FloriCulture Today - May-2013

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Contents

Editorial

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v Cover Feature 10 National Flora Expo 2013

FAN showcases Nepal’s floriculture powers v pOLY house 14 Use of Mulch film for rose cultivation in

Protected cultivation – An Innovation

by Anand Zambre v Water Plants 18 The Wonderworld of Aquatic Plants

by Ms. Radhika Jadeja and Dr. Alka Singh v 24

30

36

Landscaping Exotic Ornamental Grasses for Landscaping

by M. Kannan, P. Ranchana, M. Jawaharlal and S. Vinodh Urban Landscaping Sustainable Approaches for Efficient Use of Water

by Dr. Manish Kumar Sharma Changi: Dazzling Horticulture Landscape Terminal

by Lakshmi Krupa

14

v Water Management 40 Crucial Role of Water Management in Remunerative Floriculture

by Amit Shukla and Nivedita Sharma, Harvel Agua India Private Limited v CROP-PROtection 42 INDO-DUTCH JOINT PROJECT

Koppert demonstrates its crop-protection solutions in India

v Bottle Gardening 46 Beautiful Terrariums for indoor decoration

by Dr. A. Shanthi and N. Deepa Devi v Profile 50 A.K.S.V.NURSERY: Landscapers’ favourite nursery v Floriculture News 54 April: Gerbera was flower of the month 54 Singapore Botanic Gardens wants Unesco Heritage Status 54 Floriculture department in Nainital encourages farmers for Lilly production 55 Deadly weed Lantana affecting HP’s mountain bio-diversity 55 Famed Potter gets Padma Award 56 Man’s innovative mind forces plastic bottles to play a positive role 56 Kashmir govt’s focus shifts to floriculture 57 Gardening can keep your weight under check Floriculture Today 6

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42

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www.floriculturetoday.in

Editorial...

C

onverting something pedestrian and uninspiring into a thing of utility or beauty, which can be a joy forever, is not something new. There are instances aplenty of this kind, like for instance, turning the surface of a brick-andmortar structure like a water tank into a green area dotted with flowering plants and ornamentals. A fine example of this type is the popular Kamala Nehru Park built decades ago in the posh Malabar Hill area in Mumbai. Below this park is a large water reservoir, which supplies water to the residents in the area. In the national capital of Delhi, an open drain which was an eye-sore in the heart of the city, was covered to build ‘Dilli Haat’, which promotes arts and crafts.

Singapore has started a project somewhat on these lines, which has turned out to be a unique one of its kind – a garden, acclaimed as one of the best in the world. It has sprung up – the first phase of it is now over –in a place which till 2006 was a polluted and toxic zone. The Financial Times carries a report on it, giving elaborate description of the garden, “an incredible one,” the like of which has not been made in the recent past. Singapore’s National Parks Board has allotted a fabulous sum of S$ 1 billion for development of this new Bay Garden.

What the visitors now see is the garden’s south phase covering 110 acres; double this area will be Bay East and Bay Central, where work is in progress.

The creator of this garden, Dr Kiat W Tan, who has sound knowledge of planting techniques in Britain, Far East and elsewhere, traveled around the world before starting the work on the details of the project. His tour took him to the best gardens in Britain, South America, and Japan, besides the New York Botanical Garden.

Bay South Garden, having a million plants at present, can be broadly divided into three parts – two are greenhouse domes to suit two very different types of plants, while the third houses an awesome array of tall “Super trees”, as they are called, conceptualized

by Andrew Grant, a prize-winning English project engineer. The ‘Super trees’ have trunks of concealed concrete, designed to allow sunlight to come in. Some of these ‘trees’ – the tallest among them is 150 feet high – are lit up in the in the night by solar panels. The ‘tree’ trunks and their metallic branches are covered with green climbers and flowering plants, watered by devices to be run by solar-generated electricity. The plan is to cover all these ‘Super trees” with over 160,000 plants from 30 countries.

A series of theme gardens, reflecting Singapore’s ethnic diversity is one of the major attractions. Indian gardens, with banyan and other trees common in India, Chinese gardens, Malay gardens, the Colonial gardens – all of them have been created with care and eye-for detail An irresistible piece of artistic creation is a 13-foot high artificial mountain – made from a mixture of earth and concrete – the entire face of which is a floral wonder. It is covered with an assortment of exotic flowers and plants, ranging from rhododendrons to wild orchids from Borneo or Malaysia. To collect these plants Tan traveled from Costa Rica to Java’s mountains.

The garden can be an inspiration for others who want to convert a polluted and unclean site into a thing of beauty and thereby check environmental degradation.

Comments are welcome at: MediaTodayMails@gmail.com

Views expressed by individuals and contributors in the magazine are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Floriculture Today editorial board. Floriculture Today does not accept any responsibility of any direct, indirect or consequential damage caused to any party due to views expressed by any one or more persons in the trade. All disputes are to be referred to Delhi Jurisdiction only.

.....Editor

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Chief Editor: S Jafar Naqvi Consulting Editors T.V. Satyanarayanan K Dharmarajan Chief Coordinator: M.B. Naqvi Editorial Coordinator: Syed M K Vice President: A A Kazmi

News Editor: Anwar Huda Layout & Design Mohd. Iqbal Faiyaz Ahmad

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Cover Feature

National Flora Expo 2013

FAN showcases Nepal’s floriculture powers

N

epal Rastra Bank Governor Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada inaugurated the 16th edition of National Flora Expo 2013, on March 28, in Kathmandu.

The four-day event was organized by Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN).

This is the most beautiful event in the country held every year. In fact, it is the only event of its kind in Nepal in terms Floriculture Today 10 May 2013

of its size and content. It is both a B2B and a B2C event. The expo showcased the latest developments in floriculture sector of Nepal. It was a hotspot to launch new brands and put on display a wide collection of floriculture products.

Its business section attracted a large number of visitors from Nepal and abroad.

The expo was supported by Floriculture Co-operative, One Village

One Product Implementing Committee and Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Flora Expo facilitates trade initiation whether for the direct consumers or for the flori-business of new business deals, identification of agents and distributors.

The flora expo has the product profile which covers the entire range of products and services from hi-tech orientation to traditional character.

Cover Feature Objectives of Flora Expo v To promote, develop and highlight flori-business in Nepal. v To create awareness about the use of flowers and ornamental plants among the people throughout the country. v To create and expand of the flori-business in national and international markets. v To bring Nepalese floriculturists together and create interest among the producers, suppliers, marketers, exporters and other stakeholders. v To introduce new products and services. v To create employment opportunities and skill development. v To help customers in buying different kinds of floral products. v To introduce Nepalese floriculture, its development and its prospects at National and International level. v To build capacity of FAN as the lead organization working towards the development of floriculture in Nepal.

Theme The four-day event showcased a wide variety of flowers as well as the latest developments in the Nepali floriculture sector. This year the theme was “Floriculture for Clean Environment

and Economic Prosperity”.

Self-sufficiency in flowers “The expo is organized with the objective of making Nepal self-sufficient in flowers and disseminate information about Nepal’s floriculture industry,” Lok Nath Gaire, president of FAN, said.

bedding plants, dry flowers, and flower bulb and seeds. Similarly, compost and fertilizers, agricultural tools, and packaging materials, among others were also exhibited.

Large Participation The expo had around 60 stalls, including 53 commercial stalls and five informative stalls. Two stalls were for competition purpose. FAN held competition among firms involved in flower decoration as well as home and garden decoration.

One Village, One Product Programme About 450 varieties of ornamental flowers, including Symbedia orchid, which is being promoted under “One Village, One Product” program of the government, was exhibited at the expo.

Similarly, live demonstration on flower decoration was also organized every day.

Wide floral varieties According to the organizers, the event showcases different floral varieties like seasonal flowers, ornamental flowers, cut flowers, potted plants,

Rising local demands “The floriculture sector has been flourishing in recent years with local demand increasing by 10-15 percent every year,” Kumar Kasaju Shrestha,

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Cover Feature expo coordinator and vice president of FAN, said, adding, “We are heading toward self-sufficiency on flower. At present only around 20 percent of the demand is met through imports.”

Targeting overseas markets According to FAN, Nepal’s floriculture industry was worth Rs 1.05 billion in 2011/12. During the period, Nepal exported flowers worth Rs 100 million while imports stood at Rs 40.5 million. Nepal exports flower bulbs and tissue culture plants to different European countries and Japan, Kuwait, Qatar and India.

The total transaction worth Rs 7.5 million happened during the expo. The event attracted around 65,000 visitors.

Attractive Business Presence A multi-trading platform--the gathering of almost all the segments of floriculture industry at one common destination--was witnessed at Flora Expo. Floriculture The overwhelming success of all the preceding exhibitions with increased exhibitor and visitor participation including high-volume business growth has made floriculture trade fair one of the most sought after trade events in Nepal.

Helping exhibitors to expand Exhibitors showcased their latest products and services to potential buyers from nationwide and across the world.

They also launched new products and services and created a market for the same. The expo offered them a platform for business dealings with prospective buyers, networking opportunities with leaders in the industry like agents and distributors, enabling them to market their products/services, facilitating joint ventures at global level, creating and expanding their market worldwide, getting exposure among their counterparts as well as buyers, establishing long-term business contact with the desired audience, among other things.

The expo turned out to be an exclusive meeting ground

Floriculture Today 12 May 2013

for businessmen, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, exporters, suppliers, importers, distributors, service providers and flower lovers.

FAN’s contribution Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN) has been organizing several promotional activities such as training, workshop

Kaushlendra Agarwal

publication, trade and exhibitions, and floriculture trade fairs since 1994.

The flora expo has been playing an instrumental role since its last 15 editions, promoting floriculture business in a big way. Trade fairs are recognized world over as one of the most effective tools of marketing for floriculture business. n

Garden Glory launches its range of products in Nepal

T

he leader in the markets of Chinese plants, Garden Glory finally, officially launched itself in Nepal, at National Flora Expo, Kathmandu after strengthening its presence in the country for the last five years. Recent popularity of Chinese pot-plants and in general miniature pot-plants among Indian home-makers is already a new success story. They add tremendous value to the interior of the home.

