© Nitin Sangwan

Beginner’s Note for the UPSC Interview (Personality Test):

The UPSC Interview is formally called – the Personality Test i.e. it is not merely an
interview per se in correct sense, but is a test of your “personality” – a term which includes
many facets of you as an individual – your behavior, your manners, your attitude and aptitude
(for civil services), your awareness about your surroundings, your maturity level and so on. It is
not merely a test of knowledge, but at the same time, a well-informed person always has better
chances of scoring better than others. So, my strategy was to always prepare well for
interview. Ideally the preparation for the Personality Test should start from the day you start
your overall preparation as one should foresee this day and should note down ideas and events
accordingly and improve one’s behavior, speech and outlook. Nonetheless, whenever you start,
you should work around above ideas and for a sound preparation, I am sharing a series of notes
which will help you in adopting a better approach towards Personality Test preparation in a
much coherent fashion. I scored fairly well in all three interviews in a consistent manner with
193 out of 275 marks in the 2016 interview, a transcript of which is available here.

Best of luck!

Nitin Sangwan, IAS

AIR 28 (2016), AIR359 (2015), AIR 320 (2014)

PS: I would love to hear from you and request you to drop me a comment at:
www.meandupsc.blogspot.com if you need some further help in the exam or need to refer some
of my other notes for Civil Services exam, UPSC Interview or Haryana State PCS.
 © Nitin Sangwan

GARDENING and KITCHEN GARDENING

What is Gardening?

Gardening is the systematic growing of plants such as flowers, shrubs and trees as a hobby,
utility or recreation. Some people also grow vegetables or fruit in their gardens.

It involves an active participation in the growing of plants, and tends to be labor-intensive,

which differentiates it from farming or forestry.

Garden design is considered to be an art in most cultures, distinguished from gardening. In

Japan, Samurai and Zen monks were often required to build decorative gardens or practice
related skills like flower arrangement known as ikebana.

Gardening and Farming difference

The key distinction between gardening and farming is essentially one of scale.

Gardening can be a hobby or an income supplement, but farming is generally understood as a

full-time or commercial activity, usually involving more land and quite different practices.

Gardening is labor-intensive and employs very little infrastructural capital, sometimes no more
than a few tools, e.g. a spade, hoe, basket and watering can. By contrast, larger-scale farming
often involves irrigation systems, chemical fertilizers and harvesters.

Types of Gardening

There can be innumerable types of gardens depending upon cultures, settings, history and
various other factors.

Terrace gardens – In gardening, a terrace is an element where a raised flat paved or gravelled
section overlooks a prospect.

Kitchen garden

Indoor gardening is concerned with the growing of houseplants within a residence or building,
in a conservatory, or in a greenhouse.

Botanical garden is a garden dedicated to the collection, cultivation and display of a wide range
of plants labelled with their botanical names. Botanical gardens are often run by universities or
other scientific research organizations, and often have associated herbaria and research
programmes in plant taxonomy or some other aspect of botanical science. In principle, their role
is to maintain documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research,
conservation, display, and education. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden is
the first botanical garden of India and one of the first ‘tropical’ botanical gardens of Asia.

Water gardening is concerned with growing plants adapted to pools and ponds. In aquascaping,
 © Nitin Sangwan

a garden is created within an aquarium tank.

Community gardening is a social activity in which an area of land is gardened by a group of

people, socity etc.

Mughal gardens are a group of gardens built by the Mughals in the Persian style of architecture.
This style was heavily influenced by the Persian gardens particularly the Charbagh structure.
Some of the typical features include pools, fountains and canals inside the gardens. The founder
of the Mughal empire, Babur, described his favourite type of garden as a charbagh. The Agra
garden, now known as the Ram Bagh, is thought to have been the first charbagh.

Bottle garden is a container similar to a terrarium in which plants are grown. They usually
consist of a plastic or glass bottle with a narrow neck and a small opening. Plants are grown
inside the bottle with little or no exposure to the outside environment, and can be contained
indefinitely inside the bottle if properly illuminated.

Butterfly gardening is designed to create an environment that attracts butterflies, as well as

certain moths.

Famous Gardens in India

Chahar Baghs – Islamic gardens were built after the model of Persian gardens and they were
usually enclosed by walls and divided in 4 by watercourses. Commonly, the center of the
garden would have a pool or pavilion. Specific to the Islamic gardens are the mosaics and glazed
tiles used to decorate the rills and fountains that were built in these gardens.

Yadvindra Gardens (Pinjore) – A Mughal garden made during the period of Aurangzheb

Shalimar Bagh (Kashmir) – The Mughal garden, Shalimar Bagh is located near to the famous Dal
lake near Srinagar city built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his wife Nur Jahan.The Bagh is
considered the high point of Mughal horticulture. It is known for its shady gulmohar trees and a
fiesta of roses of all colours.

Brindavan gardens (Mysore) – The Brindavan gardens are in the royal city of Mysore in
Karnataka. The design of this garden is definitely inspired by the Shalimar gardens. But now, it is
known for its amazing light and sound show.

Mughal Garden – The green expanses around the Rashtrapati Bhavan are still called the Mughal
gardens. Every successive President of India has added some personal touches to this garden.

Nishat Bagh (Sri Nagar) – Nishat Bagh is a terraced Mughal garden next to Dal lake close to
Srinagar city, Its second largest Mughal Garden, the Shalimar bagh being the first.

Tulip Garden or the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is the largest tulip garden in Asia,
situated on the foothills of Zabarwan Hills and offers great overview of picturesque world
famous Dal Lake.
 © Nitin Sangwan

Lal Bagh or the red garden is a botanical garden in Bangalore, It has India’s largest collection of
tropical plants and is one of the main tourist attractions in city of Bangalore.

What is kitchen gardening?

A garden in which vegetables, fruits, and herbs are grown for household consumption.

Why kitchen gardening?

For me it has many ideas attached –

• Utilising RO waste water

• For me it is frugal farming – we have less of space (space is at a premium in small towns),
less water (being from Western Haryana).
• It is about management of spaces and resources. I realize that it help in keeping good
health as well. It involves some physical work – preparing soil, pruning trees, watering
them.
• Further, home grown vegetables help in keeping good health.
• And it saves money too.
• It makes homes look greener.
• Finally, it’s very fulfilling/satisfying for me as you witness your labor bearing fruit.
Basic principles of gardening?

