in salt affected soil. It is used two – three months prior to planting fallowed by watering.
(d) USE OF EXFOLIATED VERMICULITE: Vermiculite is a micaceous mineral. It exfoliates when heated or subjected to certain chemical reactions. Its incorporation to loamy sandy soils shall be helpful; in improving the moisture retention of the soil.
(e) MULCHING: Covering of soil surface with organic waste materials or emulsions is termed as Mulching. Mulching reduces the evaporation by cutting of radiation falling on the soil surface and thus delays drying and reduces soil thermal regime during day time. It also reduces the weed population and improves the microbial activity of soil improving the environment along the root zone. Continuous use of organic mulches shall be helpful in improving the organic matter content of soil and thus the water holding capacity of soil shall also be improved.
(f) IRRIGATION: Irrigation affects the soil environment by making more water available for plant established and growth by lowering soil temperature and soil strength. Moisture stress is main limiting factor in arid soil and semi Arid region of the country. While excess watering is also harmful to the plants.
(g) HARVESTING: Loose flowers should be plucked early in the morning or late in evening while for cut flowers like- tuberose and gladiolus etc. is harvested at right stages. For distant market spikes should be harvested when the basal florets shows the colour, whereas for local market it is harvested when basal floret is fully open.
(h) PACKING: Loose flowers are packed in gunny bags or bamboo baskets while the cut flowers of tuberose and gladiolus etc. is packed in card board boxes measuring 100x25x10cm.
Because of high growth rate of our population, the land utilization is becoming more and more important every day not only feed the teaming millions but also to raise their living standard. A sizeable area in the country is either barren or does not yield the desired level of productivity and hence can be classified as waste land. The total geographical area in the country is328 m ha, out of which 130 m ha is under degraded land which includes any type of land having less than 20% of its optimum biological productivity.
Flowers are associated with mankind from dawn of civilization. It is said that man is born with flowers, lives with flowers and finally dies with flowers. Flowers are used for various purposes in our day to day life like worshipping, religious and social functions, wedding, interior decoration and self-adornment. Besides the beauty and aesthetic value of flowers, they are important for their economic value as sale of flowers (loose as well as cut blooms), extraction of essential oil and making of economic products like Gulkand.
In the recent times with the advancement of science and technology, India has emerged as a potential country for the production of flowers and ornamental plants. There is great increase in demand of floricultural products with increasing income and globalization of economy. Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Japan have strong tradition for growing and consumption of flowers. In India it is mainly grown in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Prospects of flower cultivation in wasteland:
The efforts indicated that there are enormous prospects of utilization of waste lands by selecting suitable flowering plants and standardization of the Agro techniques.
(1) SELECTON OF HARDY FLOWERING PLANTS :
There is an ample scope of cultivation of flowers which are ideally suited for their cultivation. Plants with extensive deeper root system, reduced leaf surface, sunken stomata, waxy coating on leaf lamina, reduced growth during moisture stress and selective or reduced absorption of cations such as Na+ and anions like Cl- and S04 are few of the Characteristics which make them suitable for their cultivation in the waste lands.
Flowering Plants for the waste land:
(a) Annuals :
Coreopsis, Portulaca, Cosmos, Gaillarardia, Tagets, Pe tunia and Annual Chrysanthemum
(b) Shrubs:
Thevetia nerifolia, Bougain villea, Hibiscus, Lantana sallowiana, Chaita roses(R. Damascena), TMC, Achania malvaviscous
(c) Bulbous plants :
Tuberose, Gloriosa superba
(d) Tress :
Plumaria, Callistemon
(2) ADOPTION OF MODERN AGRO- TECHNIQUES :
(a) USE OF FARM YARD MANURE: Sandy soils with poor organic matter content generally gets compacted and affects the seedling emergence and crop growth. The water holding capacity of sandy soil is very poor due to high infiltration rate. Continuous application of farm yard manure shall be helpful in improving the microbial activity and also its water holding capacity.
(b) USE OF POND SEDIMENTS: Ponds and Rivers are scattered in villages used to be the major source of drinking water for animals and to human beings. They get dry during summer and their sediments can be used for raising the productivity of sandy and salt affected soil. Its application improves the moisture retention capacity of soil. It also increases nitrogen and organic matter content of the soil.
(c) USE OF PRESS MUD/GYPSUM: Use of press mud 3-5 kg per square met area or Gypsum 5-6 kg per square met. Is very useful for improving the soil condition in salt affected soil. It is used two – three months prior to planting fallowed by watering.
(d) USE OF EXFOLIATED VERMICULITE: Vermiculite is a micaceous mineral. It exfoliates when heated or subjected to certain chemical reactions. Its incorporation to loamy sandy soils shall be helpful; in improving the moisture retention of the soil.
(e) MULCHING: Covering of soil surface with organic waste materials or emulsions is termed as Mulching. Mulching reduces the evaporation by cutting of radiation falling on the soil surface and thus delays drying and reduces soil thermal regime during day time. It also reduces the weed population and improves the microbial activity of soil improving the environment along the root zone. Continuous use of organic mulches shall be helpful in improving the organic matter content of soil and thus the water holding capacity of soil shall also be improved.
(f) IRRIGATION: Irrigation affects the soil environment by making more water available for plant established and growth by lowering soil temperature and soil strength. Moisture stress is main limiting factor in arid soil and semi Arid region of the country. While excess watering is also harmful to the plants.
(g) HARVESTING: Loose flowers should be plucked early in the morning or late in evening while for cut flowers like- tuberose and gladiolus etc. is harvested at right stages. For distant market spikes should be harvested when the basal florets shows the colour, whereas for local market it is harvested when basal floret is fully open.
(h) PACKING: Loose flowers are packed in gunny bags or bamboo baskets while the cut flowers of tuberose and gladiolus etc. is packed in card board boxes measuring 100x25x10cm.
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