Packaging Nursery Crops Reminder: student learning activities are at the end of this power point.

Next Generation Science/Common Core Standards Addressed! WHST.9‐12.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. (HS‐LS1‐3) WHST.11‐12.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the specific task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation. (HS‐LS1‐3) HSSIC.B.6 Evaluate reports based on data. (HS‐LS2‐6)

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource Standards Addressed PS.02.02. Apply knowledge of plant anatomy and the functions of plant structures to activities associated with plant systems. PS.02.02.02.a. Identify and summarize the components, the types and the functions of plant roots.

Bell Work! Describe the three types of packaging of nursery crops. Describe how to ball and burlap (B&B) stock properly. Explain the advantage and disadvantages of B&B, container, and bare root. Describe the types of storage used for nursery stock.

Terms Balled and burlapped Bare root Caliper Cold storage Common or air-cooled storage Containerized Defoliation Gas Chambers Mechanical beaters Sweating

What are the three types of packaging? Bare root: involves harvesting trees without taking soil from the field. Balled and burlapped: harvest plants with a soil ball around the roots. Usually covered with burlap. Containerized: grown and then sold while in containers. The containers may be made of peat, clay, or plastic.

How do I B&B a plant? This procedure can be done at any time of the growing season, but is most successful in the spring or fall. Remember most of the tree’s feeder roots are in the top 12-15 inches of topsoil, and that up to 60% of the feeder roots can extend beyond the tree’s drip line. B&B plants may lose up to 95% of feeder roots during transplanting.

How do I B&B a plant? The materials needed for B&B are a spade, twine, burlap, nursery pinning nails, a caliper, and a pair of hand pruners or a knife. B&B may also be done with a mechanical digger. It is generally considered more efficient. It is also an expensive piece of equipment, may be limited in where and when it can dig, and may use special baskets and burlap.

Directions for ball and burlapping Determine which plant is to be dug. Is it the right time for this species? Loosely wrap the plant branches with twine to keep them out of the way while digging. Determine the size of the ball. Ball should be 1/4 of the tree height or should be 12 inches wider than the tree caliper. Remove debris from the digging area.

Directions for ball and burlapping Mark the diameter of the ball with the spade. Use a spade to dig a one foot deep circle trench around the ball. Try to ensure that the root system remains intact. With the spade, begin tapering the ball and digging under the plant. Place a sheet of burlap in the hole and slide it under the root ball.

Directions for ball and burlapping Secure the burlap with pinning nails and twine. Remove the ball gently from the ground. Transport the ball to a permanent location.

Advantages to B&B Can be dug and held for a period of time. Digging and transplanting season can be extended. Better for difficult to transplant species. Larger plants can be harvested.

Disadvantages to B&B May need specialized equipment. Soil conditions can limit work. Soil balls are heavy and large. Product is hard to move. Shipping is expensive. More skilled labor is needed. Long production cycle; 2-10 years

Advantages of Bare Root Harvested plants are lightweight. Shipping is more economical. Initially less expensive to produce. Can be dug in dormant seasons.

Disadvantages of Bare Root Can only be used with smaller stock. Limited digging/transplanting time. Special storage facilities needed. Only successful with certain plants. Possible decay in storage. Only used with deciduous plants.

Advantages to Containers Rapid production cycle. Faster turnover of invested capital. Plants are more uniform Reduced shipping weight No need for land rotation Greater number of plants in a smaller area. Less handling damage.

Disadvantages to Containers Can only be used with smaller stock. Soil dries out quickly. Susceptible to cold/winter damage. Plants can become pot bound. Growing media must be provided. Susceptible to blowing over. More irrigation needed.

How is nursery stock stored? Common or air-cooled storage: These are insulated under ground or frame structures where air is pulled through to cool the plants, but the air is not cooled mechanically. Cold/refrigerated storage: These are separate buildings or large rooms that are mechanically kept at 27-29 degrees or 32-40 degrees F, depending on the stored materials.

Defoliation Defoliation: the mechanical, chemical or cultural removal of leaves. It is done before plants are put into storage because if the leaves were to remain on the plant in cold storage the plant would lose too much moisture and would die. The techniques used in defoliation include . . .

Techniques of defoliation Chemical Sprays: leaf removal occurs in a short time after being sprayed and there is little to no plant damage. Mechanical beaters: a machine that beats the leaves off the plant – leaf removal is very quick, but there is more labor involved, more handling of the stock, and greater chance of plant damage.

Techniques of defoliation Gas chambers: special airtight chambers that are filled with ethylene gas, which cause quick leaf drop. This is common for rose bushes. Sweating: a process where plants are loosely bundled, piled in stacks on pallets, and thoroughly watered. Heat builds up causing leaf defoliation. Can cause plant damage if plants get over-heated.

Plant Storage Guidelines and Information In the initial handling after plants have been harvested, they are immediately graded and sorted, and then either stored or merchandised. Before they are bundled, they are labeled and graded by size. When storing, plants are usually stacked on wooden pallets in stalls with their roots to the aisles.

Storage Problems Drying of roots: a relative humidity of 80-85 percent, and covering the roots with sphagnum moss, cedar or fir shavings should prevent this. Mold development: store only clean, disease free stock and watch for mold development. Also dust storage area with fungicide or use ultraviolet lights to prevent.

Calipers Shaped like a pair of tweezers. They are opened and placed so that each “arm” is touching the trunk. A measurement of inches is read off of the caliper. Trees with more than a 4-inch trunk should be measured 12 inches off the ground and trees less than 4 inches should be measured 6 inches off the ground.