• Vegetables such as peppers, etc keep providing throughout the season – so you may not need
many plants to serve your needs. Other vegetables, such as carrots, radishes, and corn, produce
only once. You may need to plant more of these.
• Most vegetables need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun. If they don't get enough light, they won't
bear as much and they'll be more susceptible to attack from insects or diseases. If you don't
have a spot in full sun to plant a garden with vegetables, you can still grow many leafy
vegetables such as lettuce (band-gobhi) and spinach.
• Before digging the soil for sowing seeds, soil should be watered properly
• Water should not stagnate during after sowing as seed may ‘gal jaayega’ or may catch some
fungal disease
• Large seeds should be soaked in water before sowing
• Smaller seeds should not be sowed deep
• Preferably watering of the plants should be done in the morning as it will supply the moisture
throughout the day
• Mild irrigation should be done after some time, say 3 days, of sowing – so that a hard layer may
not form above the seeds
• The closer your garden is to a source of water, the easier it will be for you.
• Best soil – water the soil, after a day – Squeeze the soil hard and open our hand. If the soil
hasn't formed a ball, or if the ball falls apart at the slightest touch, the soil is probably too sandy.
(Add organic matter to improve sandy soil.). If the ball holds together even if you poke it fairly
 © Nitin Sangwan

hard, you have too much clay in your soil (Organic matter improves clay soil, too). But if the ball
breaks into crumbs when you poke it – like a chocolate cake, Your soil is ideal.
• Loosen your soil before you plant a garden with vegetables. You can either use a tiller or dig by
hand. Once the soil has been loosened, spread out soil amendments (such as compost) and
work them into the soil. Avoid stepping on freshly tilled soil as much as possible. Otherwise,
you'll be compacting the soil and undoing all your hard work. When you're done digging,
smooth the surface with a rake, then water thoroughly. Allow the bed to rest for several days
before you plant.
• Selection of plants needs to be done as per our resources. Smaller compact/dwarf varieties can
be used if space is limited.
• If your soil doesn't drain well, your best bet will probably be to install raised beds.
• Weeds compete with your vegetables for water and nutrients, so it's important to keep them to
a minimum. Use a hoe or hand fork to lightly stir (cultivate) the top inch of soil regularly to
discourage weed seedlings.
• Try to sow seeds at some interval as this will make the harvest time longer as the vegetables
will grow at different pace.
How this hobby helps you? or What benefits this hobby has for you?

First of all, it gives me immense mental satisfaction.

It requires considerable amount of investment of time and effort, so it inculcates the habit of
remaining patience.

It involves physical labor and hence it helps me in keeping myself fit.

How this hobby can help children?

• It's a great way to do some physical activitles as children are now a days often glued to tv,
phones etc and they spend time outdoors in the sun with some physical activity.
• It teaches the young children the importance of human labor and also helps them appreciate
the hardship that our farmers undergo, so it is also a way of sensitizing the young ones.
Name a few exotic plants you have in your home.

Aruceria

Ficus elastica, or the rubber fig/plant

Is gardenery associated only with flowers and grasses?

It can have other dimensions as well – kitchen gardening, terrace gardening, bonsai gardening,
fruits, herbal gardening, botanical gardening and so on.

Which plants you promote and why?

I love a variety of plants and in fact all the plants.

 © Nitin Sangwan

My primary focus is always on indigenous species, especially those which require less water, are
hardy and have shade as well.

Neem, Sheesham and Banyan (vat/bargad) tree etc. I have a sheesham and a neem at my home
as well though people often say that they might damage the building structure.

My home is in an unorganized colony where space is at a premium in streets and few trees are
there. I try to locate places where planting of trees is feasible. They provide shade to hawkers
and venders in the street for whom life can be difficult during summers if shade is not there.

There is also tendency among the people to buy land and put boundry around it which is waste
of money as well as space. Sometimes I also plant saplings in corners of such plots, so that idle
land can be utilized.

• Play a role in diversification of agricultural activity

• Beautification of cities
• Help in lowering down the pollution and heating in cities
• Promote birds nesting and give shed to the passengers
• Preserve endemic species
ORGANIC FARMING

What is organic farming?

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that uses traditional and eco friendly
techniques for farming such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological
pest control.

Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of ecology and modern

technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring biological
processes.

Crop diversity is a distinctive characteristic of organic farming. (Conventional farming

focuses on mass production of one crop in one location, a practice called monoculture.)

It tries to avoid synthetic methods including GM methods.

Organic farming uses a variety of methods to improve soil fertility, including crop
rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and application of compost. By reducing
tillage, soil is not inverted and exposed to air; less carbon is lost to the atmosphere
resulting in more soil organic carbon. This has an added benefit of carbon sequestration
which can reduce green house gases and aid in reversing climate change.

Since 1990 the market for organic food and other products has grown rapidly, reaching
$63 billion worldwide in 2012.

In India, states such as Sikkim and Kerala have planned to shift to fully organic
 © Nitin Sangwan

cultivation by 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Components of Organic Farming

• Crop rotation
• Utilizing Crop Residue
• Manure – FYM (Farm Yard Manure), Green Manure, Compost
• Vermicompost
• Biofertilizers
• Biopesticides
Organic Kitchen Gardening

Some tips and tricks –

• Dig deep before sowing seeds, it destroys the seeds of weeds and eggs of pests
• Cut the infested leaves and branches
• Fumigation of sulphate should not be done during dew time or fog time
• Infested fruits/vegetables should be buried deep in soil
• Organic horticulture tolerates some pest populations while taking the long view. Organic
pest control requires a thorough understanding of pest life cycles and interactions.
• It encourages predatory beneficial insects to flourish and eat pests.
• It encourages beneficial microorganisms.
• It involves, careful plant selection, choosing disease-resistant varieties
• It also involves rotating crops to different locations from year to year to interrupt pest
reproduction cycles.
• Organic weed reducing methods include – mulching, tillage, crop rotation
• Organic methods to control pests and other organisms – crop rotation, manual plucking
of infested leaves, encouraging predatory beneficial insects (like ladybird), encouraging
pest repelling plants, using biologic pesticides and herbicides
Benefits of organic farming

Health

Environmental

Cost effective – The increased cost of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide inputs, along
with the higher prices that consumers pay for organic produce, contribute to increased
profits.

Hazards of organic farming

Using manure as a fertiliser risks contaminating food with animal gut bacteria, including
pathogenic strains of E. coli that have caused fatal poisoning from eating organic food.
 © Nitin Sangwan

All organic pesticides may not work and may even have side effects, as current research
is very limited and their usage is also very low.

Institutes for promotion of organic farming in India

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Department of Agriculture and
Cooperation are involved in promoting organic farming in India.

National Centre of Organic Farming is also the dedicated government institution to

promote oraganic farming. National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF) under Ministry of
Agriculture is responsible for implementation of National Project on Organic Farming
(NPOF). NPOF is being implemented by National Centre of Organic Farming at
Ghaziabad and its six Regional Centres at Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Panchkula, Imphal,
Jabalpur and Nagpur.

