Below is a nursery-to-field–ready module designed for your Agarwood Cultivation & Sustainable Farming curriculum, farmer manuals, and CI-ASASE / Oud Academia training programs.
Nursery Management for Agarwood
Propagation via Seed • Tissue Culture • Hardening & Acclimatization
1. Role of the Nursery in Agarwood Success
Agarwood quality begins before field planting. Poor nursery practices lead to:
- Weak root systems
- Low survival rates
- Poor resin induction response later
A well-managed nursery ensures:
- Uniform growth
- Disease-free stock
- Faster establishment
- Higher long-term resin potential
2. Propagation via Seed (Primary Method)
2.1 Seed Source Selection (CRITICAL)
Recommended species
- Aquilaria malaccensis
- A. crassna
- A. sinensis
Seed source requirements
- From registered mother trees
- Known provenance
- High vigor, disease-free
- Prefer trees ≥8 years old
⚠️ Seeds are recalcitrant (short-lived).
2.2 Seed Viability & Handling
| Parameter | Standard |
|---|---|
| Viability period | 7–14 days |
| Storage | Moist, shaded |
| Temperature | 20–25°C |
| Moisture | Never dry out |
Best practice: sow within 48–72 hours of harvest.
2.3 Seed Pre-treatment
- Remove fruit pulp
- Wash with clean water
- Optional: soak 12 hours in:
- Trichoderma solution (biocontrol)
- Mild fungicide (nursery only)
2.4 Germination Medium
Recommended mix
- 40% river sand
- 40% coco coir
- 20% compost / vermicast
pH: 5.5–6.5
Drainage: excellent
2.5 Germination Conditions
| Factor | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Shade | 50–60% |
| Watering | Fine mist |
| Germination time | 7–21 days |
| Success rate | 70–90% |
2.6 Transplanting to Polybags
Timing: 2–3 true leaves
Polybags
- Size: 6″ × 8″ or 8″ × 10″
- Drain holes essential
Potting mix
- 40% topsoil
- 30% compost
- 20% sand
- 10% rice hull / biochar
3. Propagation via Tissue Culture (Advanced / Commercial)
3.1 Why Tissue Culture?
- Uniform genetics
- Disease-free stock
- Rapid multiplication
- Ideal for elite resin-producing lines
Used for:
- Large estates
- ESG / carbon projects
- Export-compliant plantations
3.2 Tissue Culture Methods
| Method | Application |
|---|---|
| Organogenesis | Shoot regeneration |
| Somatic embryogenesis | Mass propagation |
| Nodal culture | Clone elite trees |
(Aligned with COPI–CvSU protocols)
3.3 Acclimatization from Lab to Nursery
Stages
- Culture vessel → humidity chamber
- Mist chamber (2–4 weeks)
- Shade house (50–60%)
- Polybag transfer
Key risks
- Transplant shock
- Fungal attack
- Sudden humidity drop
3.4 Success Factors
- Gradual humidity reduction
- Sterile potting mix
- Biocontrol inoculation
- Shade management
4. Hardening & Acclimatization (MOST CRITICAL)
4.1 Purpose of Hardening
Hardening trains seedlings to:
- Withstand sun
- Resist wind
- Tolerate water stress
- Adapt to field microbes
4.2 Hardening Schedule (Standard)
| Stage | Shade | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Early nursery | 50–60% | 2–3 months |
| Mid hardening | 30–40% | 2–4 weeks |
| Final hardening | 10–20% | 2–3 weeks |
4.3 Water Management During Hardening
- Gradually reduce watering frequency
- Avoid wilting
- Encourage deep root growth
4.4 Root Development Indicators
Ready for field planting when:
- White fibrous roots visible
- No root circling
- Strong upright stem
- Height: 30–50 cm
5. Nutrition & Bio-Inoculation (Optional but Recommended)
5.1 Organic Feeding
- Vermicast tea (1:10)
- Seaweed extract (low dose)
- Avoid excess nitrogen
5.2 Beneficial Microbes
- Mycorrhizae (root dip)
- Trichoderma (soil drench)
- PGPR inoculants
⚠️ Do not inoculate with resin-inducing fungi at nursery stage.
6. Pest & Disease Management (Nursery)
Common Problems
- Damping-off
- Root rot
- Leaf miners
- Aphids
Preventive Measures
- Good drainage
- Proper spacing
- Biological control
- Sanitation
7. Nursery Record-Keeping (Compliance & ESG)
Maintain:
- Seed source records
- Germination rates
- Mortality rates
- Batch tagging
- Tissue culture lot numbers
Essential for:
- CITES traceability
- Carbon projects
- Investor audits
8. Common Nursery Mistakes
❌ Using old/dried seeds
❌ Overwatering
❌ No hardening phase
❌ Excess fertilizer
❌ Mixing nursery & field pathogens
9. Recommended Nursery Outputs
| Nursery Type | Plant Age |
|---|---|
| Smallholder | 4–6 months |
| Estate-scale | 6–8 months |
| Carbon / ESG | 8–10 months |
10. Key Takeaways
- Seed freshness determines success
- Tissue culture is for scale & uniformity
- Hardening decides field survival
- Nursery quality = future resin quality
Optional Next Modules
- 🌱 Nursery SOP checklist (printable)
- 🧪 Tissue culture facility layout
- 🌳 Field transplanting SOP
- 📊 Costing & ROI of nursery operations
- 🧭 TESDA NC-aligned nursery competency standards
Just tell me which one you want, and I’ll align it for Crown Agroforestry / Oud Academia / COPI rollout.