Meaning of Transplanting in Agriculture
Transplanting in agriculture refers to the movement of seeding (young plants) from the seedbed, tray, polythene bags, pots, and boxes, to the permanent field for proper establishment.
Some crops may not thrive in the permanent field unless they are first sown in the nursery where they can receive intensive care.
In the nursery, the seed receives control light, temperature, water supply, fertilizer application, and wind, to induce germination, and promote growth. These crops are first managed in the nursery until they have developed proper roots before they can be moved to the permanent field where they withstand harsh environments.
The seeds are nursed in the seedbed, polythene bags, pots, boxes, trays, and under trees for a short period usually between 4-10 weeks for arable crops and 6 months -1 year for Plantation crops before moving to the main field.
After the germination and having grown into seedlings they are gradually exposed to sensitive or harsher environments by removing protective materials to allow the plants to adapt to similar conditions as in the field.
Once the seeds are due for transplanting they are carefully removed from the nursery with the help of transplanting tools such as hand fork, hand trowel, garden fork, and cutlass into head pan or cotton bags to the main field for planting. Before transplanting seedlings ensure that young seedlings have reached the proper point of maturity.
Seedlings that are transplanted prematurely may not thrive well in the main field due to the shock and poor root system. Too old seedlings may not survive due to nutrient deficiencies or inability to develop roots to acclimatize.
Examples of crops that require transplanting are tomatoes, cabbages pepper, cucumber, eggplant, rubber, lettuce, citrus, cocoa, rice, and mango. These crops require adequate care for growth and development before taking to the main field.
Transplanting in agriculture can be carried out manually or with the use of a tractor-mounted implement known as a transplanter
Importance of Transplanting in Agriculture.
Since some crops yield better when they are nursed, than sowed directly, it is necessary to ensure that plants reach the point of maturity before they are moved into the main field for adequate establishment.
Transplanting of crops is necessary for the optimal growth and development of crops. Some of the importance of transplanting in agriculture are:
It aids Uniformity in Plant Growth
During transplanting, crops of the same height and vigorous growth ability are transplanted leaving slow-growing plants to reach transplanting height.
This selection of only crops of the same height for establishment in the permanent field enhances the uniformity in the growth of plants.
More so, since the plants are already well established in the nursery coupled with the optimal care received, taking off in the main field becomes easy.
Uniformity in the growth of plants is crucial because the canopy developed by the plants provides effective shade that helps to control the growth of weeds on the farm. Whenever economic crops do not have uniform growth on the farm maintenance practices become cumbersome.
In fruit crops like pepper, eggplants, tomatoes, and more uniform in growth rates also enable the farmer to obtain a high population of fruiting plants during harvesting.
For plantation crops like rubber, teak, oil palm, cocoa, and mango uniformity of growth and development helps to achieve high numbers of plants ready for tapping and harvesting respectively.
Reduce Weed Pressure
Before transplanting crops to the main field, proper land preparation such as ploughing and harrowing should be done.
These tillage practices help to smother weeds, coupled with the fact that before transplanting crops to the main field they would have to attain maximum height, therefore before weeds will sprout to compete with economic crops, transplanted crops would have been well established in the permanent field to compete effectively.
In plantation crops such as Hevea braziliensis, Magnifera indica, Eleasis guieanesis, Anacadium occidentale, and Theobroma cacao that are usually nurse in polythene bags, disposable cups, or pots can be nurtured in the platforms for about 6 to 1 years, and when they have attained maximum height above which weed can affect them before they are transplanted to the main field.
With this height, it becomes easy for plants to develop canopies to overshadow weeds on the farm. Additionally, due to the height of the plants herbicide can then be used to control weeds in the farm.
Create Room Crop Improvement
Tree crops like Hevea braziliensis (rubber), Magnifera indica, (mango) Anacadium occidentale( cashew), and Theobroma cacao (cocoa), before they are transplanted to the main field, should be grafted or budded with the scion of exotic species of plants with good genetic characteristics.