There are also private initiatives like – Organic Farmer Society in Hisar

Agency certifying organic products

APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) is the
authority which certifies the products which are exported from India.

Is organic farming expensive?

Not always, there are ample examples which have shown that organic farming infacts is
more profitable. There are examples from Jind in Haryana and even Bhiwani district.
Further, even if produce is lower, organic products sell at higher prices. Recognizing its
benefits, Kerala and Sikkim are going for full organic farming from 2016.

Small farmers however benefit from it as they can sell the produce at higer prices. This
can also be a solution to the surplus labor issue as organic farming is labor intensive.
This is also a way to preserve local biodiversity.

Government steps promoting organic farming?

National Project on Organic Farming

25% subsidy restricted to Rs.40.00 lakh for setting up of Bio-fertilisers/Bio-pesticides

production units.

National Horticulture Mission and RKVY also have organic farming specific components
and subsidy provisions.

SOIL

What types of soils are required for various vegetables and fruits?
 © Nitin Sangwan

Different plants have different Ph requirements, so soils have to be different for

different plants.For example – Mushroom and Chillies may tolerate a soil with slightly
high Ph value (i.e. a bit basic soil). Most of other plants like a bit acidic soil (Ph value – 5-
7).

Saltiness is another factor. Some plants like guvava, ber, grape, potato, watermelon
can tolerate salty soil. On the other hands, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Palak etc are sensitive
to saltiness.

Some plants need more water and hence soil which can retain water is required in their
case. Clay soil is suitable for them.

What type of soil is there in Haryana?

Haryana has three types of soil – Relatively new alluvial (karnal, panipat, sonipat,
Yaunanagar), the areas which are closer to Yamuna. It is Low in N; Medium in P, High in
K. As we move away from the flood plains, soils have more Kankar.

Western Haryana (Sirsa and Loharu) have very old alluvium called ‘Bagur’, due to which
the area is also called Bagur.

There is also some sandy soil in the area of Loharu. In the south-western part, a great
deal of wind-blown sand has been piled up in the form of sand dunes which have
covered the alluvial soil beneath.

SOWING SEEDS

• Larger the seeds, the deeper it should be sown. Minute seeds are just sprinkled over the
surface of soil
• Larger seeds can be put in water, so that they may loosen up
• Water should not stagnate on the seeds, else the will rot
SEASONS FOR VARIOUS VEGETABLES

Main Seasons in India are –

• वसन्त or Spring (March-May)

• ग्रीष्म or Summer (May-July)
• वर्षा or Monsoon (July-September)
• शरद् or Autumn (September-November)
• हे मन्त or Fall (November-January)
• शशशशर or Winter (January-March)
Both Seasons

• Spinach (Paalak) – A cool-weather loving green, spinach is a fast-growing relative of

 © Nitin Sangwan

beets. You can plant spinach in either spring or fall, or both if you want to produce a
biannual harvest. But in India, it is generally grown before the start of winter and lourish
more during tht time. Its second harvest (if sown in feb/march) has relatively less
produce. Because spinach is a small plant that does not grow deep roots, you will not
need a large growing space if you are only growing spinach. Spinach likes soil rich in
organic matter. Sow seeds 1/2-inch deep and two inches apart. Rows are spaced at
least eight inches apart if planting in rows. Cover the soil of the planting area with a few
inches of hay, straw, leaf, or grass mulch to prevent weeds from sprouting up. Pulling
unwanted weeds may harm the fragile spinach roots. Keep your planting area moist.
• Brinjal (Baingun) – Also know as Eggplant (Solanum melongena) or aubergine.
Winter

•Dhaniya (Coriander)
•Methi (Fenugreek)
•Pudina (Peppermint)
•Onions (Pyaaj)
•Cabbage (Bandh gobhi)
•Cauliflower (Phool gobhi)
•Pea (Matar)
•Radish (Mooli)
•Carrot (Gaajar) – They contain lots of beta-carotene - this helps us keep our eyes and
skin healthy.
• Matar (Pea)
• Chukandar (Beet root)
• Taro root (Arbi)
Summer

•Okra (Bhindi) – Diseases like – spotted caterpillar (chittedar sundi), blister beatle, rust,
mites
• Tomato
• Chilli (Mirchi)
• Kheera (Cucumbers)
• Gheeya (Bottle/Smooth Gourd)
• Tauri (Ridged Gourd)
• Karela (Bitter Gourd)
• Petha (Pumkin)
PLANT NUTRITION, FERTILIZERS, COMPOST, MANURES ETC

What are the various nutrients needed by the plants?

Plants generally require 18 nutrients, out of which, some are available through water,
air and sun and they are called non-mineral nutrients also.
 © Nitin Sangwan

Plant require 3 major ‘primary macro-nutrients’ – Nitrogen, Potassium and

Phosphorous

• Nitrogen – Essential for growth, greening of leaves. Ddeficiency is reflected in

yellowness of leaves.
Urea, NPK fertilizers
• Phosphorous – Growth
of roots, cell division,
development of flowers
and fruits. Leaves turn
blue/violet colored in deficiency. Di-Ammonium Phosphate, NPK
• Potasium – Protein building, growth. Deficiency leads to browning of leaves
edges, weak stems. Murate of Potash, NPK.
There are also a few more ‘secondary macro nutrients’. They are – Sulphur, Calcium,
Magnesium, Silicon

Apart from these three, plants also require many micronutrients and symbiotic
relationships with fungi and other organisms to flourish.

What are various nutrition deficencies that can be there in plants?

• Boron deficiency
• Calcium deficiency
• Iron deficiency – Symptoms include leaves turning yellow or brown in the margins
between the veins which may remain green, while young leaves may appear to be
bleached.
• Magnesium
deficiency
• Manganese
deficiency
• Nitrogen
deficiency – The
chlorophyll
content of the
plant leaves is
reduced which
results in pale
yellow colour.
Older leaves turn
completely yellow.
• Phosphorus deficiency – Phosphorus deficiency is most common in areas of high rainfall,
especially on acid, clay or poor chalk soils. Cold weather can cause a temporary
deficiency. Symptoms include poor growth, and leaves that turn blue/green but not
 © Nitin Sangwan

yellow.
• Potassium deficiency – Typical symptoms of potassium deficiency in plants include
brown scorching and curling of leaf tips
• Zinc deficiency – If leaves are yellow from the top, it is due to nitrogen deficiency, but if
ellow from bottom, it is due to Zinc deficiency.

What are various types of fertilisers?

