Abstract

Often diseases cause appreciable loss of eucalypt seedlings in nursery, especially those situated in high rainfall areas of Kerala, thus posing problems in the establishment of plantations. Nursery trials conducted during 1979-1983 suggest that these disease problems can be prevented considerably if the seedlings are container-grown i.e., raised by direct sowing in containers, instead of seedbeds. This method requires the maintenance of nursey only for three months as compared to six months for seedbed nursey. Feasibility of this method was established by raising successfully 0. 5 ha of experimental plantation of Eucalyptus grandis in Wynad district. The method has an added advantage of reducing the cost of raising eucalypt seedlings by 35 percent