These characteristics can be high yielding, early maturity, resistance to pest and disease infestation, and consumers’ preferences. These qualities are associated with the scion of exotic species used for the budding or grafting of the local plant species giving an improvement over the local species.
These budded or grafted plants grow with the characteristics of exotic plants to full maturity. Also, arable crops nurse in the nursery received optimal care at the early stage of life which helped to improve their inherent characteristics in terms of vigorous growth than those planted directly into the permanent field.
Reductions in Costs Production
Transplanting of crops ensures optimal grand cover in the field. The cost of hiring extra labor to replace the ungerminated crops in the field is reduced.
Crops that are transplanted establishs earlier than directly seeding, which enables plants to develop good canopy cover.
This dense canopy cover can suppress weed growth and development. The amount of weeding in direct planting or seedling far outweighs that of transplanting.
Similarly, more money is spent on buying seeds to replace the ungerminated seedlings in the field, in terms of direct plantings, while in the transplanted field, weak seedlings will be replaced by the abundance of seedlings in the nursery. This practices helps to reduce the cost of production.
Guarantee Against Crop Failure
In the nursery, seedlings are gradually exposed to harsh climate conditions before transplanting. This involves gradual exposure of the seedlings to sensitive conditions similar to that of the transplanting environments to help seedlings adapt to prospective prevailing environmental conditions.
The seedlings are exposed to intense sunlight, fluctuations in temperature for those planted in the screened houses, and reduced water.
This gradual exposure of crops to harsh environments in the nursery helps to guarantee crops against failure from factors such as fluctuating temperature, aggressive wind pressure, and fluctuating rainfall in the main field.
Ensure sufficient Ground Cover
Transplanting of seedlings to the permanent field ensures sufficient ground cover with crops compared to direct planting.
In direct planting, seeds sowed might fail to germinate due to certain environmental conditions. However, the seedlings in the nursery are well established before transplanting to the main field hence the population of crops in the main field can be estimated and known.
Increase the Yields of Crops
Seedlings that are transplanted yield higher than direct seedlings. The management and care that seedlings receive from the nursery boost their quality which helps to increase yield.
In plantation farming, most seedlings are budded or grafted with exotic species of crops that yield higher, mature early and possess good characteristics. This quality is used in propagating the native plant with such quality.
Resistance to Pests and Disease
In the nursery, crops received effective management against pests and disease attacks. Crops are well treated and protected from pest and disease-causing organisms, which helps to boost their immunity to resist pest and disease infestation.
Young seedlings are protected against early diseases and pests until they are sufficiently established, with this protection, plants can effectively survive and resist pests and disease attacks.
Methods of Transplanting in Agriculture
Some of the methods used for transplanting seedlings are:
The Naked Root Methods
This involves the movement of seedlings from the nursery to the main field without soil. In this method, only the plant is systematically uprooted from the nursery to the main field without soil. The naked root method is mostly used for transplanting seedlings that are nurses on the ground.
Advantages of the Naked Root Methods
Some of the advantages of the naked root method of transplanting in agriculture are:
- It is suitable for transplanting seedlings over a long distance.
- It is mostly used for transplanting crops like rubber, citrus, and mango on the plantation.
- it is cheap to practice (I.e. it does not involve a lot of capital)
- It can be used to transplant bulk seedlings compared to the ball of earth methods.
The Disadvantage of the Naked Root Methods of Transplanting
The disadvantages of the naked root method of transplanting in agriculture are:
- It requires a lot of care
- The plant may not take due to excess shock
- Plants uprooted by this method should be cultivated between two to three days or immediately after uprooting
- Plants may not take (i.e. germinated) if not well placed or planted on the soil.
The Ball of Earth Method
The ball of earth method involves transplanting seedlings with soil. In this method, all the seedlings are lifted from the nursery and are planted directly into the field.
This method is possible when plants are nurses on polythene bags, disposable cups, and boxes. The plants are lifted directly from the nursery and are cultivated directly into the main field.
This method is mostly used for transplanting palms, coconuts, flowers, rubber, citrus, and more.
Advantages of the Ball of Earth Methods
The advantages of the ball of earth method of transplanting are:
- It is the most appropriate method of transplanting seedlings on the farm.