Fertilizers are chemical substances that are used to enrich soils with specific nutrients to
help plants grow. When applied to the soil, fertilizers break down into these
constituent nutrients and are then absorbed through the root systems of plants as a
form of nourishment. They can be solid or liquid.
 © Nitin Sangwan

Some common fertilizers are –

Urea – Urea is the most widely used solid nitrogen fertilizer. When applied to soil, urea
reacts with water to form ammonia, which makes the nitrogen within the fertilizer
available to plants. Urea fertilizers deliver one of the highest amounts of nitrogen at 46
percent, with no phosphorus or potassium. It provides higher nitrogen a compared to
Ammonium Nitrate.

Ammonium Nitrate – A solid fertilizer typically applied in granular form, ammonium

nitrate provides substantial amounts of nitrogen to the soil. Ammonium nitrate is
particularly effective at fertilizing specialty crops such as citrus and pasture lands.
Ammonium nitrate typically provides 33 percent nitrogen.

Ammonium Sulfate – A by-product derived from the waste generated by coke ovens,
ammonium sulfate forms when sulfuric acid is used to remove ammonia from the coal
used to make coke. Ammonium sulfate is a solid material that contains 21 percent
nitrogen.

Calcium Nitrate – This fertilizer contains 16 percent nitrogen in a nitrate form. Less
effective than other nitrogen fertilizers due to leaching when applied to soil, calcium
nitrate is often used in fruit and vegetable crops to provide a readily available source of
nitrogen and also provides soluble calcium for soils that are calcium deficient.

Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) – Where soils do not have enough phosphorus,

diammonium phosphate can provide significant amounts of this chemical, at around 46
percent. The ammonia component of diammonium phosphate also delivers around 18
percent nitrogen. Highly water soluble, diammonium phosphate is often applied in
liquid form. It lacks Potassium.

Fertiliser use and scenario in India

• Average intensity of fertilizer use in India remains much lower than most countries in
the world but is highly skewed with wide inter-regional, inter-state and inter-district
variations.
• The consumption of fertilizers varies significantly from state to state. Haryana and
Punjab are the leading state and use respectively 170 kg and 190 kg per hectare per
yeas.
• Because the deficiency of N is widespread, the N:P:K use ratio has favoured N. In India
also, Urea is produced the most – almost 3 times the next product i.e. DAP. These are
the two major fertilizer that are produced in India.
• Subsidy o fertilizer is around Rs 70,000 crore.
• While India uses many types of fertilizers, urea accounts for most of the consumption of
N and DAP for most of that of P2O5.
• As a result of the oil crisis in the mid-1970s and the consequent sharp increase in the
 © Nitin Sangwan

international prices of fertilizers, the Government of India encouraged investment in

domestic fertilizer production plants in order to reduce dependence on imports.
• India imports mainly urea, DAP and potassium chloride (MOP). The country has almost
reached self-sufficiency in urea production.
• Gas is main ingredient in fertilizer industry. TAPI pipeline commission is likely to make ga
cheaper in India and hence cheaper fertilizers.
• Government has come up with a new nutrient based subsidy policy to discourage the
unbalanced of fertilizers.
What are the various side-effects of fertilizer use?

• Eutrophcation – Agricultural run-off is a major contributor to the eutrophication of fresh

water bodies. For example, in the US, about half of all the lakes are eutrophic.
• Nitrate pollution – Only a fraction of the nitrogen-based fertilizers is converted to
produce and other plant matter. The remainder accumulates in the soil or lost as run-
off. High application rates of nitrogen-containing fertilizers combined with the high
water-solubility of nitrate leads to increased runoff into surface water as well as
leaching into groundwater, thereby causing groundwater pollution.
• Acidification – Nitrogen-containing fertilizers can cause soil acidification when added.
What is compost?

Compost is organic matter (generally excluding the fecel matter, which on the other
hand is termed as ‘manure’) that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and
soil amendment.

At the simplest level, the process of composting simply requires making a heap of
wetted organic matter known as green waste (leaves, food waste) and waiting for the
materials to break down into humus after a period of weeks or months.

The compost itself is beneficial for the land in many ways, including as a soil conditioner,
a fertilizer, addition of vital humus or humic acids, and as a natural pesticide for soil.

Composting are of two types –

• Aerobic
• Non-aerobic composting
What is vermicompost?

Vermicompost is the product or process of composting through the utilization of various

species of worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and earthworms, to create a
heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste (excluding meat, dairy,
fats, or oils), bedding materials, and vermicast.

What is manure?
 © Nitin Sangwan

Manure is mainly composed of animal and bird feces. Chicken feces is considered the
best manure.

Manure is high in nitrogen, a main ingredient in commercial fertilizer.

Manure must be processed to remove E. coli and other contaminants so that it is safe
to use. This can be done commercially with heating of manure. At home, it can done by
using the older manure and exposig it to sun light.

What is Green Manure?

Green undecomposed material used as manure is called green manure. It is obtained in

two ways: by growing green manure crops or by collecting green leaf (along with twigs)
from plants grown in wastelands, field bunds and forest. Green manuring is growing in
the field plants usually belonging to leguminous family and incorporating into the soil
after sufficient growth. Bean, pea etc are some of green manure crops.

What is difference between ‘compost’ and ‘manure’?

Compost can be made up of many ingredients. These include, but are not limited to,
grass clippings, dead plants, mulched leaves, twigs and other yard waste; kitchen
scraps such as banana peels, apple cores, orange and grapefruit rinds, rotting
vegetables, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags; paper waste including newspaper,
cardboard egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, shredded office paper; water and activators.
Composting occurs naturally in the woods when dead leaves, plants and trees
decompose and go back to the earth.

Manure is mainly composed of animal and bird feces. Chicken feces is considered the
best manure.

Manure can be used as an activator for compost, it fastens up the composting process.

PLANTS DISEASES, PESTS and REMEDIES (PESTICIDES, WEEDICIDES)

What are various physiological plant disorders?

Physiological plant disorders are caused by non-pathological conditions such as poor

light, adverse weather, water-logging, phytotoxic compounds or a lack of nutrients,
and affect the functioning of the plant system. Physiological disorders are distinguished
from plant diseases caused by pathogens, such as a virus or fungus.

Frost damage – Symptoms will often appear overnight, affecting many types of plants.
Leaves and stems may turn black, and buds and flowers may be discoloured, and
frosted blooms may not produce fruit.

Plants affected by salt stress are unable to take water from soil, due to an osmotic
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imbalance between soil and plant.

What are various types of pests/diseases which affect your garden?

Organisms that cause problems on organic farms include arthropods (e.g., insects,
mites), nematodes, fungi, virus and bacteria.

