Researchable Issues of Ornamental Plant Nurseries: A Case Study of Pattoki

Abstract

Quite a good number of horticultural nurseries with focus on ornamental plants are located at Pattoki (District Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan) and its adjoining areas. At these nurseries hundreds of thousands of plants are raised throughout the year. Generally, Pattoki nursery business is based on traditional methods of plant propagation thereby involving a number of technical issues. Thus, in the present study, a survey was conducted to identify some of the important issues related to propagation and management of ornamental plants at these nurseries. In order to generate required information, a total of 50 nurseries were selected. This sampling of nurseries was based on convenience sampling method due to lack of complete list of nurseries. The respondents (nurserymen) were interviewed on semi-structured questionnaire with open ended questions. Based on feedback received from nursery growers, some key issues were identified during survey, including lack of respondents’ willingness to register their businesses (96%), concern over transfer of insect pests with soil (14%) and lack of willingness to seek guidance from experts (70%). Some of the responses came 100% positive or negative, viz. type of pots used was 100% clay pots only, 100% use of silt only as traditional soil medium for filling of pots, no record keeping (100% nurseries) of important nursery operations, not hiring any expert staff for supervision (100% nurseries) and no soil medium treatment(s) before use (100% nurseries).