Post-Harvest Handling, Packing and Marketing of Nursery Stock
This domain tests what happens between lifting a plant and selling it: grading, hardening, packing, transport and market presentation. The exam expects you to protect the root system and calculate saleable value by grade.
Handling rules
- Harden plants before lifting by reducing shade and water gradually; never lift at midday.
- Lift with an intact root ball; prune damaged roots and shoots; grade by height, collar diameter and health.
- Protect roots from drying: wrap bare roots in moist material, keep polybags upright and shade plants during transport.
- Label every lot with species, cultivar, grade and date. Keep a stock register.
Packing and marketing
- Use rigid crates or trays with ventilation; avoid crushing; pack plants upright; do not seal wet plants in plastic.
- Market by grade, with a clear price list. Use certification or truth-in-labelling where required, and plan transport so plants reach the buyer quickly.
Worked example
A nursery has 1,000 grafted plants; 5% are culled, leaving 950 saleable plants. Of these, 60% are Grade A: 950 × 0.60 = 570 plants at ₹80 = ₹45,600. Grade B is 40%: 950 × 0.40 = 380 plants at ₹50 = ₹19,000. Total sales value = ₹45,600 + ₹19,000 = ₹64,600. The reasoning is that culls are removed before grading, so the grade percentages apply to 950, not 1,000.
Traps that cost marks
Packing wet plants in sealed bags; selling unhardened plants; omitting labels; applying grade percentages to the pre-cull number; exposing roots during transport; failing to record culls.
Key points
- Harden before lifting; lift with an intact root ball.
- Grade and label every lot.
- Culls are removed before calculating grade numbers.
- Pack upright, ventilated and shaded.
- Keep a stock register and price list.