• Aphids are also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as
greenflies, blackflies, or whiteflies. Aphids are among the most destructive
insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions. Their success is due in
part to the asexual reproductive capabilities of some species. Plants exhibiting
aphid damage can
have a variety of
symptoms, such
as decreased
growth rates,
mottled leaves,
yellowing, stunted growth, curled leaves, browning, wilting, low yields and
death. The removal of sap creates a lack of vigour in the plant, and aphid saliva
is toxic to plants. Aphids frequently transmit disease-causing organisms like
plant viruses to their hosts. An insecticidal soap solution is an effective
househol
d remedy
to control
aphids
and other
soft-
bodied arthropods.
Season of aphids – December to February
Crops affected – sarson (fali par attack), other oil seed crops
• Beetles
Laaldi (insect) eats leaves of cucumber and kakri
• Blight – Due to Bacteria. Plants become blackish (blackish power). Affects
Wheat, Jo etc.
• Bugs – Charactersised by
piercing mouth, they directly
suck the sap. Their sucking result
into breakage of the necks.
Names of some common bugs
are – Red Cotton Bug (RC Bug)
Season – Monsoon season more
active
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Plants affected – cotton

• Caterpillar (सुण्डी)
• Cercospora is a genus of fungus and it causes dark spots.
• Fruit Borer – These are caterpillars of some wasps and fruit flies.
• Fruit Fly – It eats the flesh of fruits. Affects many vegetables as well
• Gall Mite – These microscopic mites suck sap and cause abnormal growths.
These include raised pimples or clumps of matted hairs on leaves, or enlarged
buds. Most are harmless and can be tolerated.
• Gerua (Rust) affects the crops such as wheat (yellow rust) and it is a fungal
disease.
• Grubs
• Leaf curl
(marodiya) is a
plant disease
characterized by
curling of leaves,
and caused by a
fungus or virus
(in case of
tomato).
Assoicated with
whitefly
presence.
Maintain a high
standard of
weed control
within and
around crops to
reduce hosts of
the virus.
Season –
• Leaf Miner –
Larva of various insects including butterflies, flies etc make something like
underground mines in leafs. While butterflies lay egg openly, flies with sting lay
egg inside the leaf skin. Most leaf miner damage is relatively harmless and can
be left untreated.
• Mosaic disease or Yellow Mosaic – It is a disease caused by the virus. Leaves
turn yellow. It can be caused by Chepa as well. Okra is one of the vegetables
which is affected by it. Malathion can be used to cure.
• Nematodes are small, multicellular wormlike animals. Many live freely in the
soil, but there are some species that parasitize plant roots. They are a problem
 © Nitin Sangwan

in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, where they may infect crops.
Nematodes are able to cause radical changes in root cells in order to facilitate
their lifestyle. Affect Zylum veins of plants, not visible with naked eyes.
Plant affected – stunted growth, nodes are formed in the roots of the plants.
Generally, caused by untreated manure. To check this problem, dry cultivation
of soil is done during May or June to expose the nematodes to sun heat.
Leguminous plants are the most affected. Cereals are not affected.
• Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that affects a wide range of plants.
Powdery mildew diseases are caused by many different species of fungi. It
affects more during dry season. Fumigation by the natural ingrediants like –
Gandhak (sulphate). It attacks a range of fruits and vegetable leaves incuding
tomato, wheat, chameli and so on.
• Sawflies – Leaf rolling is usually the first sign of sawflies. Pick caterpillars off by
hand or spray with bifenthrin or pyrethrum.
• Spider Mites – The tiny mites live under leaves and suck sap, causing yellow
mottling. Fine webs are sometimes visible. Raise humidity and use a biological
control under glass. Otherwise try organic sprays.
Relatively less harmful
• Thrips – Small insects. Also called ‘Chepua’
Chepa attacks mustard and many other leafy vegetables. Melathion can be
used.
Season – Winter, December, January
Plants affected – Mooli ke fool, just before flowering or early seed formation
time, sarson
• Vine Larvae – Small cream grubs with a brown head feed on plant roots,
especially those growing in containers or with fleshy roots. This can cause plants
to suddenly collapse.
• Whitefly – Found on the bottom of leaves, it saps the plant and secretes a toxic
fluid. Whitefly control is difficult and complex, as whiteflies rapidly gain
resistance to chemical pesticides.
Season – December January
Plant affected – It is the vector of Yellow mosaic disease, which affects Okra
and some pulses like Beans.
Plants affected – tomato, papaya, Okra
How to control pests?

There are many ways including organic and conventional method.

Chemical pesticides are the most commonly used. Hayana and Punjab are the leading
states in their use. They have various composition depending upo types of pests i.e. they
can be insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, fumigants, pheromones (biochemicals used
to disrupt the mating behavior of insects) and so on. Some common chemical pesticides
 © Nitin Sangwan

used in India are –

• BHC alone represent 50% of the total pesticide volume of pesticide. It is a

fungicide formerly used as a seed treatment, especially on wheat to control the
fungal disease bunt. It has been banned globally under the Stockholm
Convention on persistent organic pollutants.
• Aldrin is another organochlorine insecticide that was widely used until the
1970s, when it was banned in most countries.
• Sulphur (fungicide)
• Endosulfan (insecticide). It is also banned now.
• Phorate (insecticide)
• Malathion (insecticide) is an organophosphate.
• Butachlor (herbicide)
Integrated Pest Management is also one technique which is holistic in its approach. It
aims at minimizing the level of pests, not targeting total elimination, as it can be
expensive. It also calls for ‘preventable cultural practices’.

Plant quarantine and 'cultural techniques' such as crop sanitation are next, e.g.,
removal of diseased plants, and cleaning pruning shears to prevent spread of infections.

Regular visual inspection is also done.

Mechanical controls like simple hand-picking, barriers, traps, vacuuming and tillage to
disrupt breeding are also used.

Biological controls can also be employed and friendly insects are used in this among
other methods.

Washing the plant, especially the undersides of leaves, may help reduce the number of
the pests on the plants and make their management by other methods more effective.

Light traps are also used which cost around Rs 300-500.

Crop rotation

Intercropping

Mulching – to keep weeds down, also prevents moisture from escaping

Hand pick bugs, water leaves from down side

Make it a habit to change the location of your plants each year.

Ash is also used to disinfect some of the pests especially on tomatoes.

Remove diseased plants early on

 © Nitin Sangwan

What is biological pest control?

Biological control is a bioeffector-method of controlling pests (including insects, mites,

weeds and plant diseases) using other living organisms. It relies on predation,
parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active
human management role.