And they are in various interesting shapes and patterns. These new choices have made Garden Glory a renowned name in India.

New Delhi-based Garden Glory, a famous company dealing in such varieties, also participated in the expo, attracting a shoal of curious visitors. Garden Glory’s CEO Kaushlendra Agarwal was present at the show.

Garden Glory has partnered with a local dealer Mr. Tikka of Rosemade to carry out its businesses in Nepal.

“There is a great scope for Indian floriculture companies in Nepal.

Garden Glory aims to capture the Nepalese markets with its highquality floriculture products and services. And there could be no better place than this to launch a floriculture company,” said Kaushlendra Agarwal.

Activities Garden Glory India is a 12 year-old company that sells Indoor and Outdoor Plants, Flower bulbs, Orchids, Bonsai, Cactus, importable plant, Solar Garden Lights, Garden Materials, Landscape and Grass Seeds, etc. It imports all its plants from China, and other things from Holland. It is a supplier and wholesaler with its farmhouse based in Noida.

Riding on new choice Clients, especially corporates love something new. A new thing is always welcomed. The Chinese plants add tremendous value and beauty to the premises. They can be kept inside offices to make look aesthetic. Garden Glory successfully harvested this new preference.

The company supplies to retailers, corporate houses, farm houses, government departments, institutes and nurseries throughout India.

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Poly House

by Anand Zambre Vice President, Agri Business ESSEN Multipack Ltd.

Raskar showing Mulch film on beds and huge growth of plants

G

Anand Zambre

Floriculture Today 14 May 2013

rowing of roses in protected structures like tropical polyhouses is not a new technique for Indian growers as the growers are growing roses in India under greenhouses since 1990. In last Twenty Three years, growers have observed lots of ups and downs and learnt through experiences.

One of the growers Balasaheb Raskar from Professional Agrotech Pvt Ltd used mulch film as an experiment to control weeds in his greenhouse. This article aims to describe his successful experiment of using

During his cultivation period, Balasaheb Raskar from Professional Agrotech Pvt Ltd observed that majority of the time; the workers are busy with removal of weeds from the beds. If the weed is not removed, it competes for fertilizers and water with rose plants thereby causing deterioration in quality of flowers.

Similarly, the grass attracts insects and diseases and further deteriorates the quality of flowers. There by increasing production cost to a great extent. Most of the growers are facing this problem in Maval region. It was very necessary to find out solution that will reduce growing of unnecessary weeds mulch film on beds of rose cultivation for weed control and thereby reducing the cost of labors.

Professional Agrotech Pvt Ltd was established at village Ambi, near Floriculture Park, Talegaon Dabhade, Tal Maval, dist Pune in 2005. Balasaheb Raskar is Managing Director of the group and himself M. Sc Agriculture with 18 years of experience in rose cultivation in greenhouses.

He along with his partners decided to plant Dutch roses for export purpose.

Being an Agriculture graduate, he was

Poly House keen to produce quality roses those will last longer in vase and with minimum cost of cultivation per rose stem. Since beginning, he tried many innovative ideas like dense plantation, IPM practices for control of pests and diseases.

During his cultivation period, he observed that majority of the time; the workers are busy with removal of weeds from the beds. If the weed is not removed, it competes for fertilizers and water with rose plants thereby causing deterioration in quality of flowers. Similarly, the grass attracts insects and diseases and further deteriorates the quality of flowers. There by increasing production cost to a great extent. Most of the growers are facing this problem in Maval region. It was very necessary to find out solution that will reduce growing of unnecessary weeds.

Being an agriculture graduate he was aware of use of mulch films to control weeds in open cultivation especially for vegetable cultivation. This technique is widely accepted and implemented by the farmers from all regions of India and recommended by all Agriculture Universities and Agriculture Research Stations.

In the beginning of 2011, he decided to use SUNCOOL mulch film in greenhouse of 4000 sqm as demonstration and study the effect on growth of plants and control of weeds.

He studied the mulch films in details and came to know that there are various advantages of using mulch other than control of weeds as mentioned below: 1. Earlier growth of plants The use of plastic mulch alters soil temperature. Mulches applied to the soil intercept sunlight warming the soil encouraging faster growth early in the growing season.

2. Soil moisture retention Plastic mulches reduce the amount of water lost from the soil due to evaporation.

This means less water will be needed for irrigation. Plastic mulches also aid in evenly distributing moisture to the soil which reduces plant stress.

3. Reduction in the leaching of fertilizer The use of drip irrigation in conjunction with plastic mulch allows one to reduce leaching of fertilizers. Drip irrigation

Soil beds covered by UV stabilized SUNCOOL plastic mulch

The use of drip irrigation in conjunction with plastic mulch allows one to reduce leaching of fertilizers. Drip irrigation applies lower amounts of water with fertilizers injected and thus these fertilizers are applied to the root zone as needed. This also reduces the amount of fertilizer needed for adequate plant growth when compared to broadcast fertilization

applies lower amounts of water with fertilizers injected and thus these fertilizers are applied to the root zone as needed.

This also reduces the amount of fertilizer needed for adequate plant growth when compared to broadcast fertilization.

4. Improved crop quality It was observed that even in the Month of April with temperature maximum to 420C, the bud size, stem length and thickness and size of leaves is more or less same as observed during winter 5. Reduction in soil compaction The soil underneath the plastic mulch stays loose and well aerated. This increases the amount of oxygen in the soil and aids in microbial activity.

6. Reduction in root damage The use of plastic mulch creates a practically weed free area around the plant, removing the need for cultivation except between the rows of plastic. Root damage associated with cultivation is therefore eliminated. Due to these factors, the use of plastic mulch can lead to an improvement in the overall growth of the plant.

When asked about the economics, Raskar informed the author that he spent May 2013

15 Floriculture Today

Poly House

Quality flower production even in summer month like April

around Rs. 10,000/- for purchase of mulch per acre and it lasts since last Two years.

Thus the cost of mulch per year per acre is Rs. 5,000/- only. If the mulch film is not used and workers have to remove weeds manually, then cost goes too high also other direct and indirect losses caused by weeds also increases our production costs. Raskar has used mulch film on 8000 sqm and remaining area of roses

Floriculture Today 16 May 2013

Anand Zambre (Author) with Balasaheb Raskar

will be under mulch at the time of new plantation. He was very enthusiastic while explaining his successful experiment of using mulch for rose cultivation under greenhouse conditions and hope that all the growers can save lots of money by using mulch film for control of weeds with other advantages. Raskar mentioned that during summer if the soil temperature is very high, it can damage roots of the plants

and hence it is required to uplift the plastic from bottom side so that the hot air in the beds will go out. However he did not face such problem in last two years. He also mentioned that the selection of mulch film is very important. It must be UV stabilized and made of virgin materials so that it will not torn while on beds and mix in to the soil there by creating soil pollution. n

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Water Plants

The Wonderworld of

Aquatic Plants

by Ms. Radhika Jadeja and Dr. Alka Singh

A

quatic plants are water loving plants either growing in water or soil that is permanently saturated with water. Aqua is derived from Latin word meaning water. Aquatic plants are also called as hydrophytes where ‘hydro’ also refers to water and phytes refers to ‘plants growing on’. Special characteristics of these plants include thin cuticle, increased number of stomata, flat leaves, air sacs and small and feathery roots.

Water, the most essential substance for the survival of all life forms, has also been given an important place in all the styles of landscaping viz., Mughal, Japanese, French, Spanish, Roman and Italian.

Various water features have been used as garden adornments. Water is considered to be a sign of purity and piousness and it provides a feeling of serenity and peace to the viewer besides imparting a touch of softness to the landscape. They are also an inevitable component for providing mobility to the landscape by means of Floriculture Today 18 May 2013

Dr. Alka Singh

the flora and fauna in and around them.

Aquatic plants serve as an ornament for the beautification of water features besides their important role in environment conservation.

Classification of Aquatic Plants Depending on how and where they grow in the pond, water plants are classified into four categories.

1. Submerged plants and Oxygenators 2. Floating plants 3. Surface flowering plants 4. Marginals Submerged plants and Oxygenators Aquatics with foliage underwater are called submerged water plants. They add a larger amount of oxygen to the water and also help to remove nutrients from the water, which help to control algal growth.

Most submerged plants thrive in water depths of upto 10 feet, but some varieties need a little light and grow at depths of 15 to 30 feet. Too many submerged plants can cause wide pH swings so it is important

Radhika Jadeja

to maintain their population. Some of the important submerged/oxygenators are: Elodea canadensis, Hottonia palustris, Ceratophyllum demersum, Sagittaria natans, Vallisinaria americana etc. These plants are widely used as aquarium plants for indoor decoration.

Floating plants Floating plants have hair-like roots that protrude into the water, need no soil at all and keep water clean by absorbing nutrients. They provide shade to the fish from the hot sun and protect them from predators. Water Hyacinth, Azolla filiculoides, Lemna minor (Duck Weed), Pistia stratiotes, Water Chestnut, Euryale ferox (foxnut/makhana) are typical examples of floating garden pond plants. Trapa natans (water chestnut/shingara) can be eaten raw or boiled. When the fruits are dried, they are ground to make flour which is used in many religious rituals and is consumed as a Phalahar on the day of fasts. Water Hyacinth i.e. Eichhornia crassipes is a very important plant for phyto remediation but

Water Plants Submerged plants and Oxygenators

Elodea canadensis

Hottonia palustris

has become a weed.