Summary List the three types of packaging of nursery crops. How does one ball and burlap (B&B) stock properly? Explain the advantage and disadvantages of B&B, container, and bare root. What are the types of storage used for nursery stock?

The End!

Student Learning Activities Sample tests are available in the Lesson Plan tab.

Packing Nursery Crops worksheet Name: _____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Remember most of the tree’s _______________________________ are in the top _______________________ inches of topsoil, and that up to ____________ of the feeder toots can extend beyond the tree’s __________________________. Answer the following questions by filling in the blank or answering the questions with a complete sentence. Packing Nursery Crops worksheet What materials are needed for B&B transplanting?   What are the three types of packaging? Directions for ball and burlapping: When should you B&B a plant?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ List the advantages of bare root transplanting. List the disadvantages to B&B List the advantages to B&B

__________________________________________________________________ List the disadvantages of Bare Root transplanting. List the disadvantages to containers. List the advantages to containers.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ What are the two methods nursery stock is stored? What are the four techniques of defoliation? What is defoliation?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Trees with more than a ________________________ trunk should be measured ____________________ off the _____________________ and trees less than ____________________ should be measured _____________________ off the ground. What are two problems that can come with storing plants? What are calipers?

Packing Nursery Crops worksheet Answer the following questions by filling in the blank or answering the questions with a complete sentence. Balled and burlap: harvest plants with a soil ball around the roots. Usually covered with burlap. This procedure can be done at any time of the growing season, but is most successful in the spring or fall. Bare root: involves harvesting trees without taking soil from the field. Remember most of the tree’s feeder roots are in the top 12-15 inches of topsoil, and that up to 60% of the feeder toots can extend beyond the tree’s drip line. The materials needed for B&B are a spade, twine, burlap, nursery pinning nails, a caliper, and a pair of hand pruners or a knife. KEY Name: _____________________________ Containerized: grown and then sold while in containers. The containers may be make of peat, clay, or plastic. Packing Nursery Crops worksheet What materials are needed for B&B transplanting?   What are the three types of packaging? Directions for ball and burlapping: When should you B&B a plant?

Determine which plant is to be dug Determine which plant is to be dug. Is it the right time for this species? Loosely wrap the plant branches with twine to keep them out of the way while digging. With the spade, begin tapering the ball and diffing under the plant. Place a sheet of burlap in the hole and slide it under the root ball. Determine the size of the ball. Ball should be ¼ of the tree height of should be 12 inches wider than the tree caliper. Use a spade to dig a one foot deep circle trench around the ball. Try to ensure that the root system remains intact. Secure the burlap with pinning nails and twine. Mark the diameter of the ball with the spade. Transport the ball to a permanent location. Can be dug and help for a period of time. Remove the ball gently from the ground. Remove debris from the digging area. List the advantages to B&B

Digging and transplanting season can be extended. Better for difficult to transplant species. Can only be used with smaller stock. Long production cycle: 2-10 years. List the disadvantages of Bare Root transplanting. Initially less expensive to produce. Only successful with certain plants. Limited digging/transplanting time. May need specialized equipment. List the advantages of bare root transplanting. Harvested plants are lightweight. Larger plants can be harvested. Special storage facilities needed. Soil balls are heavy and large. Can be dug in dormant seasons. Soil conditions can limit work. More skilled labor is needed. Shipping is more economical. Product is hard to move. Shipping is expensive. List the disadvantages to B&B

Greater number of plants in a smaller area. Faster turnover of invested capital. Can only be used with smaller stock. What are the two methods nursery stock is stored? Susceptible to coil/winter damage. Only used with deciduous plants. Growing media must be provided. Plants can become pot bound. Susceptible to blowing over. No need for land rotation. Possible decay in storage. Plants are more uniform. Reduced shipping weight. List the disadvantages to containers. Rapid production cycle. More irrigation needed. List the advantages to containers. Less handling damage. Soil dries out quickly.

Cold/ refrigerated storage: these are separate building or large rooms that are mechanically kept at 27-29 degrees or 32-40 degrees F, depending of the stored materials. Defoliation: the mechanical, chemical or cultural removal of leaves. It is done before plants are put into storage because if the leaves were to remain on the plant in cold storage the plant would lose too much moisture and would die. Common or air-cooled storage: these are insulated underground or frame structures where air is pulled through to cool the plants, but the air is not cooled mechanically. Gas chambers: special airtight chambers that are filled with ethylene gas, which cause quick leaf drop. This is common for rose bushes. Mechanical beaters: a machine that beats the leaves off the plant- leaf removal is very quick, but there is more labor involved, more handling of the stock, and greater chance of plant damage. Chemical sprays: leaf removal occurs in a short time after being sprayed and there is little to no plant damage. What are the four techniques of defoliation? What is defoliation?

Shaped like a pair of tweezers Shaped like a pair of tweezers. They are opened and placed so that each “arm” so toughing the trunk. A measurement of inches is read off of clipper. Seating: a process where plants are loosely bundled, piled in stacks on pallets, and thoroughly watered. Heat builds up causing leaf defoliation. Can cause plant damage if plants got over-heated. Drying of roots: a relative humidity of 80-85 percent, and covering the roots with sphagnum moss, cedar or fir shaving should prevent this. Mold development: store only clean, disease free stock and watch for mold development. Also duct storage area with fungicide or use ultraviolet lights to prevent. Trees with more than a 4-inch trunk should be measured 12 inches off the ground and trees less than 4-inches should be measured 6 inches off the ground. What are two problems that can come with storing plants? What are calipers?

KEY