Organic Pest Control Methods

• Neem extract. However, it has limited affect and has to be used repeatedly. Boil neem
leaves in water, mix with liquid detergent and spray.
• Lassi fermented with copper in sun for 15 days is also an effective pesticide.
• Aak plant extract with Gadumba extract can also be used as effective pesticide
• Several strains of Trichoderma fungus have been developed as biocontrol agents
against fungal diseases of plants.
• Another method is – using a belnded mixture of chilly and garlic, keep in sun for two
days, then filter it using a common Chalni and use the water as a spray.
• Another method is use – 1 spoon of liquid hand wash, one cup cooking oil and one cup
water. Mix them thoroughly and use as a spray.
• Tobacco can also be used to deflect pests. Tobacco is useful in targeting caterpillars,
aphids, and worms, but it is not safe to use on peppers, tomatoes. First mix 250 gm
tobacco in 4 liter water. Then allow the mixture to settle
in sun for a day. Filter this water and add 3 spoons of
liquid detergent and use the mixture on affected areas.
• Orange peel (chilka) also acts as a pesticide as it carries
citrus. Citrus is especially helpful in targeting soft-bodied
bugs, including slugs, aphids, fungus gnats, and mealy
bugs. When sprayed directly onto the pests, this pesticide
also works against ants and roaches. Place the peels into a
glass container and pour 2 cups (500 milliliters) of boiling
water over the peels. Allow the solution to sit in a warm
spot for 24 hours. Add some oil into it and mix and spray.
• Chrysanthemums contain a chemical component called
pyrethrum, which is capable of paralyzing many garden
insects.
• Change the spot of gardening after a season for a particular vegetable.
• Clear garden area of debris and weeds which are breeding places for insects.
• Use clean mulch. Mulch also plays role of preventing pests
• Pull out any weak plants. They may already be infected. If not, they will attract
predators. Pull the plant and dispose of it away from the garden area.
• Interplant and rotate crops. Insect pests are often plant specific. When plantings are
mixed, pests are less likely to spread throughout a crop.
 © Nitin Sangwan

• Keep foliage dry. Water early so foliage will be dry for most of the day. Wet foliage
encourages insect and fungal damage to your plants.
• Encouragig friendly insects like ladybugs, Praying Mantis (they have an appetite for
most garden pests), Hover-flies (they are avid consumers of aphids, and the larva of
hover-flies eat aphids) etc
• Light/Insect Traps – They typically use food, visual lures, chemical attractants and
pheromones as bait and are installed so that they do not injure other animals or humans
or result in residues in foods or feeds.
Their common limitation is that they cannot be applied over large areas and needs to be
applied more frequently and are also not suitable for all pests – especially those work under
soil or at roots.

Some common weedicides/herbicide

• 2,4-D is a broadleaf herbicide in the phenoxy group used in turf and no-till field crop
production
• Metolachlor is a pre-emergent herbicide widely used for control of annual grasses in
corn and sorghum
• Atrazine, a triazine herbicide, is used in corn and sorghum for control of broadleaf
weeds and grasses
• Sinazine
• Dalapon
• Dicarboximide
• Sodium chlorate, a nonselective herbicide, is considered phytotoxic to all green plant
parts. It can also kill through root absorption.
• Agent Orange was an herbicide blend used by the British military during the Malayan
Emergency
• Bavistin a fungicide. It is generally used for Seed Treatment (a few grams per kg of
seeds)
• Copper Sulphide is another fungicide
• For smaller space, weeds should be removed by hand
VEGETABLES and HORTICULTURE

Types of vegetables –

• Bulb Vegetables – Bulb vegetables are said to be medicinal, especially onion and garlic.
While onion is called the magic bulb, garlic is often referred to as the wonder drug.
Since ancient times, bulb vegetables are used as medicines because of their quality of
curing diseases like high blood pressure and even prevention of cancer.
• Flower Vegetables – Cauliflower, Broccoli
• Fruit Vegetables – Fruit vegetables are so called because botanically they fulfill the
definition of fruits, but are used as vegetables by human beings. Common fruit
 © Nitin Sangwan

vegetables are – Bell Pepper (capsicum), Bitter Melon/Gourd (Karela), Cucumber, Egg
plant or Brinjal, Pumpkin, Okra, Snake Gourd, Indian round gourd or apple gourd or
Indian baby pumpkin or Tinda etc
• Leaf Vegetables – Lettuce (cabbage), spinach etc
• Podded vegetables – Popularly known as legumes, are seeds that are found inside two-
sided pods. Podded vegetables are a rich source of proteins which help in providing the
energy and strength required to carry out daily activities. Urad Bean, Mung bean,
Soybean
• Stem Vegetables are generally not eaten much in Northern India.
Planting Depth for Vegetables

Longer the root of the vegetables, more the depth is needed. While sowing seeds also,
larger seeds can be sowed deeper. Following is the depth of soil bed that is required, if
you plan to plant the vegetables in a container etc. –

• 4-5 inches: lettuce, radishes, other salad greens, basil, coriander

• 6-7 inches: bush beans, garlic, onions, peas, mint
• 8-9 inches: carrots, cucumber, eggplant, peppers, spinach, parsley, rosemary
• 10-12 inches: beets, okra, potatoes, lemongrass
Tips for vegetable growing

• Most vegetables require six hours of sunlight per day. Salad greens and herbs can
usually get by with less. Tomatoes, peppers, beans and other sun-lovers will appreciate
as much sun as they can get.
Seeds companies for vegetables

• Mahyaco
• Dupont
• JK Seeds
• Kaveri Seeds
• Tulsi Seeds
• Sungro Seeds
• Century Seeds
What are various fruits and vegetables that can be grown in shade?

Some amount of light is necessary. The best vegetables to grow in part shade include
greens (with broad green leafs like spinach) and root crops. Like – cabbage, carrots,
cauliflower

What type of vegetation do you suggest for person who lives in Delhi? How can a person who
lives in Delhi may practice kitchen gardening?

It can be practiced in form of ‘Terrace Gardening’.

 © Nitin Sangwan

Many vegetables require shallow beds (like spinach, cabbage and even some vines like
cucumber)

Empty big bottles, boxes can be used.

Some also grow well in semi-shade areas.

Clubbing two or more compatible vegs and plants.

Name some fast growing vegetables?

Green Onions – While it can take 6 months for onion bulbs to mature, the green onion
stalks can be harvested after just 3 or 4 weeks.

Radishes and Turnips – 30-40 days – When sowing radish seeds, plant some about a
half-inch deep and the rest a little deeper. Those close to the surface will germinate
more quickly, extending the harvest by a few days. The deeper roots will be later, but
larger, than the shallow ones.