Surface flowering plants Plants having their roots submerged in soil with leaves floating on water and flowering at the water surface are referred as surface flowering aquatic plants. Lotus and water lilies are beautiful example of surface flowering aquatics. Lotus, the national flower of India, symbolizes victory, survival, divinity, fertility and purity. Lotus is used for worshiping Gods and Goddesses since ancient times in the Indian mythology. Lotuses are among the most ancient plants. Their viable seeds have been found dating back to more than 2000 years. There are two species within the Lotus genus, Nelumbo- N. nucifera and N. lutea. Lotuses are sun loving plants and need at least 6 hours of sun light, daily. They have a waxy coating on their leaves. Lotus cultivars grow from 6 inches to 6 feet in height. Smaller selections, called Bowl lotuses, can be easily grown in containers less than a foot wide, in just a few inches of soil and water. Lotus cultivars are available in wide range of sizes and colours. Fragrance varies from fruity to mild. Colours range from deepest rosy pink to cleanest white. There are also bicolours and tones that blush or fade.

Lotuses can be propagated by seeds as well as by divisions of rhizomes. Bowl lotuses are miniature lotuses of the Nelumbo family. Most water lilies grow in 3-4 foot

Ceratophyllum demersum

depths, some in depths of upto 8 feet, but they do quite well in ponds with only 618 inches of water over their roots. Water lilies are classified into two broad groups-hardy water lilies and tropical water lilies.

Hardy water lilies survive winters in cold climates. Tropical Water Lilies are day blooming cultivars and night bloomers.

Marginals Marginals grow at the edge or margin of the pond where the soil is moist or the water is shallow. They are well suited as transitional plants that link the pond with the other garden because of their adaptability to grow in a diverse range- from wet/moist soil to submerged soil (few inches to 2 feet). The main aim of planting marginals is to decorate the pond side/landscape and adding colour, texture and form to the design. Some of the important marginals are- Acorus calamus (sweet flag), Caltha palustris (marsh marigold), Water canna, Carex spp. (Sedge), Colocasia esculenta (Taro), Cyperus spp., Dichromena colorata (white-top sedge), Hibiscus moscheutos, Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’, Iris spp., Ludwigia spp., Marsilea spp., Mentha spp., and Typha spp. Colocasia esculenta has heart shaped leaves. It is a perennial having high to medium water requirement. C. esculenta var. Black Magic has black to dusty purple foliage which can be used with any silvery foliage plants

Vallisinaria americana

along the edging of a water garden.

Importance and uses of aquatic plants Aquatic plants add aesthetic beauty to the surrounding environment, besides contributing to the environmental conservation. Many aquatic plant species are used as aquarium plants for indoor decoration. Many of them have medicinal value e.g. Sweet flag, Foxnut, Lotus, etc. Lotus is used for worshiping in the Indian mythology. Dried lotus pods contribute one of the major shares in exports of dry flowers and flower parts from India. It is popularly used as dry decoration in flower arrangements and framed articles. Lotus stems are also used as food in various dishes. Water lily can be grown in small pots or tubs in home gardens. Iris and Calla lily are used as cut flowers. The essential oil extracted from the roots of Acorus calamus and Orris are highly priced for their medicinal and aromatic respectively. Aquatic plants can also be used for pollution control in water bodies. Effective reduction in heavy metal content in the water bodies can be achieved using these aquatic plants which serve as an economical and eco-friendly way of pollution control. Azolla, besides being an important biofertilizer, is also efficient in removal of mercury effluents form water sources. Aquatic plant species used as fodder for livestock include Ipomoea aquatica, Echinocloa spp., Salvinia,

Floating plants

Azolla filiculoides

Pistia stratiotes

Euryale ferox

Trapa natans

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Water Plants Marginals Hibiscus moscheutos

Caltha palustris

Acorus calamus

Colocasia esculenta

Oryza etc. They are used to conserve and beautify marginal lands and attract birds and butterflies. Salicornia is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants that can grow in salt marshes. Besides S. europaea and S. brachiata which are edible, the seeds of S. bigelovii contain high level of unsaturated oil and protein and have immense potential for production of biodiesel. Lotus, Foxnut and Chestnut are popularly used as food. The starchy white seeds of Euryale ferox known as

Floriculture Today 20 May 2013

Iris spp.

foxnut (makhana) are edible and are used widely especially for making a variety of delicious dishes etc. It also has medicinal and nutritional value and is very good for patients suffering from anaemia.

Thus, aquatic plants are multipurpose species and further research needs to be done on aquatic plants to explore the immense potential they have for nutrition, phytoremediation and their medicinal values besides their aesthetic values. The wonder of beautiful aquatic plants need

Dichromena colorata

to be exploited in landscape designing at a wider scale in public gardens, ponds, institutional areas, industrial region as well as home gardens.

n (Dr. Alka Singh is associate professor, Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari and Ms Radhika Jadeja is Horticulture officer, Department of Horticulture, Gujarat)

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Ophiopogon japonicus

Landscaping

by M. Kannan, P. Ranchana, M. Jawaharlal and S. Vinodh Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, HC& RI, TNAU, Coimabtore

Exotic Ornamental Grasses for

Landscaping

O

rnamental Grass is a very popular category of landscape plants.

Grasses are colorful, hardy, display all season interest, and are easy to maintain. The texture, form, and colors of ornamental grass are difficult to duplicate with any other plant. Ornamental grasses are commonly divided into two categories, warm and cool season grass. Warm season grasses begin growing quickly in late spring and early summer whereas cool season grasses begin greening up in early spring. Popular cool season grasses include fescues, blue oat grass, and autumn moor grass. Popular warm season grasses include northern sea oats, hardy pampas grass, fountain grass and switch grass.

Ornamental grasses are easy to care for and maintain and they are relatively disease and pest free. Take care to not over fertilize the grasses. Too much fertilizer promotes excessive growth and then the grass becomes unmanageable and flops over.

Early spring is the time to cut down the dead growth from the previous season. Some of the taller grasses may require a pruning saw or trimmer if the grass blades are very stiff.

Cut the large clumps of grass about 6 inches above the ground. Smaller grasses can be cut about 2 inches above the ground. Features of several varieties of ornamental grasses are furnished below:

Floriculture Today 24 May 2013

Scientific Name: Andropogon gerardii Common Name: Big bluestem; Turkey foot Height: 4 to 7’ Light Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Tolerates a wide range of soil types (sand, clay) but prefers fertile, well drained soil; drought tolerant Form/Texture: Moderate texture; upright clump; open to arching Inflorescence: Appear in August; opens red and darkens with age; not very showy; forked like a turkey’s foot Scientific Name: Cortaderia selloana Common Name: Pampas grass Height: 6 to 10’ Light Requirements: Sun to light shade Soil/Moisture: Tolerates a variety of soils but prefers fertile, moist, well drained soil; once established is drought tolerant Form/Texture: Clump with arching narrow green leaves Inflorescence: Silver white plumes with a pink blush; remains attractive until mid winter; good in dried arrangements; female plants produce more showy plumes than male plants Scientific Name: Festuca glauca Common Name: Blue fescue Height: 6 to 10” Light Requirements: Prefers full sun (best color) but will tolerate light shade Soil/Moisture: Well drained, moist to dry soil Form/Texture: Fine texture; Dense tufted mound Inflorescence: Flowers in early summer; prune off to maintain quality foliage Scientific Name: Elymusarenarius (Leymusarenarius) Common Name: Blue lyme grass Height: 3 to 4’ Light Requirements: Sun or light shade Soil/Moisture: Tolerant of wet and dry soil Form/Texture: Coarse texture; spreading; irregular to narrow upright habit Inflorescence: Narrow, blue green spike in early summer that turns beige Scientific Name: Helictotrichorsem pervirens (Avenasem pervirens) Common Name: Blue oats grass Height: 2 1/2’ Light Requirements: Sun to partial shade Soil/Moisture: Prefers fertile, well drained soil; keep moist Form/Texture: Clump forming; dense tuft of upright silver-blue foliage Inflorescence: Delicate inflorescence in late

spring on 2’ slender arching stems Scientific Name: Miscanthus sinensis var.

Condensatus ‘Cabaret’ Common Name: Cabaret miscanthus Height: 9’ Light Requirements: Sun to light shade Soil/Moisture: Grows in a variety of soil types but prefers well drained soil Form/Texture: Sturdy upright Inflorescence: Flower stems deep pink in late September Scientific Name: Pleiodlastus variegatus Common Name: Compact white striped bamboo Height: 8 to 24” Light Requirements: Sun to partial shade Soil/Moisture: Average soil and moisture; drought tolerant Form/Texture: Spreading ground cover Inflorescence: Grown for foliage

Pampas grass- Cortaderia selloana

Landscaping

Scientific Name: Rhychospora latifolia Common Name: Broad-leaf whitetop sedge; Star sedge Height: 32” Light Requirements: Sun to light shade Soil/Moisture: Native to moist sandy soil; moist soil to shallow water; do not allow to dry out Form/Texture: Upright Scientific Name: Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yaku Jima’ Common Name: Dwarf miscanthus Height: 3 to 5’ Light Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Grows in a variety of soil types but prefers well drained soil Form/Texture: Fine texture Inflorescence: Copper plumes mature to silver Scientific Name: Pennisetum alopecuroides Common Name: Fountain grass Height: 2 to 4’ Light Requirements:Sun to partial shade Soil/Moisture: Well drained, moderately fertile soil; moderate drought tolerance Form/Texture: Upright, open mound; fine texture Inflorescence: Dense, cylindrical inflorescence from mid-summer to fall; colour ranges from dark purple to cream white; good in fresh or dry arrangements; shatters before winter Scientific Name: Arundo donax Common Name: Giant reed Height: 14 to 20’ Light Requirements: Prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade May 2013

25 Floriculture Today

Landscaping Karley Rose’ Pennisetum orientale

Soil/Moisture: Grows in a variety of soils; drought tolerant Form/Texture: Upright stems with coarse, gray-green 3 inch wide leaves Inflorescence: 1-2’ inflorescence opens with a reddish brown cast; drys to full puffy, silver; excellent in dried arrangements Scientific Name: Hakonechloa macro var. Aureola Common Name: Golden hakonech loa Height: 1 to 2’ Light Requirements: Partial shade Soil/Moisture: Moist, well drained soil Form/Texture: Clump Inflorescence: Grown for foliage Scientific Name: Hakonechloa macro Common Name: Hakone grass Height: 1 to 3’ Light Requirements: Sun; prefers a cool, site; in south plant in shade Soil/Moisture: Moist, high organic, well drained soil Form/Texture: Arching stems form a loose, cascading mound Inflorescence: Subtle Scientifi Name: Lagurus ovatus Common Name: Hare’s tail grass

