Dry Nursery:

This method is practiced in the rainfed condition and in some areas where water is not sufficient to warrant use of wet bed. The practices in dry nursery preparation are:

• Area - 7.5 guntas for one hectare
• The field selected for the seed-bed is brought to fine tilth by repeated ploughing and harrowing.
• Prepare 75 beds of 7.5 m long, 1.2 m width and 10 cm high. Arrangements should be made for channels in between rows of beds, to irrigate when required.
• Apply 25 kg FYM or compost along with 90 g nitrogen, 45 g phosphorus and 45 g potassium in the form of any chemical fertilizers for each bed.
• Sow recommended seeds in the raised beds. Dry seeds are sown in soil when there is requi­site soil moisture or sometimes even in anticipation of rain and then covered with light wooden planks. Sometimes the land is irrigated and seeds are sown when it comes to condition with the moisture at the correct level.
• The seedlings get ready for planting in 25 to 30 days. The seed bed should be wet during pulling.
• Plant protec­tion measures are taken as per recommendation for the region.

Advantages of Dry Nursery:

• Seedlings can be raised with limited water supply.
• Preparation of dry nursery is easier than wet nursery.

• Pulling is easier. Seedlings come out easily and do not adhere to each other, so dry nursery facilitates single planting and quick manipulation during planting.
• Seedlings get, established quickly due to favourable conditions in the planted fields.
• Seedlings are hardy and can resist adverse condition to some extent.
• Seedlings raised in dry nursery tiller early and profusely.

Disadvantages:

• It requires more time for preparation.
• It is not suitable, for all types of soils, especially in sandy and stiff clay soils.
• As seedlings cannot withstand even traces of salinity, dry nursery in such soil is not suitable.
• Higher seed rate is required.

Seedlings are usual1y thin and slender.