Spinach – 40-45 days – Spinach is one of the fastest-growing leaf vegetables. Plant in
the spring and start harvesting the leaves in four to six weeks, beginning with the older,
larger ones. The spinach plant will keep growing and producing new leaves well into the
summer.

Cucumber – around 60 days

Decorative vegetation or edible gardening

It is the use of vegetables for the dual purpose of decoration and eating.

Which places in India has the most developed horticulture scenario and why?

• Tamil Nadu is leading in total fruit production

• West Bengal tops the vegetable production
• Haryana is 10th in terms of vegetable production, but lags behind in fruit production
• West Bengal and Tamil Nadu lead in flower production
• North Eastern states have a potential in fruit and flower cultivation
• Different states lead in production of different fruits and vegetables
o J&K – Apple
o Maharashtra – Grapes, Guvava
o Tamil Nadu – Banana
o Bihar – Litchi
o UP – Mango
o Punjab – Orange
Horticulture Promotion
 © Nitin Sangwan

National Horticulture Board (NHB) was set up in 1984 with its head quarter in Gurgaon

National Horticulture Mission

State level efforts – Israel Corporation in Haryana

Which countries in the world have the most developed horticulture industry?

China leads followed by India

FLOWERS and ONAMENTAL PLANTS

Semi-perannial and seasonal flowers

Chrysanthemum. गुलदषउदी फूल The name
"chrysanthemum" is derived from the Greek
words chrysos (gold) and anthemon (flower). It
also has insecticidal use.

Poppy. Poppies are herbaceous annual, biennial or

short-lived perennial plants. Some species are
monocarpic, dying after flowering. Following the
trench warfare which took place in the poppy
fields of Flanders, during the 1st World War,
poppies have become a symbol of remembrance
of soldiers who have died during wartime.
Dahlia (डषललयष) – Its related species include the
sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum. It has more
than 40 varieties and it is used extensively in
decoration.

Daisy (गुलबहषर)
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Petunia (annual, blooms in winter). Petunias are

available in many colours and we see pink, yellow,
purple, red, maroon, white, dark red, orange

Perennial Flowers
Plumeria/Frangipani (चम्पष) -

Crape jasmine (चषांदनी)

Amaltas

Motia (a type of Jasmine)

Gulmohar

Flame of the Forest or Palash or Dhak

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Vine FLowers
Bougainvillea

Jasmine (चमेली) - Jasmines can be either

deciduous (leaves falling in autumn) or evergreen
(green all year round), and can be erect,
spreading, or climbing shrubs and vines.
Trumpet Vine

Rangoon Creeper or Madhu Malti

Decoctions of the root, seed or fruit can be used
as antihelmintic to expel parasitic worms or for
alleviating diarrhea.

Jasminum (Mogra)
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Juhi

Asparagus Racemosus (Shatavari) – It is a climbing

plant which grows in low jungles areas throughout
India. This sweet and bitter herb is particularly
balancing to Pitta Dosha. In India, Shatavari is
considered the women's equivalent to
Ashwagandha.

Shrub Flowers
Hibiscus (गुढ़ल) – Also known as Chinese Rose.

Ixora

Lily
Motia or Bela: Similar to Mogra
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Vinca

Ornamental Plants
Asparagus Densiflorus

Curtain creeper, Vernonia creeper, Parda bel

Money Plant
Ribbon Grass

Pleomele

Carpet Grass
 © Nitin Sangwan

Purple heart Plant

Boston Fern

Taro Plant or Alocasia

Arucaria

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS ON GARDENING/PLANTATION

What are annuals?

Plants whose life cycle lasts only one year, from seed to blooms to seed.

What are foliage plants?

Foliage refers to the leafy parts of a tree or plant. Foliage plant is the term for a plant
that is grown mostly for it's foliage (leaves). Most foliage plants are grown indoors, but
the majority of them can be grown outside in semi-shade most of the year round.

What is natural landscaping?

‘Natural landscaping’, also called ‘native gardening’, is the use of native plants,
including trees, shrubs, groundcover, and grasses which are indigenous to the
geographic area of the garden.
 © Nitin Sangwan

What is naturecaping?

Naturescaping (or nature scaping) is a method of landscape design and landscaping that
allows people and nature to coexist. By incorporating certain plants, especially native
ones, into one's yard, one can attract beneficial insects, birds, and other creatures, and
help keep our rivers and streams healthy.

What are bio-fertilizers?

A Bio fertilizer (also bio-fertilizer) is a substance which contains living microorganisms

which, when applied to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the
interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of
primary nutrients to the host plant.

The main inputs are microorganisms, which are capable of mobilizing nutritive
elements from non-usable form to usable form through biological process.

They are generally are of two types –

• Symbiotic N-fixation
• Asymbiotic N-fixation
What is xeriscaping?

It is a method of growing plants with minimum amount of water usage.

Difference between horticulture and agriculture

The Latin words hortus (garden plant) and cultura (culture) together form horticulture,
classically defined as the culture or growing of garden plants. Horticulture is also
sometimes defined simply as “agriculture minus the plough.” Instead of the plough,
horticulture makes use of human labour and gardener’s hand tools.

Horticulture involves five areas of study. These areas are floriculture (includes
production and marketing of floral crops), landscape horticulture (includes production,
marketing and maintenance of landscape plants), olericulture (includes production and
marketing of vegetables), pomology (includes production and marketing of fruits), and
postharvest physiology (involves maintaining quality and preventing spoilage of
horticultural crops).

Difference between fruits and vegetables

Botanically speaking, a fruit is a seed-bearing structure that develops from the ovary of
a flowering plant, whereas vegetables are all other plant parts, such as roots, leaves and
stems. By those standards, seedy outgrowths such as apples, squash and, yes, tomatoes
are all fruits, while roots such as beets, potatoes and turnips, leaves such as spinach,
kale and lettuce, and stems such as celery and broccoli are all vegetables. So tomato,
 © Nitin Sangwan

brinjal, okra etc can also be called fruits!

What is mulch?

Mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of an area of soil. Its purpose can be –
to conserve moisture; to improve the fertility and health of the soil; to reduce weed
growth; to enhance the visual appeal of the area etc

Mulch is usually organic in nature. It may be permanent (e.g. plastic sheeting) or

temporary (e.g. bark chips). Mulches of manure or compost will be incorporated
naturally into the soil by the activity of worms and other organisms. The process is used
both in commercial crop production and in gardening, and when applied correctly can
dramatically improve soil productivity.

Mulch layers are normally two inches or deeper when applied.

They are applied at various times of the year depending on the purpose. Towards the
beginning of the growing season mulches serve initially to warm the soil by helping it
retain heat which is lost during the night. This allows early seeding and transplanting of
certain crops, and encourages faster growth.