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Height: 12 to 24” Light Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Light very well drained soil Form/Texture: Fine texture; usually single stems Inflorescence: White oval panicles are furry; good cut flower Scientific Name: Sorphaatum nutans Common Name: Indian grass Height: 5 to 7’ Light Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Tolerates a range of soil conditions including clay; drought tolerant Form/Texture: Clump Inflorescence: Copper inflorescence with yellow pollen sacs in August; narrows upon drying becoming chestnut brown; remains attractive most of winter; good in fresh or dry arrangements Scientific Name: Imperata cylindrical var. koenigii Common Name: Japanese blood grass Height: 1 to 2’ Light Requirements: Sun to partial shade Soil/Moisture: Prefers moist to wet soil;

drought tolerant after established Form/Texture: Moderate texture; upright narrow Inflorescence: Grow for foliage; rarely flowers Scientific Name: Koeleriaglauca Common Name: Large blue hair grass Height: 2’ Light Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Moist to moderately dry soil Form/Texture: Fine tufts; upright Inflorescence: Light green and translucent inflourences dry to buff color Scientific Name: Schizachyrium scoparium Common Name: Little bluestem Height: 2 to 4’ Light Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Variety of soil types; does not persist with moist soil and high fertility; drought tolerant Form/Texture: Upright; open to spreading fine texture; subject to lodging Inflorescence: Delicate and inconspicuous inflorescence in late summer; becomes silvery when dried; remains attractive in winter

Landscaping Scientific Name: Nassella tenuissima Common Name: Mexican feather grass Height: 2’ Light Requirements: Sun to light shade Soil/Moisture: Prefers well drained soil; very drought tolerant Form/Texture: Fine texture Inflorescence: Silvery inflorescence summer to fall; becomes light straw color in fall Scientific Name: Ophiopogon japonicus Common Name: Mondograss Habit: Evergreen Growth Rate: Moderate Size: Height 6 to 10 inches Site Requirements: Sun to shade; needs well-drained soil Form: Grasslike clumps or mounds Texture: Fine Foliage: Dark green grasslike leaves Flower/Fruit: Light lilac to white flowers in summer; blue glove-shaped fruit Scientific Name: Pennisetum orientale Common Name: Oriental fountain grass Height: 1 to 2’ Light Requirements: Sun to shade Soil/Moisture: Requires well drained soil Form/Texture: Low growing; densely compact clump Inflorescence: Fluffy, nearly white inflorescence with pink tones summer to fall Scientific Name: Phormium texax Common Name: New Zeland flax Height: 8 to 9; some compact cultivars Light Requirements: Sun to partial shade Soil/Moisture: Average, well drained soil Form/Texture: Crowded clumps Inflorescence: Reddish brown trumpet shaped flowers on tall naked stalks Scientific Name: Rhychospora latifolia Common Name: Broad-leaf whitetop sedge; Star sedge, Height: 32” Light Requirements: Sun to light shade Soil/Moisture: Native to moist sandy soil; moist soil to shallow water; do not allow to dry out, Form/Texture: Upright Inflorescence: Bracts with white base; good cut flower - fresh or dry Scientific Name: Sesleria autumnalis Common Name: Autumn moor grass Height: 15 to 20” Light Requirements: Sun or partial shade Soil/Moisture: Well drained soil; drought tolerant

Form/Texture: Tufted mound Inflorescence: Held erect; late summer to fall; becomes silvery white Scientific Name : Sesleria heufleriana Common Name: Blue green moor grass Height: 15” Light Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Well drained soil Form/Texture: Tufted mound Inflorescence: Early spring flowers are black with cream yellow pollen sacs Scientific Name: Spartina pectinata Common Name: Cord grass Prairie Height: 4 to 6’ Light Requirements: Sun to light shade Soil/Moisture: Tolerates a range of soil types Form/Texture: Strong upright to arching stems; medium to coarse Inflorescence: Stiff open panicles Scientific Name: Spodiopogon sibiricus Common Name: Spodiopogon; Siberian graybeard; Frost grass Height: 4’ Light Requirements: Prefers light shade Soil/Moisture: Moist, well drained soil; not drought tolerant Form/Texture: Upright; rounded clump Inflorescence: Erect panicles in late summer; lack appreciable color but covered with small hairs; attractive till October Scientific Name: Sporobolis airoides Common Name: Alkali dropseed Height: 5’ L i g h t Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Tolerates a wide range of soil types; drought tolerant Form/Texture: Coarse texture; clump; loose flowing mound Inflorescence: Open panicles in summer; strong pink cast; dry to silver

Name: Prairie droopseed Height: 15” Light Requirements: Sun to light shade Soil/Moisture: Tolerates a range of soils; very drought tolerant Form/Texture: Thread like leaves; dense, flowing mound; fine texture Inflorescence: Scented, open panicles held high above foliage in late summer Scientific Name: Stipa tenacissima Common Name: Needle grass; Esparto grass; Mexican feather grass Light Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Good drainage Form/Texture: Coarse; tufted clump with basil foliage Inflorescence: Silvery green inflorescence early summer and fall Scientific Name: Vetiveria zizanioides Common Name: Khus Khus, Vettiver Height: 8’, Light Requirements: Sun Form/Texture: Tight vertical clump Inflorescence: Narrow panicles in late summer Comments: Warm season grass; light green, narrow leaves; erect but bends near leaf tip; good container plant; bronze purple fall color Scientific Name: Zea mays cvs Common Name: Striped corn; Variegated corn Height: 3 to 15’ Light Requirements: Sun Soil/Moisture: Moist well drained soil Form/Texture: Upright Inflorescence: Typical corn tassel n

Scientific Name: Sporobolus heterolepisis C o m m o n

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Floriculture Today 28 May 2013

May 2013

29 Floriculture Today

Landscaping

Urban Landscaping

Sustainable Approaches for Efficient Use of Water

by Dr. Manish Kumar Sharma Assistant Professor (Horticulture), College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, Tharad (Gujarat)

G

lobally, it is to be noted that, beyond the strictly aesthetic aspects of landscaping, serious consideration is important for a number of reasons. If properly designed and maintained, landscapes can mitigate the environmental impact of urbanization by improving air quality, reducing energy consumption and providing groundwater recharge. Urban landscapes also can serve to improve water quality by reducing storm water runoff and soil erosion as well as for other climatic architectural and engineering uses, including temperature Floriculture Today 30 May 2013

modification and glare control.

Cities have long been the world’s economic dynamos, but today the speed and scale of their expansion are unprecedented. The Mckinsey Global Institute (MGI) analysis show globally city growth and increased income will boost municipal water demand, set to increase more than 40 percent by 2025 from current levels. East and South Asia will account for more than 50 percent of this increase in water consumption.

In India, the performance of cities is poor across key indications of quality of life such as water supply quantity and available open space and park.

At present, the availability of per capita water for urban user is only 105 litres/day, which is below to the basic service standard (150 litres/capita/day).

Similarly, the available open space and park is merely 2.7 square meter per capita, which is very low than the basic service standard (9.0 m2/capita) for urban inhabitants.

Landscape irrigation, is one of many urban water uses. Landscape irrigation includes water used to irrigate household and commercial landscapes, i.e., watering lawns and outdoor plants, trees and shrubs. The importance of landscape irrigation from both,

Landscaping environmental and economic points of view, is not properly understood in India and this subject remained more or less neglected. However, in the past decades, landscape irrigation has attained importance and made considerable progress.

Until there is possibly no municipality or urban water regularity board in the country, has a separate division of landscape irrigation.

At the present time, it is difficult to measure precisely how much water is used for landscape irrigation. Most city dweller’s water use is metered, but customer meters rarely segregate outdoor water use from total water use, and hardly any water providers offer separate meters for outdoor uses. Therefore, most of the calculations of how much and when water is used outdoors in cities is clubbed with other domestic uses in most of the cities. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to note that during past decade or so, almost all the municipal organisation started to consider landscape watering as one of the major user for urban water regulation.

Water efficiency can be measured in terms of durability, water saving, cost savings, landscape water use per capita, labour saving and better aesthetic development. Microirrigation technology is a method for efficient use of water and a derived method of assisting efficient use of other inputs that are given along with water.

Successful adoption of technologies requires technology and economic efficiency for target users and they must be easily accessible to the urban inhabitants. Following are the issues in the use of technology, excess irrigation, poor irrigation scheduling, inefficient irrigation system and practices, total neglect of fertigation process, incorrect soil preparation, power supply, lack of guidance, sheer laziness, apathy towards recommended practices and norms about what constitute an attractive and functional landscape.

Significant cost reduction can be achieved through appropriate horticultural measures like selection of native plants, plant geometry, improving soil properties, appropriate water quality and optimizing material, training and pruning, introduction of rain garden and xeriscaping concepts.

Recommendations vis-Ă -vis role of each stakeholders.

Industry v Come up with innovative, customized, practical and cost effective technologies and technological solutions for landscaping. v Should be total system suppliers and not component suppliers v Should be capable of keeping stocks of all

v v v

v

necessary material in urban areas along with adequate marketing infrastructure, delivery system and reach.

Should keep adequate expertise in irrigation system design and landscaping.

Conduct trainings on water efficient technologies for urban water ushers.

Should update the requirements continually based on accurate urban area, plant requirements and water quality information.

Should be work with public agencies and other organizations for capacity building.