- It is mostly used for transplanting crops like palms, flowers, rubber, and citrus over a short distance.
- It does not require special care to be cultivated
- The plant can easily survive since it is on bags or disposable cups
- Seedlings may not experience shock since they are nursed on the bags
- Seedlings to be planted can be left for many days under this method before planting
The Disadvantage of the Ball of Earth Methods
The disadvantages of the ball of earth methods in transplanting in agriculture are:
- The methods are highly expensive to practice.
- It is not suitable for transplanting bulky seeding.
Selective Method or Random Methods
In this method of transplanting only seedlings that have attained the height and size of transplanting are moved from the nursery to the main field.
These methods aim to obtain uniform height in the main field. The remaining seedlings are given effective management to obtain uniform height and girth.
Types of Transplanting in Agriculture.
There are two types of transplanting in agriculture. They are
- Manual transplanting: This involves the use of simple farm tools like hand trowel, spade cutlass, and hand fork to manually move seedlings from the nursery to the main field.
- Mechanical transplanting: In this type of transplanting, seedlings are cultivated with the aid of a tractor-mounted implement known as a transplanter.
Preparation of Seedling for Transplant
This is one of the critical steps that all seedlings due for transplanting must undergo before transplanting. Farmers cannot just wake up and transplant seedlings from the nursery to the permanent field.
Before transplanting seedlings, it is necessary to gradually expose the seedlings to harsh climatic conditions similar to that of the field to enable seedlings to adapt when transplanted to the field for planting.
In the seedbed, those that are covered with palm front or cotton bags are gradually removed and are exposed to intense light, fluctuating temperature, reduced water supply, and any other care provided to the plants.
Those sow in the polythene bags, pots, disposable cups, and boxes are moved from the shade to the outside for a short time usually a week before the transplant date.
The farmers should bear in mind that the reason for this preparation is to reduce crop failure in the main field.
For plantation crops like rubber, mango, citrus, cashew, and cocoa that require budding and grafting, the seedlings that are successfully budded should be sawed back and painted with oil paint between 4-5 days before transplanting to the main field.
Step-by-Step Guide for Transplanting Seedling
The movement of seedlings from one location to another is vital for the optimal performance of crops.
it has been noted that transplanted seedlings yield higher, resist pests and disease, and ensure effective ground cover. For effective performance, there are some crucial steps that the grower must observe, before transplanting, they are:
- Step 1: Check the Transplanting Schedule: This involves walking back to your record and checking the planting record to ascertain whether the plant is due for transplanting. Every plant has a transplanting date, below which the plant cannot thrive due to limited roots, and above which the plant cannot survive. For example, tomatoes should be transplanted between 4- 6 weeks after planting or when seedlings have developed about 3-4 leaf stages.
- Step 2: Prepare the seedling: the seedlings should be subjected to some similar conditions that they may likely face in the main field to help them adapt to such conditions. This is achieved by reducing the management care in the nursery such as reduction in water supply, and removal from shade to open environment. For tree crops, you will need a saw back and paint the edge of the saw back with oil paint and leave it for 4-5 days before transplanting.
- Step 3: Get the transplanting machine or tools ready: these are implements and simple farm tools necessary for the movement of seedlings from the nursery to the permanent field. The transplanter is an implement used for transplanting seedlings while simple farm tools such as hand trowel, garden fork, hand fork, shade, head pan, wheelbarrow, pruning shear, and cutlass can be used for transplanting.
- Step 4: Uproot the seedling: In uprooting the plants from the nursery, the planter, spade, hand trowel, hand fork, and garden fork can be used to gently remove the seedlings from the seedbed, tray, or boxes while those raised on polythene bags, pots, and disposable cups can be lifted by hand or spade.
- Step 5: leaves and Root Pruning: Immediately after uprooting the seedlings from the soil, they should be pruned to remove unwanted branches, roots, and leaves. For tree crops, it is a vital practice to prune the root, remove all the root hair, trim the tap root, and dead or tangled roots. While in arable crops it might be optional depending on the age of the plants.
