15 Types of Nursery in Agriculture and Horticulture

A nursery is a piece of land dedicated to propagating plants. There are various types, like

1. Fruit Plant nursery
2. Vegetable plant nursery
3. Ornamental plant nursery
4. Medicinal and Aromatic plant nursery
5. Forest plant nursery
6. Hi-tech Nursery
7. Agricultural crop Nursery
8. Retail Nursery
9. Wholesale nursery
10. Mail Order
11. Horizontal nursery
12. Vertical nursery
13. Temporary Nursery
14. Permanent nursery

Nursery provides nourishment for the initial growth of young seedlings and eventually sells them for transplanting in commercial agriculture, horticulture, or hobby gardening such as Kitchen Gardening. The final step of selling may vary depending on the type of nursery.

The nurseries are grown in favorable conditions until the plant reaches usable and comparatively robust growth, which allows it to face adverse climatic conditions like winds, heavy rain, scorching sunlight, etc.

Caring for these seedlings in small soil beds or containers is easier.

Types of Nursery in Agriculture

The nurseries can be classified efficiently based on different needs and possibilities as

1. Based on the Time duration
2. Based on the Plants grown
3. Based on Structure
4. Based on Landscape
5. Based on Sale.

Based on the time duration of usage

A nursery can be designed for a temporary basis and permanent use.

Temporary Nursery

The Temporary Nurseries are season-based.

Nursery stock is supplied for a certain period, and production is stopped when the requirement is fulfilled.

Example: Rice seedling nursery, vegetable nursery

Permanent nursery

This type of nursery is not dependent on the season and is intended for commercial use.

As a result, the land can be of any size the owner requires, typically larger than a temporary nursery.

This type of nursery includes permanent structures such as a selling point, compost pit, nursery beds, office, guard room, etc., to facilitate regular propagation.

For example, it can be a nursery for fruit plants or forest plants.

Seeds or vegetative parts of plants can be used as planting materials, and asexual propagation methods like air-layering, grafting, and budding can also be employed.

This nursery management is a labor-intensive job.

Types of Nursery Based on Plants Grown.

1. Fruit Plant nursery

The fruit plant nursery is a prime example of a permanent nursery that caters to plants with a prolonged lifespan.

This type of nursery favors vegetative propagation due to its efficiency and ability to provide true-to-type plants in a shorter time frame compared to sexual propagation.

In addition, the fruit plant nursery offers the opportunity to produce grafts, such as sapodilla, for commercial purposes.

It is also home to permanent mother plants, like Guava for inarching, which supply scion and rootstock.

Furthermore, air layering, a common practice for rooting in Citrus, is also prevalent in fruit plant nurseries.

The nursery business for fruits such as Apples, Walnuts, and Peaches holds significant potential for entrepreneurs in temperate areas. It offers a lucrative and expansive market.

2. Vegetable plant nursery

Vegetable crops range from seasonal and annual to perennial crops.

Vegetables such as brinjal, tomatoes, gourds, and onions are commonly grown from seedlings, making it a popular practice in kitchen gardening.

With decreasing trust in market vegetables due to the widespread use of chemicals and pesticides, people prefer homegrown vegetables, leading to a continuously rising market for these nurseries.

Vertical gardening is also becoming popular for growing gourds, flat beans, and other vegetables in urban houses with limited space.

3. Ornamental plant nursery

This particular type of nursery is highly popular and can engage in international business.

The decorative use of flowers, succulents, and other ornamental plants expands the market significantly.

As daily stress levels rise, people recognize the importance of ornamental plants in their homes, leading to various plants appearing in the market.

This is a continuously growing business due to its relevance on various occasions.

Florists are even developing new types of flowers, and when used as gifts, these plants add significance by representing the occasion (e.g., Bougainvillea).

Additionally, Vertical Gardening has created a new way to display plants around us, making them more beautiful and manageable.