Muncipal Organization/ Government v A separate landscape irrigation division should be formed in each municipality. v Uniform pricing should be adopted for all components of precise landscape irrigation across a city. v Encourage reuse of municipal water or grey water for irrigation purposes, among other and efficient water use practices. v Encourage easy accessibility of water efficient technology for urban water ushers. v Encourage improvement in irrigation technology (including automation, use of moisture sensors, and evapotranspiration (ET) data. v Organize campaign to create awareness in urban water ushers on efficient urban landscape water practices and water conservation. v There should not be any municipal water supply without precise irrigation system for residential landscapes and kitchen gardens. v Introduction of water-efficient techniques in municipal gardens, recreational places, landscape of public offices and institutes.

Significant cost reduction can be achieved through appropriate horticultural measures like selection of native plants, plant geometry, improving soil properties, appropriate water quality and optimizing material, training and pruning, introduction of rain garden and xeriscaping concepts

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31 Floriculture Today

Landscaping v Power connections and approval of urban architectural design of building should be prioritized and microirrigation should be given as priority for landscape irrigation. v All taxes and duties pertaining to precise irrigation systems and components for urban landscape should be exempted. v Bank should finance home loans involving precise irrigation system more liberally in urban areas. v Promote various water conservation measures like xeriscaping, use of native vegetations in landscaping, horticultural practices (land preparation, training, pruning, fertigation, etc) and plant disease and pest management. v Introduce subsidies or other incentives for encouraging water efficient technologies in urban areas facing acute water shortage.

City Dwellers / Archetchts / Landscapers/ End Users v Treat the precise irrigation system as an asset and learn to maintain it.

Floriculture Today 32 May 2013

v

v

v v v Increase landscape area under precise irrigation system and water efficient practices. v Incorporate native plants, Rain gardens and xeriscaping on priority in designing urban landscapes. v Adopt precise irrigation technology according to soil analysis and water quality, especially in large public landscape. v Add organic and inorganic amendments to soils that have been compacted or altered during development. The amendments can improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil to hold water and improve water and nutrient movement throughout the soil.

Follow landscape irrigation scheduling or adopt automatization or moisture sensors.

Follow horticultural practices like soil preparation, mulching, training and pruning, mulching, fertigation as a norm and increase aesthetics.

Adopt integrated pest management Assist municipal organization, NGOs and industry in transfer of technology.

Researchers v Recommendations for selection of water efficient plants in the country urgently need verification by researchers. v As a water feature, research into different aspects of the technology in very fragmented. v Generate irrigation scheduling as per physiological stages, plant use in aesthetic, soil properties, energy load and users ease, etc for various cities in India through systemic city research. v A more concerted effort and public private partnership in research and extension seems to be the need of the hour. n

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35 Floriculture Today

Landscaping

Changi: Dazzling Horticulture Landscape Terminal

by Lakshmi Krupa

I

wait for my hosts in the lobby of Crowne Plaza (the hotel at Singapore’s Changi airport) that wears a deliberately muted look so as to not be harsh on the eyes of the transiting traveller. It’s striking how, at this bustling port city, the past jets seamlessly into the present.

Today, Singapore continues to act as a window to the East for most travellers.

It’s also why, for a lot of people, Singapore begins and ends with a visit to Changi. The people behind the scenes realise this and ensure that the airport celebrates it, by bringing in as much of the outside world into Changi as they can. Thank large-scale art installations, gardens, butterflies and over 500 trees — all of which co-exist with advanced technology and a design mantra that reflects a deep understanding of the fact that travel can be stressful.

Melvin Leong and Eugene Wong of Changi, who took on the noble task of helping me shed a few kilos by walking Floriculture Today 36 May 2013

me all over the massive Changi over two whole days, guide me towards Terminal 1 (T1), the oldest and the one with the most renovations. The décor here reflects Singapore’s tropical climate, with actual trees and full-fledged gardens maintained by the airport’s in-house horticulturalists. T1’s most famous stop, however, is the sculpture Kinetic Rain. It features 1,216 copper raindrops, weighing over 24 tonnes, creating 16 different patterns in air such as an airplane or a dragon. It even uses strings from an old fountain that stood in the same terminal back when it was first set up. The cactus garden has over 40 varieties of cacti from Golden Barrels to Prickly Pears and is a unique addition to the airport.

The Eastern end has an outdoor deck, with lily-pads that catch rainwater and offer passengers a chance to breathe in fresh air. And if you feel like a dip, there’s the rooftop pool and Jacuzzis.

The tropical theme continues near the

check-in counters where a stainless tree sculpture reflects abundant daylight.

But what caught my fancy the most at T1 was the Canopy next to the viewing mall (from where you can watch flights take off). The play area for children has artificial tree barks with patterns embedded on them. There are papers and crayons. What’s not to love? After spending a few minutes scribbling away until a beautiful pattern emerged, I was still not in the mood to leave, until my hosts gently reminded me that there were two more terminals to see.

Taking a skytrain to the next terminal, T2, designed in the shape of a palm leaf, I arrive at the entertainment deck where passengers take their gaming seriously. I see Playstations and Xboxes keep young ones and the young-at-heart busy. T2 is also home to a sunflower garden, an orchid garden as well as a movie theatre (which is there in all the terminals), where you can catch a movie for free, anytime during the day.

Landscaping But the most breathtaking sight I witnessed unfolded in front of me at T3 — I saw a caterpillar emerge from a cocoon at the Butterfly Garden, which has more than 1,000 butterflies, designed in a way that allows the breeding of the insects in a natural as well as protected manner. Next to the garden is a Koi Pond, featuring Koi fish. T3 is also the most energy-efficient of the terminals with over 900 skylights that bring in abundant light. The slide at this terminal is most tempting. Reminds me of days spent travelling from one floor of my apartment building to another sliding down the railing; you can actually slide down four storeys on these fun shiny things!

It’s not just the fun things but the little thoughtful things, all for free, that make Changi different. Like the charging stations with keys where you can put your phone in a locker to charge, take the keys, go shopping and collect it later, or the free Wifi, gym, and lounge chairs where you can stretch before boarding.

If you’ve got over two hours at Changi and haven’t seen the city yet,

The décor here reflects Singapore’s tropical climate, with actual trees and fullfledged gardens maintained by the airport’s in-house horticulturalists

sign up for the Free Singapore Tour.

You hand in your passport and go on a guided tour of the city, and even stop for pictures in front of the famous Merlion in Marina Bay. But like me, if you check in early, don’t worry, there are over 330 retail stores, and when you buy at the airport they absorb the GST too. P.S. Wear walking shoes. You’ll thank me for this tip later. n (Courtesy: The Hindu Businessline)

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39 Floriculture Today

Water Management

“Crucial Role of Water Management in Remunerative Floriculture”

F

loriculture is one of the upcoming sectors which has a lot of potential of scaling up to become a remunerative option for enthusiastic farmers in India. Growing at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about 30%, India’s Floriculture industry is likely to cross 8000 crore mark by 2015, (as per ASSOCHAM’s survey , Feb 2013). India’s annual domestic demand for flowers is growing at a rate of over 25% and the international demand is also growing steadily while, India’s share in the global floral trade is still very small (0.34%).

For making our presence felt in the international flower market and increasing the exports, it is imperative for us to improve our floral produce both in quantity and quality. This can be achieved through working simultaneously on multiple fronts such as using high yielding cultivars resistant to diseases and pests, better crop management practices, effective and timely nutrient management practices, water management, temperature controlled storage facilities, cold chain systems and faster moving marketing channels.

Water management through Drip Irrigation (method of applying water

Due to computer error an unedited version of this article was published in the previous issue leading to few typographical mistakes. Hence we are republishing the same article. ...Editor

by Amit Shukla (Vice President, Marketing) and Nivedita Sharma (Deputy Manager, Marketing) Harvel Agua India Private Limited Amit Shukla

drop by drop to the root zone of the plant thereby making it available to the plant on the right time, at the right place, in the right quantity) can play a major role in making floriculture crops more remunerative and profitable. The additional benefits of Drip Irrigation system over the conventional methods of irrigation are listed below: a) Better Water Use Efficiency b) Improved Soil Health: This leads to reduced incidence of fungal diseases and infections which are caused due to excessive soil moisture. c) Reduced Energy and Fertilizer cost : Leading to Cost saving d) Increased Production e) Improvement in quality of the End produce In order to make the DIS (Drip

Nivedita Sharma

Irrigation System) successful in a floral field, a few points need to be taken into consideration at three important stages viz, before installation, during installation and after installation. Three of these have been detailed as under.

1)

BEFORE INSTALLATION At the time of designing of a DIS, a few things are to be considered. They are: a) The number of available electricity hours, b) Selection of appropriate Technology

b.1) Online Drip emitters

b.2) Inline Drip emitters

b.3) Micro Sprinklers

b.4) Mini Sprinklers etc c) Selection of Dripper Spacing based

on Crop and Soil requirements d) Selection of appropriate Filtration

system Basic Parameters to Judge a good quality Drip Irrigation System Emitting devices and filters are the two key components of a DIS. Some guiding principles which can be used while selecting the emitting devices and filters are given below a) Emitting Devices Choosing a dripper with a uniform discharge is the prime prerequisite as

Floriculture Today 40 May 2013

Water Management uniformity of discharge is a factor that has direct impact on the health and quality of the crop. Uniformity of dripper can be assessed by knowing its Category under which it has been approved under BIS. Whether it is Category A (Emitters having a higher uniformity of emission rate and smaller deviation from specific nominal emission rate i.e. < 5%) or Category B (Emitters having lower uniformity of emission rate and greater deviation from specified nominal emission rate i.e. < 10%).

Both Category A and Category B drippers are available in the market. Therefore, this parameter can act as a guiding principle for floriculturists. Choosing a Category A dripline ensures better quality produce and thus better returns. b) Filters Various filter options are available for DIS b.1) Hydrocyclone Filter b.2) Sand/ Media Filter b.3) Screen and Disc Filters Selection of a single or a combination of the above filters depends on the water source and quality.