- Step 6: load in the wheelbarrow, head pan, or lorry: To move the seed from the nursery to the mean field. The wheelbarrow, head pan, lorry, and in most cases, cotton bags are used to transport the seedlings from the nursery to the main field.
- Step 7: Mapping and Pegging: Before the seeds get the main field, the field should be mapped and pegged, including the pegging of the spacing (between row and within row). The spacing for oil palm for example should be 9m by 9m, while for tomatoes it should be 60cm by 60cm or 90cm by 40cm
- Step 8: Dig the Hole: For oil palm, mango, citrus, banana, and more dig a hole in the main field before supplying the seedling, the hole can be dug Using a spade, digger, and auger, dig the hole, taking into cognizance of the planting depth and spacing. The depth should be between 30cm to 40cm for tree crops. While arable crops it should be 2-10 cm.
- Step 9: Place the Plant: Before placing the seedlings, it is advisable to fill the hole with organic manure or mixed with little inorganic fertilizer. Gently Place the seedling in the hole, use your hand to arrange the seedlings, cover them firmly with organic soil, and tamp with a mattock to remove pocket air. Do not cover the plants with the same soil from the hole. Organic soil from another area can be used to cover the soil.
- Step 10: Water Seedling Daily: The seedlings should be watered daily to ensure that plants have sufficient water, this aids root establishments.
Farm Tools Used for Transplanting Seedlings
These are hand-operated tools used to move seedlings from the nursery to the permanent field. Some of these farm tools are:
- Shovel or Spade: The shove or the spade is used for digging holes, lifting seedlings, and filling the hole with sand during transplanting.
- Hand Fork: The hand fork is used for slightly digging out small plants, and aerating the soil. It is useful mostly in containers, trays, and enclosed seedbeds.
- Hand Trowel: A civil engineering tool used popularly in agriculture for slight digging, applying organic manure, uprooting seedlings, and loosening the root ball of the pant.
- Pruning Shears: The pruning shear is used to prune leaves, branches of seedlings, and damaged or rotten roots before transplanting.
- Wheelbarrow: The wheelbarrow is used for transplanting seedlings from the nursery to the main field.
- Head Pan: The head pan is different from the wheelbarrow. The difference is that the head pan is carried on the head while the wheelbarrow is pushed or pulled by the hand. The head pan is used for carrying seedlings in and around the main field, mixing organic manure and fertilizer on the farm.
- Cutlass: The cutlass is used for digging slight holes for planting seeds, and cutting tap roots for planting.
Precaution to be Observe when Transplanting Seedling
Before diving into transplant seedlings, it is crucial to observe some Precautionary measures to ensure successful operation. Some of these measures are:
- Stick closely to the seedlings transplanting plan, that is, the record of the planting date, and the transplanting date.
- Ensure that seedlings have developed up to 3 to 4 leaves stages before transplanting
- Do not transplant too young or too old seedlings, pre-mature seedlings may not survive in the main field due to shock and poor root system, and too old seedlings may not survive due to nutrient deficiencies or inability to develop roots faster.
- Transplanting should be carried out in the morning and the cool evening.
- The newly transplanted seedlings should be watered regularly to ensure proper establishment.
- Do not transplant weak and diseased seedlings.
- Tree crops should be sawed back and painted with light oil before transplanting
Transplanting Date/Schedule for Arable and Plantation Crops
The table below shows crops that can transplanted, and the date of transplanting from the nursery to the main field.
| S/no | Transplanting Crops | Time of transplant |
| 1 | Cabbage | 3-4 weeks |
| 2 | rice | 4-5 weeks |
| 3 | cucumber | 3-4weeks |
| 5 | eggplant | 7-8 weeks |
| 6 | lettuce | 3 weeks |
| 7 | Pepper | 7-8 weeks |
| 8 | tomatoes | 4-6 weeks |
| 9 | cocoa | 6-7 month |
| 10 | coffee | 1 year after |
| 11 | citrus | 1 year after |
| 12 | rubber | 1 year after |
| 13 | Oil palm | 1 year after |