INTEGRATED NURSERY STOCK PRODUCTION

Nursery stock production in the Netherlands is a relatively small, though expanding industry. An immensely vast range of hardy plants is grown in containers or in the open soil with high inputs of fertilizers, soil sterilants and pesticides. Integrated production systems with low external inputs must be developed by adapting design and management of the nursery. Higher costs can be compensated by raising the efficiency of labour through expansion, specialisation, mechanisation, and automation. Three prototype integrated production systems are developed for: field-grown seedlings for forests, hedges and rose rootstocks; field-grown ornamental shrubs and conifers; and container-grown ornamental shrubs and conifers in a specially designed greenhouse. A nurseryman/researcher sets up and manages each experimental nursery. He is supported by a counselling group that defines the aims and judges the relevance of the results for research and practice. To support the prototypes additional research is carried out. Integrated nursery stock production is still at the beginning and its large-scale introduction will require several years, despite the great need to do so.