Three guiding parameters which can be used while choosing the Screen/ Disc filters are: i) Filtration Surface: This parameter is directly proportional to the effectiveness of the filtration. In the filters with 2 inch Inlet size which are generally used in agricultural applications in India, the Filtration surface area varies from 750 cm square to 1200 cm square. Therefore, opting for a filter whose surface area is close to 1200 cm square will yield better results. ii)Helical effect in the filter: Hydrocyclone effect in the base of the Disc filters which leads to reduced flushing frequency. iii)Filter with adequate Filtration Degree: In agricultural applications in DIS, mostly 130 micron filters are used. On the other hand, if you are using a Fogging system with particle size around 100 micron, you will require a filter with a greater filtration degree.

2) DURING INSTALLATION a) Proper Tools: Tools of appropriate

size for punching of PVC Pipe and microtube into the laterals should be used.

b)

Correct Sequencing: Correct Sequencing of all the components of the Drip Irrigation system should be done so as to avoid problematic situations even when you have the best quality product.

c)

Proper Adjustment of the Ventury: Ventury is an integral part of the DIS. Maximum benefit from Drip Irrigation can be extracted from Drip Irrigation only through Nutrigation/ Fertigation. Three parameters are critical for Ventury: Motive Flow, Pressure at the Inlet of the Ventury and Pressure at the Outlet of the Ventury. Please make sure to match the above parameters with the Technical Catalogue of the manufacturer.

The fertigation can be automated as well by using Automated Controlllers for Fertigation through which multiple valves can be regulated at a given point of time to provide a combination of fertilizers. Apart from this, other parameter like EC and pH can also be controlled through these Controllers. d)

Experienced Technician: Make sure the installation is done under

the guidance of an experienced technician. e)

Flushing immediately after Installation: The complete system should be flushed with water immediately after the installation so that any sand or gravel particles that have got into the pipes at the time of installation get flushed out.

f)

Fertigation Scheduling*: Will differ based on the type of crop and the soil.

3) AFTER INSTALLATION Following practices must be followed to keep the system running effectively: a) Cleaning of the filter: To be undertaken at regular intervals b)

Flushing of the system: Also to be done periodically.

c)

Acid Treatment*: So as to flush out all salts/ impurities that have been deposited in the system over a period of time. As a regular practise, it should always be undertaken after the completion of a crop season.

(* Should be taken from the Expert Agronomists of the DIS Suppliers) Note: The Cost of the system falls in the range of Rs 30-50/ sq m depending on the sophistication in the technology desired.

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41 Floriculture Today

Crop Protection

INDO-DUTCH JOINT PROJECT

Koppert demonstrates its crop-protection solutions in India

R

ecently, Koppert showcased a biological crop protection demonstration project at Namdhari Fresh, Bidadi, near Bangalore. The purpose was to show visitors effective pest-control methods by using biological control agents. The event saw massive participation of Dutch experts and Indian stakeholders, and media from both countries.

Koppert, a Dutch company specialising in biological crop protection, has partnered with Namdhari Fresh to develop crop protection suitable to Indian conditions.

The main aim of the partnership is to meet the global standards on pesticide residue and minimise the impact of pesticides on people. To achieve this, a demonstration plot on Namdhari’s land in Bidadi near Bangalore was set up to develop crop protection solutions under protected (polyhouse) conditions.

“The project is being supported by Dutch government through the public-private partnership through its FoodtechHolland,” Arie Veldhuizen, Agriculture Attaché, Royal Dutch Embassy, said.

The demonstration was attended by this publication’s correspondent and the media from the Netherlands. Several Indian growers and officials of the government organizations were also present.

“The relevance of this project is linked to India promoting integrated pest management and greenhouse cultivation to improve productivity and quality of the fresh produce, thereby to drive higher export volumes,” he added.

GETS AUTHORISATION As part of the project, Koppert India has been granted authorisation for five biological beneficial to combat the most common pests, including thrips, spider mite and aphids, in vegetable and ornamental crops.

“Adopting biological crop protection has several benefits.

“It is a small market at present but it is growing. This system has social benefit, which is more than commercial,” explained Uday Singh, Managing Director, Namdhari group.

Koppert is experimenting on Indian soil the application of Spical (Neoseiulus californicus), Spidex (Phytoseiulus persimilis),

Floriculture Today 42 May 2013

Swirski-Mite (Amblyseius swirskii), Aphipar (Aphidius colemani), and Thripor-L (Orius laevigatus).

‘HUGE DEMAND’ “We see there is a huge demand for natural and biological solutions in India and the market in which the majority of the population is vegetarian,” said Robert Pathuis Director, Koppert.

“We are exploring a number of States around Karnataka — such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra — to offer biological crop protection systems,” he added.

Crop Protection

Koppert Biological Systems sets up a base in ‘Incredible India’

Managing Director Henri Oosthoek congratulates manager Udayanarayana Bhat with the establishment of Koppert India in front of the India Gate, the national monument of India.

K

According to Wouter van Vliet, Managing Director, Larive, the agency assisting companies with doing business in emerging markets, “This initiative is a follow-up on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Indo-Dutch Joint Agriculture working group between India and the Netherlands signed on May 24, 2012.”

“The MoU addresses knowledge transfer in horticultural practice and the project aims to contribute directly to India’s export of fresh produce and polyhouse cultivation,” he added.

Koppert is the international market leader in the field of biological crop protection

and natural pollination. Koppert has a reputation internationally for reliability, innovation and quality.

The ongoing research and continuous production of beneficials and pollinators contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture and horticulture world-wide.

An important characteristic of Koppert is the involvement in the everyday world of agricultural businesses. Koppert has a results-oriented research and development department, and world-wide network of contacts. Large-scale production of natural enemies and pollinators takes place in modern production facilities.

oppert had previously already opened branches in China and South Korea. The company has tapped into a new market full of opportunities in ‘Incredible India’. India is playing an increasingly prominent role in the export and biological markets in particular. In addition, professional covered greenhouse horticulture is developing strongly in the country of more than 1.2 billion inhabitants.

Managing director Henri Oosthoek refers to India as one of the BRIC countries, a very important and promising market for Koppert. ‘There is a huge demand for natural and biological solutions in a market in which the majority of the population is vegetarian.’

By taking this step, Koppert is also supporting the efforts of the Indian population to improve food security and safety, public health, and biodiversity within agriculture and horticulture.

Koppert India’s operating base is Bangalore, the capital of the state of Karnataka. Here, the climate conditions are favourable for horticulture, and the number of greenhouse projects is increasing rapidly. The sales focus will be primarily on natural enemies and microbiological products for greenhouse cultivation of vegetables and flowers. A number of states around Karnataka - such as Kerala and Maharashtra - are also in the picture.

The expectation is that biological crop protection below ground and above ground will become available for the whole of India over the coming years.

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Floriculture Today 44 May 2013

May 2013

45 Floriculture Today

Bottle Gardening

Beautiful Terrariums

for indoor decoration

by Dr. A. Shanthi and N. Deepa Devi

An important factor to be considered is the type of light each plant needs. Don’t combine a plant that likes bright light with several other plants that prefer mostly shade. If they’re not compatible, some plants will suffer. It’s a good idea to avoid flowering plants. Why? Many of them have different light requirements throughout the year. Also, dead flowers may be difficult to remove and will rot. Need another reason? Most flowers require good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew and fungus

T

errarium is also called as Jar or Bottle gardening. The principle for all the three is the same, the only difference being the shape and style of the container. A jar made of glass having tall sides with or without lid is good as this conserves moisture. A bottle should be wide at the bottom with taller sides and a narrow but wide enough (2–3 cm dia opening) mouth for enabling the plants to be inserted.

What is a terrarium?

A terrarium is a miniature landscape with living plants. A terrarium is a glass bowl of 20 to 30cm dia having an air – tight lid.

Bottle can be placed either vertically or horizontally. Bottle garden may be called as miniature green house. It can be displayed on a table, a stand, or a well lit window. Aquarium tank can also serve the purpose.

Tools Required Trowel: An old tea spoon from kitchen can be taken to which a 60cm long bamboo cane can be fixed as a handle.

Fork cum rake: A narrow old table fork may be used.

Tongs: Metal tongs may be used Rammer: A 60cm long bamboo cane is fixed to the central hole of a cotton reel.

Planting Procedure v Compost is prepared out of equal parts of good garden loam, leaf mould, peat moss and sand. Compost must be sterilized to prevent fungus growth. v For drainage, 2.5cm layer of charcoal and gravel is placed in equal proportion. v The compost is made slightly damp and poured inside the jar with the help of a long tubed funnel.

Floriculture Today 46 May 2013

Tools Required for Making a Terrarium

Trowel

Fork cum rake Tongs Rammer

Required Tools

Bottle Gardening Compost is leveled with fork and rammer.

Compost when placed in a sloping manner offers increased display of plants. v A 25 liter bottle requires 5 – 7cm drainage material and 10 – 12 cm of compost. Holes are made at desired location using trowel. v Planting is done with the help of tongs from periphery to the center. v Inserting of plants need patience. Plants like Dracaena, Sansevieria, Fittonia, Rex begonia may be used v Roots are covered with the trowel, while the plant is held in position with the tongs. Soils around roots are pressed with rammer. Larger plants at the center are planted last v Coloured pebbles may be used to add beauty, variety and colour. Shells and small toys can also be used. v The sides of the container should be freed from soil by misting using a hand sprayer. Then the mouth of the bottle is closed with a stopper and the bottle is not watered for the next 2 months. v Bottle gardening needs very little watering as water evaporates, condenses and goes back to the compost. v An open mouthed jar needs more frequent watering than a narrow mouthed bottle with stopper. v A tube is used for watering. Over watering should be avoided.

Misting may be done at 2 months interval. Liquid manure may be added. (30g NH4SO4, 30g K2SO4, 60g H2PO4) in 10 liters of water. Two table spoonful of this solution would be sufficient for an average sized bottle. v Direct heat will over heat plants. Any diseased leaf may be removed using a razor attached to a stick. v Mealy bugs and aphids may pose problems. A cotton dipped in alcohol can be inserted with the help of tong and rubbed on plants and insects.

v v

Prayer Plant

Parlor Palm

What Type of Plants to Grow Many plants will thrive in humid conditions. Look for small or slow-growing plants that won’t take over the terrarium. Those with dense foliage are especially attractive.

