Modern horticultural seedling cultivation primarily relies on tray-based industrialized seedling production, which has already formed a related industry both domestically and internationally. Industrialized seedling culture is a method of mass seedling production carried out under artificially controlled environmental conditions, following the process and operational patterns of industrial production. It is characterized by intensification, scaling, specialization, standardization, mechanization, automation, and high fixed asset investment. Industrialized seedling culture boasts high efficiency, enabling seedling cultivation outside of the natural growing season and reducing the seedling cycle. The seedlings produced are of high quality and uniform in size, which is conducive to mechanized operations. In recent years, with the rise of Chinas modern horticultural industry, tray-based seedling production, as a representative of industrialized seedling culture technology, has rapidly developed and been applied in China. It has become a key technical link for the standardized production of horticultural crops in China. At present, Chinas agriculture is transitioning towards modernization, scaling, and intensification.
With the large annual demand for horticultural crop seedlings in China, seedling production companies are also developing at an increasingly fast pace. As the demand for horticultural seedlings in China grows and the facility horticulture industry develops, the number of domestic professional seedling companies is also on the rise. It is believed that the production of horticultural seedlings in China will achieve greater development in the future. However, compared with foreign countries, there is still a significant gap in the technical level and production scale of horticultural seedling production in China. The common problem at present is that the scale of household operations in China is small, and traditional decentralized seedling production by individual households still dominates. There is still a long way to go for commercial seedling supply, which also results in a relatively small number of seedlings produced by domestic seedling companies. Seedling production involves many aspects, such as seed selection and treatment, substrate formulation, precision sowing, precise environmental control for seedling growth, water and fertilizer regulation, pest and disease control, seedling sales packaging, transportation,etc. If any of these aspects is not properly controlled, it may lead to seedling production failure. Although China has made significant breakthroughs in individual technologies of industrialized seedling production in recent years, overall, the standardization degree of Chinas seedling production technology still needs to be further strengthened.
This textbook is oriented towards the needs of enterprise positions and focuses on the cultivation of students professional abilities. The content is compiled in line with the course design concept based on work tasks, emphasizing the connection of seedling production links and highlighting skill training. It adopts a teaching model integrating theory and practice, with projects as carriers and typical work tasks as drivers, to realize the integration of teaching, learning, and doing. It highlights the applicability of knowledge and integrates enterprise job content with teaching content organically.
This textbook is edited by Wang Quanzhi and Sun Pengpeng as the chief editors, with Lu Jing and Sun Liting as the associate editors. The textbook is divided into nine chapters: Chapter I Understanding of Industrialized Seedling Culture (written by Liu Ye Qiong and Chen Jie), Chapter II Physiological Basis of Plants for Industrialized Seedling Culture (written by Zhou Qi and Du Wenkai), Chapter III Preparation of Modern Vegetable Industrialized Seedling Culture Facilities and Equipment(written by Liu Li and Zhao Qing), Chapter IV Industrialized Seedling Culture Methods and Technical Application of Vegetables(written by Bao Huapeng and Liu Chao), Chapter V Industrialized Sowing Techniques for Vegetables (written by Wang Quanzhi and Sun Pengpeng), Chapter VI Main Environment Control Technologies for Vegetable Seedling Production (written by Lu Jing and Sun Liting), Chapter VII Common Diseases and Prevention Measures (written by Zhang Geng and Chen Liyong), Chapter VIII Common Pests and Prevention Measures (written by Liu Zhe and Zhang Yan), and Chapter IX Sales, Packaging, and Transportation of Vegetable Seedlings (written by Zheng Chenfei and Jiang Guanjun). The entire book was completed by Wang Quanzhi and Sun Pengpeng as the final editors. We extend our sincere thanks to all participating units for their support and cooperation.
Horticultural seedling production is the key and primary link for high_x0002_quality and efficient cultivation of horticultural crops, and industrialized seedling production is the most efficient way to achieve this. This book, adhering to the principles of simplicity, strong operability, and strong practicality, provides a comprehensive and detailed introduction to the technology of industrialized seedling production from all aspects of horticultural seedling production. Due to limited capabilities, errors and shortcomings are inevitable. We welcome any criticism and correction.