4. Medicinal and Aromatic plant nursery

Certain plants possess significant health benefits, and the increasing awareness of this has increased the scope of this kind of nursery as a business. 

People have started to adopt rearing these plants and use them daily in one way or another instead of depending upon allopathic medicines only. 

These plants’ essential oils and aroma provide health value and aesthetic sense.

These plants can be grown after Wheat harvest and till Rice sowing to provide farmers with an extra income.

5. Forest plant nursery

This nursery cultivates plants necessary for forests. The global significance of forests is well recognized.

In the wake of the deforestation of the Arrey Forest and the Amazon Rainforest fire, there is a heightened focus on preserving trees.

Despite this, some individuals persist in clearing forests under the guise of replanting on the same land.

Numerous industries, such as timber, rubber, and fuel, depend on forests.

It is imperative to safeguard these valuable trees and the species teetering on the edge of extinction.

Collaborating with the Forest department, private investment in forest plant nurseries can contribute to this cause. Moreover, this effort can also serve medicinal purposes.

6. Hi-tech Nursery

In a hi-tech nursery, plants are often grown under shade nets, glasshouses, greenhouses, and other protected structures.

Some plantations are maintained in the open, while others can be grown using these protective structures.

Tissue Culture Laboratories can also be incorporated into these nurseries if maintenance costs can be managed.

This has become the future of nurseries, with plants such as Gerbera, Syngonium, Orchids, Calla Lily, etc., being popular in these labs.

Scientifically managed storage rooms may also be employed to facilitate the growth of winter plant nurseries, such as Walnut and apple.

7. Agricultural crop Nursery

These nurseries are temporary, and the land used is later added to the cultivation land.

This reduces the workload and time required to manage large cultivation areas and improves fertilizers‘ availability.

It’s not for business purposes but solely for seasonal crops.

For example, rice nursery and pearl millet.

According to the structure of the nursery

1. Open nursery

This type of nursery is a low-cost and low-maintenance facility.

It does not require special overhead structures like a greenhouse or glasshouse.

It may just have some shade nets, a regular room or office, etc.

2. Closed nursery

This type of nursery is equipped with special overhead structures, such as greenhouses, glasshouses, and shade nets, designed to provide a specific amount of sunlight for plants.

These structures are sometimes scientifically designed to regulate room temperature and humidity.

Modern irrigation systems, such as ground and overhead sprinklers, drip irrigation, misters, and foggers, can be installed in open and closed nurseries.

According to the landscape

1. Horizontal nursery

Nurseries are spread horizontally across the land, covering a significant area.

In this type of layout, plants are grown with suitable spacing from each other.

This setup is particularly suitable for individuals with ample land and those interested in small-scale nurseries for hobbies or kitchen gardens.

2. Vertical nursery

With the increasing urbanization and construction of multi-story buildings, space has become significantly limited for city dwellers.

For those who still want to stay close to nature and wish to cultivate a space-efficient nursery, a Vertical Nursery is a great option.

This concept holds great potential for the future.

See “What is urban farming and its importance.”

According to the Type of Sale

1. Retail Nursery

Retail nurseries sell plants directly to people for home or garden use.

They are local businesses that offer seasonal and ornamental plants and plants for decoration and humidity control.

They may also cater to clients with specific plant needs.

2. Wholesale nursery

These nurseries cultivate plants in large quantities to meet the demands of various clients, such as florists, companies, commercial farmers, and other small nurseries, for environmental landscaping and more.

3. Private nursery

These nurseries typically serve a single customer and provide batches for their specific needs.

These customers may have large estates or require documentation for historical tree preservation.

4. Mail Order

All the nurseries mentioned above can be part of this type of nursery.

Nowadays, online shopping has become a common trend and a growing business.

You can create an online portal to sell goods and services, with the additional requirement of providing shipping facilities, such as through a courier or delivery service.

References:

• ROOTSTOCKS | Usage of Rootstocks
• Plant Article Ornamental Plants