Suggestions for Terrarium Plants v Prayer Plant v Maidenhair Fern v Parlor Palm v Bird’s Nest Fern v Nerve Plant v Peperomia caperata ‘Little Fantasy’ v Hedera helix ‘Itsy Bitsy’ (Mini English Ivy) v Selaginella martensii (Little Club Moss) v Sonerila species v Polka Dot Plant Another important factor to be considered is the type of light each plant needs. Don’t combine a plant that likes bright light with several other plants that prefer mostly shade. If they’re not compatible, some plants will suffer. It’s a good idea to avoid flowering plants. Why? Many of them have different light requirements throughout the year. Also, dead flowers may

Nerve Plant

Maidenhair Fern

Bird’s Nest Fern

Sonerila species

‘Itsy Bitsy’ Little Club Moss (Mini English Ivy)

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Bottle Gardening be difficult to remove and will rot. Need another reason? Most flowers require good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew and fungus.

Tips for Preparing Plants Pinch off growing tips and prune tall or spreading plants to keep plants from getting too big. Also, prune any yellow or dead leaves because they will attract mold in the humid environment of a terrarium. It’s easier to groom them now than after they’re planted. Before placing any plant to your terrarium, look carefully for insects, fungus, mildew or root rot. It is always better to avoid such problems in the miniature eco system, because they are especially contagious under glass.

How to Care for Terrarium Plants v Good news! Once your terrarium is planted with suitable plants, the after-care part is easy. Your plants will thrive nestled in their virtually self-sustaining environment, away from drafts and dry air. Here are a few helpful tips to keep terrarium plants healthy: v Water sparingly. After planting, mist your plants or trickle water onto the potting mix to moisten it. Once established, you’ll only need to water them once every month or two.

Watch your plants. If they’re beginning to wilt, add a little water. Always water lightly. Too much water is difficult to get rid of because it evaporates slowly in an enclosed container. v Don’t let it get steamy. Condensation on the inside of the

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v

v

glass can be a problem, especially immediately after planting and watering for the first time. If the glass mists over and will not clear, leave the terrarium open for a few hours to allow excess moisture to escape. After the garden has settled down, it shouldn’t be necessary to ventilate it again.

Give it light. Put your terrarium where it will get plenty of bright light, but out of direct sun. Direct sunlight shining through the glass for as little as an hour or two will cook the plants. Don’t have a bright location for your terrarium?

Artificial lighting works wonderfully, too.

Pinch and Prune. Remove dying leaves as soon as you notice them. They are likely to rot and attract fungus. You’ll help some plants branch out by pinching off growing tips, creating bushier, more attractive plants. Pinching also helps control their height so plants don’t outgrow their containers. Let’s try out a simple terrarium.

What you need to make this Soda Bottle Terrarium v One 2-liter bottle (with cap) v Potting Soil v A handful of small stones or pebbles vA Marker v Scissors v Seeds v Seedlings (small plants) this is optional if you want to start right out with plants in your terrarium Extra: If you want to make a really good terrarium you would also use activated charcoal and spaghnum moss.

Bottle Gardening Here is how you arrange the materials in your bottle from the bottom up: ( Items 2,3 and 5 are optional) 1. Pebbles 2. Activated Charcoal 3. Spaghnum or Spanish Moss 4. Soil 5. More moss 6. Plants v

v

v

v v

Why Pebbles? The pebbles at the bottom allow excess water to flow to the bottom of the bottle. This will prevent it from soaking the soil and making it muddy. As the temperature inside the bottle rises from sunlight the water will be drawn up into the bottle. It becomes like the earth with a nice cycle of water flow just like rain. Dew will even collect on the inside top of your bottle then slowly drip down onto the plants like rain.

Why the Activated Charcoal? If you put a thin layer of charcoal (1/2 inch) in your terrarium it acts as a filter purifying the water as it flows up and down. The plants and the bacteria in the soil can cause the inside of the terrarium to get very dirty and even to rot. You can purchase this kind of charcoal at an aquarium store or any well stocked pet store.

Why the Sphagnum or Spanish Moss? This simply acts as a screen to prevent your soil from settling down into the rocks yet it allows the water to flow smoothly.

Why the Soil? Plants will absorb the nutrients from the soil with their roots.

Why the Moss on the top of the soil? This is just to make it look nicer! It is totally optional.

Step 1: Draw a line around the bottle about six inches up. Use a neat little trick to make a nice straight line. You can rest the marker on the top of an upside down coffee cup then rotate the 2 liter bottle. It makes a nice straight line.

Step 2: Cut the bottle along the line with a pair of scissors. You may need to start a small hole in the bottle before you can cut it with the scissors. Please ask a parent or adult to help you with this cutting of the bottle.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to water your terrarium before placing the top on. The soil should be moist but not soaked.

Step 6: Now place the top on. It is better to squeeze the top onto the bottom so the top is on the outside Step 7: If you have trouble fitting the two pieces together you can cut a slit about halfway down the bottom half of the bottle. This will help it close up a bit and make it easier to fit the top over it.

Step 8: Congratulations your terrarium is completed. In a few days your seeds should germinate and in no time you will have a soda bottle terrarium that looks as nice as this one.

Taking Care of Your Soda Bottle Terrarium v There are two important factors you have to consider when it comes to your terrarium, the amount of sunlight it gets and the amount of water that is inside. v Once the plants have sprouted you should make sure it gets sunlight but do not leave it in direct sunlight for the entire day. It is a closed environment and it can get very hot inside. v Water - Look carefully at the soil in the terrarium. It should look moist but not soaked or too dry. Beads of water should form on the top inside near edge and these will drip down the sides and continue to water the soil. If it appears to be too wet you can take the top off and leave it uncovered for a day or two. v Why not try having a terrarium at home? Sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get an attractive terrarium and your neighbors will envy when displayed indoor. n (Dr. A. Shanthi is Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Karaikal, and N. Deepa Devi is Ph.D Scholar, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College & Research Institute, TNAU, Madurai)

Step 3: Place a handful of stones in the bottom half of the bottle. About 1-2 inches deep should be good.

Step 4: Place your other materials in the bottle. The charcoal then the moss then the soil. If you are not using charcoal or moss then just place the soil in. Fill it to about 1 inch from the top.

Step 5: Now Plant your seeds! You should plant 6 to 10 seeds and later as they grow you can pluck out some of the weaker ones and leave the 2 or 3 best ones.

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Profile

A.K.S.V.NURSERY: Landscapersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; favourite nursery Ratnam Ayyappa Ratnam Dorababu

A.K.S.V. Nursery, established in 2008, is located in fertile delta of river Godavari, in village burrilanka which is 12 km away from historical city Rajahmundry. Extending in 50 acres, it is run by young enthusiastic nursery men Ratnam Ayyappa and his brother Ratnam Dora Babu. They are supported by a dedicated team which is a blend of youth and experience. Adopting the modern techniques and sticking to basic fundamentals, the nursery has earned confidence of several leading landscapers all over the country.

Nurturing of the plants with great care and prompt supply of best quality plants as desired by landscapers has turned out to be a strong platform for nursery business. We are pioneers in

Floriculture Today 50 May 2013

supply of all kinds of plants like shrubs, hedges, palms, grasses, avenue trees, creepers, indoor and outdoor plants.

The nursery has credit of introducing several new varieties of plants to nursery industry.

We have been successful in transplantation of Date palms of about 10 feet trunk height. Thousands of Date palm and Coconut have been supplied by us around the country. We have recently involved in project of transplanting Avenue trees of 25-40 ft. very soon we will be supplying them to our clients.

Thanks for all our clients who has extended their valuable support and guidance.

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Floriculture News

Singapore Botanic Gardens wants Unesco Heritage Status

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April: Gerbera was flower of the month

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very month Flower Council Holland highlights one flower on its consumer websites in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK and through its social media channels.

‘Flowers make people happy’ is the message that the Flower Council wants to communicate about the Flower of the Month. The product list for the Flower of the Month was prepared in collaboration with FloraHolland. In April Gerbera is being put in the spotlight: a cheerful but also a bit cheeky flower. Several promotion activities are being conducted this month for Gerbera.

Promotion activities Along with the Gerbera file, a range of promotion activities for Gerbera were started at the end of March. Research conducted by the Horticultural Product Board revealed that consumers have a clear idea about Gerberas: a cheerful, colourful flower with a strong suggestion of summer. When there are Gerberas in the house, it’s like summer has already arrived. With the motto ‘Summertime, Gerbera time’, Gerbera will be the focus of attention in the near future in different relevant magazines and online media.

Because pastel tints are the fashionable colour this summer, Flower Council Holland has created special mood images. A Summertime, Gerbera time promotion package has been developed for florists. The promotion activities focus on the Netherlands and Germany, and are an initiative of all Gerbera growers and breeders (Terra Nigra, Florist and Schreurs) in collaboration with FloraHolland and Flower Council Holland.

Floriculture Today 54 May 2013

he city-state of Singapore, with one of the world’s highest population densities, intends to enter its centuries old Botanical Gardens among the World Heritage Sites. The campaign to get the coveted recognition by the United Nations agency dedicated to science and culture started in recent days. If successful, the lush and peaceful garden of 74 acres, located near the city center, will join the Royal Botanic Gardens in London and the Botanical Garden of Padua (Italy) on the prestigious list.

The gardens of Singapore were founded in 1859 by the Agri-Horticultural Society when the territory was still under British colonial rule. The gardens are renowned for cutting-edge techniques in breeding orchids. Over time it has evolved to become one of the most famous and popular attractions of Singapore, to the extent that at least four million visitors - local and foreign tourists from in a city-state of 5.3 million people - cross the threshold the gardens every year.

The Director Nigel Taylor points out that “the Singapore Botanic Gardens perfectly match the criteria for a UNESCO

World Heritage Site” and has always been a corner “loved by all citizens from all social and cultural backgrounds.” They are home to between 30 thousand different species of plants and trees, as well as a lake with swans and an amphitheater where concerts are held and classical music concerts are offered.

Local authorities have planned a series of public initiatives for 2013, to promote the attraction and increase chances of being accepted by the heads of the UN. Currently the gardens are classified in the “Indicative list” in which each country moves their nominations forward. Singapore has been at the forefront of promoting green policies to try to improve the quality of life in a world characterized by massive urbanization and external dependence - particularly on Malaysia - for essential commodities including water resources. In fact in terms of water and the environment, last year the government promoted a project for full self-sufficiency by 2061 and based on three components: collection of rain water, desalination of water and wastewater recycling.

Floriculture department in Nainital encourages farmers for Lilly production

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he floriculture department in Chafi area on the outskirts of Nainital encourages the farmers to shift their focus from traditional crops to cultivation of Lilly flower, as surge in the sales of flowers yield profits for the growers.

A grower Sudhir Chaddha said that due to high demands in foreign countries, efforts are being made to produce good quality Lilies and help them export in the international market.

“Our hopes are very high because the flower has very high demand in foreign countries. Until now, we were not able to take orders from foreign clients because of the inability to grow high quality flowers in large numbers but now with the help of more local farmers like some who are already enrolled with us have started similar projects on their fields. We will now provide them with a production plan help them export their flowers,” he

concluded.

Traditional crops are increasingly giving way to Lillian farming in the villages because of the rich dividends the flower offers to the farmers.

Lilly flowers have picked up in the area and farmers unlike earlier times are less stressful about marketing their farm

Floriculture News produce.

Farmers are earning about 70000 to 80000 rupees per month out of Lillian cultivation, where as they used to get 5000 rupees from the traditional crops.

Lillian is a fast growing flower and takes only three months to grow,

depending on production practices and weather conditions.

Farmers said that the flowers are in huge demand as many florists are ready to pay good prices n last three years, the cultivation of lilies has increased manifold and high

Deadly weed Lantana affecting HP’s mountain bio-diversity

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recent survey of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department has pointed out that the deadly weed Lantana, called Phool Lakri in local parlance, has affected the mountain bio-diversity in more than 1,800 sq km of forest lands in the State.

The weed which is a flowering exotic shrub is now found in abundance in the State and is seriously threatening the natural regeneration of majority native plant species. Though there are also other weed species found in the hill State like Parthenium (Congress Grass), Ageratum (Neela Phoolnu) and Eupatorium but the invasive Lantana is proving to be the most lethal to the rich forest biodiversity of the region.

Lantana is a genus of about 100 species of perennial flowering plantsin the verbena family, Verbenaceae, said experts. Though native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa, they now exist as introduced species in numerous areas of Asian and Australian Pacific regions. The genus includes both herbaceous plants and shrubs (found mainly in Himachal) growing as tall as five to six feet. Lantana’s aromatic flower clusters called umbels are a mix of red, orange, yellow, blue or white florets. ‘Wild lantanas’ are plants of theunrelated genus Abronia, usually called ‘sand-verbenas’.

Lantana was introduced in India in 1809 in the Indian Botanic Garden, Kolkata as an ornamental plant due to its beautiful aromatic flowers. Prolific seed production and easy dispersal helped it in escaping cultivation and becoming a pest, with serious dimensions. Present all over Himachal Pradesh, it flowers almost throughout the year. This weed is posing serious problems to plantation forestry as it chokes all other vegetation and becomes the dominant species. In deciduous forests, Lantana is considered as a potential fire hazard and it is combustible even when

green. Himachal Pradesh struggles with forest fires every summer and suffers huge losses. This weed is also dangerous in national parks and sanctuaries.

Lantana also competes with agricultural crops and has an allelopathic effect — inhibiting the growth of other plants.

The Himachal Pradesh government has faced failure in uprooting this enveloping weed which has now entered the fields and orchards of the farmers. The State is yet to have any comprehensive planning to eradicate this problem which has to be done in entirety and requires massive re-plantation of other friendly species like Bamboo, Acacia Catechu (khair) and Phyllanthus Emblica (amla).

The funds allotted by the Centre for the purpose are used in a piecemeal fashion through a campaign suggested by certain environmental NGOs like the Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti. The organisation had run a campaign in some panchayats and blocks of the State in the past and had even destroyed the lethal weed with the help of villagers in these areas, said O.P. Bhuraita, a scientist with the organisation.

The Samiti had later shifted its focus to the menace of wild animals and monkeys in the countryside, since that has become a foremost threat to the agriculture and fruit growing areas, he said. Agriculture is the mainstay in the hill State and 90 per cent population lives in rural areas.

The previous State government had accepted that the weed species have spread to large areas of forest and wastelands,

profits has encouraged more farmers into this trade.

Earlier florists used to get flowers from the Himachal Pradesh, but due to the low quality flowers in Himachal, they are now approaching farms in Nainital.

with the 1999-2000 survey revealing that 136,301 hectares were covered by weeds and Lantana alone had spread to over 130,000 hectares of land. For eradicating the Lantana, the Forest Department has used two methods: mechanical and chemical. Under the mechanical method, the weed is physically removed with tools like ‘monkey jack’. This labourintensive method has shown good results.

However, the chemical methods like spraying glyphosate have environmental andecological impact.

During 2009-2013, the weed has been removed from 6,305 hectares of forest land and the government has targeted to clear 5,000 hectares of forest land of Lantana weed during 2013-14, State Forest Minister Thakar Singh Bharmouri said. To root out Lantana, a cut-root stock method has been adopted. After clearing the weed, foliage fodder is being replanted, he said. The question as to how to eradicate Lantana and other weeds comes up every time here during the Assembly sessions, with precious little being done to help the small and marginal farmers who are forced to quit agriculture due to this problem.

Famed Potter gets Padma Award

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haya n da r ’ s f a m e d p o t t e r Brahmdeo Ram Pandit received the ‘Padma Shri’ for his excellent craftsmanship and outstanding contribution to the field of pottery and handicrafts from President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, recently.

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Floriculture News

Man’s innovative mind forces plastic bottles to play a positive role

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ext time when you discard used plastic bottles, think twice before doing so. They may be of some use to you. These pet bottles, which often add to the garbage, can turn a saviour of smaller plants that need water to withstand the summer.

An agriculture officer K. Arumugam of Chokkikulam uzhavar santhai has developed a simple drip irrigation model using such bottles. “This is a simple method. We have tested at our uzhavar santhai. All that one needs to do is to fill the bottle with water and use fibre of coconut sheath, instead of caps, to seal its mouth. Make a small hole on the ground closer to the root of the plants and put the bottle upside down.”

The District Police Office premises near Surveyor Colony here have put the system into use. Scores of used water bottles half-buried upside down on the ground are ‘feeding life’ to the plants around the dry tank in front of the building housing the office of Superintendent of Police.

A closer look will reveal that the bottles are ‘breathing’ with bubbles coming up through the water inside.

“The water will seep through the fibre drop by drop and directly feed the root. This process will keep the root wet enough throughout the day with minimum quantity of water. The quantity of water which is consumed in a day in conventional way of watering the plants can last for nearly a week,” the Superintendent of Police, V. Balakrishnan, a post-graduate in Agriculture, said.

For the police who were trying to find some solution to keep these saplings alive, this has provided some relief.

People who want to go away to enjoy summer vacation can use this system (use a two-litre bottle) to keep their plants alive for a week, Mr. Arumugam said. “Besides, the used plastic bottle is put to good use,” he added.

“This process will keep the root wet enough throughout the day with minimum quantity of water”.

Kashmir govt’s focus shifts to floriculture

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nderscoring the need to develop the floriculture on commercial lines, The Agriculture Minister of J&K Ghulam Hassan Mir asked the youth to opt it as a profitability activity as the department has adopted commercial floriculture which include providing of financial and technical assistance and development of post-harvest facilities and marketing channels for the benefit of the growers.

He said sufficient progress has been made in cultivation of various kinds and varieties of cut flowers like Carnation, Lillium, Gladolus, Marigold and Tulip.

Mir said commercial floriculture is picking up fast in both the divisions of the State adding that the area under cultivation has increased to 350 hectares during 2012-13 with annual turnover of about Rs.14.50 crores.

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Floriculture News

Gardening can keep your weight under check

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eople who participate in community gardening have a significantly lower body mass index, as well as lower odds of being overweight or obese, than their non-gardening neighbours, a new study has found.

“It has been shown previously that community gardens can provide a variety of social and nutritional benefits to neighborhoods. But until now, we did not have data to show a measurable health benefit for those who use the gardens,” Cathleen Zick, lead author of the study and professor of family and consumer studies at the University of Utah said.

To gauge a health benefit, researchers used body mass index, or BMI, a calculation based on a person’s height and weight and which is widely used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

In general, a normal BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9; a smaller number is better than a larger one.

Results showed that women community

gardeners had an average BMI 1.84 lower than their neighbors, which translates to an 11 pound weight difference for a woman 5 feet 5 inches tall.

For men, the BMI was lower by 2.36 for gardeners—a difference of 16 pounds for a man 5 feet 10 inches tall—compared to the neighborhood cohort.

Gardeners were also less likely to be overweight or obese - 46 percent less for women gardeners, and 62 percent less for men gardeners.

Researchers also looked at the BMIs of individuals related to the gardeners, namely siblings and spouses.

When compared to same sex siblings, a similar advantage to unrelated neighbors was found.

Women in the community gardening group had a BMI 1.88 lower than their sisters. For men, the difference was 1.33 lower for the gardeners compared to their

brothers. Both differences were statistically significant.

For spouses of married gardeners, there was no difference in BMI or odds of being overweight or obese.

That finding was not surprising, as researchers had expected that spouses would benefit from eating food produced in the garden, and perhaps from helping out with the gardening activities.

The findings are published online in the American Journal of Public Health.

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