In order to maximise the benefits of mulch, while minimizing its negative influences, it is
often applied in late spring/early summer when soil temperatures have risen
sufficiently, but soil moisture content is still relatively high.

Plastic mulch (like sheets of plastic) used in large-scale commercial production.

What is a cover crop?

A cover crop is a crop planted primarily to manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality,
water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in an agroecosystem.

Currently, not many countries are known for using the cover crop method.

What is succession planting?

Succession planting refers to several planting methods that increase crop availability
during a growing season by making efficient use of space and timing. There are four
basic approaches, that can also be combined –

• Two or more crops in succession: After one crop is harvested, another is

planted in the same space. The length of the growing season, climate, and crop
selection are key factors. For example, a cool season spring crop could be
followed by a heat-loving summer crop.
• Same crop, successive plantings: Several smaller plantings are made at timed
intervals, rather than all at once. The plants mature at staggered dates,
 © Nitin Sangwan

establishing a continuous harvest over an extended period. Lettuce and other

salad greens are common crops for this approach.
• Two or more crops simultaneously: Non-competing crops, often with different
maturity dates, are planted together in various patterns. Intercropping is one
pattern approach; companion planting is a related, complementary practice.
• Same crop, different maturity dates: Several varieties are selected, with
different maturity dates: early, main season, late. Planted at the same time,
the varieties mature one after the other over the season.
What is Ikebana?

In Japan, Samurai and Zen monks were often required to build decorative gardens or
practice related skills like flower arrangement known as ikebana.

Common medicinal plants

• Neem – Anti Bacterial

• Bel Pather – Good for digestion
• Amla – Vitamin C
• Shatawari – Good for women, help overcoming Pitta Dosha
• Madhu Malti
What is the Ph range for plants?

The optimum pH range for most plants is between 5.5 and 7.0 i.e. plants love a bit acidic
soils.

Acid soils are most often found in areas of high rainfall. Additionally, rainwater has a
slightly acidic pH of 5.7 due to a reaction with CO2 in the atmosphere that forms
carbonic acid.

Alkaline soils are characterized by the presence of carbonates. Soil in areas with
limestone near the surface are alkaline from the calcium carbonate in limestone
constantly mixing with the soil.

Lime can be added to increase the ph of soil or reduce acidity of the soil.

Iron sulphates or aluminium sulphate can be added to reduce alkalinity of soil or to

reduce the ph. Organic matter, urea etc also reduce ph or increase acidity of soil.

Now a days, ph testing kits are also available online.

What are natural sources of nitrogen?

Organic sources of nitrogen – Mulch, manure/compost

What is the scope of horticulture in India?

 © Nitin Sangwan

• Diversification
• Increasing farme incomes
• Dryland areas – as once plants mature, they need not to be watered as regularly
• National Horticulture Mission
Bonsai, origin and technique

Bonsai literally means – planting in a tray. ‘Bon’ means tray.

The ancient art of growing bonsai trees is well over a thousand years old. Though
usually associated with Japan, bonsai tree cultivation actually originated in China,
where the trees eventually came to be associated with the religion of Zen Buddhism.

The purposes of bonsai are primarily contemplation (for the viewer) and the pleasant
exercise of effort and ingenuity (for the grower). Bonsai is not intended for production
of food, for medicine, or for creating landscapes. Instead, bonsai practice focuses on
long-term cultivation and shaping of one or more small trees growing in a container.

How to make Bonsai – Bonsai can be created from nearly any perennial woody-
stemmed tree or shrub species that produces true branches and can be cultivated to
remain small through pot confinement with crown and root pruning. The hallmark
feature of bonsai trees is that they are planted in pots that restrict their growth.

What is the difference between a park and garden?

Park is always public but, a garden can be private.

Park has an object of recreation – so, it has things like swings, jogging trek, fountains etc
along with plants and generally has a lot of area covered with grass. While, a garden
primarily has plants, trees and flowers only.

What is implantation?

Grafting – i.e. putting one plant over another – is also called implantation.

What is Tissue Culture?

Tissue culture is the growth of tissues or cells separate from the organism in an
artificial medium. This is typically facilitated via use of a liquid, semi-solid, or solid
growth medium.

Plant tissue culture is a collection of techniques used to maintain or grow plant cells,
tissues or organs under sterile conditions on a nutrient culture medium of known
composition. Plant tissue culture is widely used to produce clones of a plant in a
method known as micropropagation.

What are my favorite plant and trees and why (with their benefits, history, trivia etc)?
 © Nitin Sangwan

Banyan is my favorite tree. A Banyan (also Banian) is a fig variety. Because of its
majestic looks, its utility as being home to lot of birds and its cool shade. You feel like at
being at home when you are under it and very humbled by its sheer size and beauty. It is
also the national tree of India. Further, it was also associated with a lot of folk stories
and myths that I have heard while rowing up. So, I was always fascinated by it.

Its India name is Bargad or Vat or Badd. It was called banyan by the English as English
writers began to tell of the banyan tree, a tree under which Hindu merchants (Baniya)
would conduct their business.

In rural parts of India, many villages and towns have a traffic circle and a community
gathering place around a big old banyan tree. At night many people come to sit, relax
and chat around it.

When we were Children, we used to go to our village pond and climb on the bargad
tree to eat its fruit.

Its aerial roots grow down into the soil forming additional trunks and is therefore called
Bahupada, the one with several feet.

Cultural significance –

•In Hinduism, the leaf of the Banyan tree is said to be the resting place for the
god Krishna.
• In Buddhism, Buddha delivered his first sermon under a Banyan tree.
• Shiva is also shown meditating under Banyan tree.
• It is also part of national symbol of Indonesia
• In Hindu mythology, the tree is called Kalpavriksha, the tree that provides
fulfilment of wishes and other material gains.
• It symbolizes Trimurti – Lord Vishnu is believed to be the bark, Lord Brahma the
roots, and Lord Shiva the branches
Some common plants and their english/scientific names

Plant English Name Scientific Name

Peepal Sacred Fig Ficus Religios
Bargad (National Tree Banyan Ficus benghalensis
of India)
Bel Vines/Creepers
Where is Mughal Garden?

In general they refer to the Char Bagh style gardens made during the Mughals. But
specifically, it refers to the garden in front of Rashtrapati Bhawan. It is generally opened
for public in February.

Growing in ‘Grow Bags’

 © Nitin Sangwan

Pierce the base of bag for drainage and cut out the pre-marked planting squares.

Growing bags are ideal for plants that don't have deep roots, such as tomatoes,
cucumbers, sweet peppers.

Pots and Types

They can be metal, concrete, plastic and terracotta (mitti).

Why Pruning is done in plants?

Reasons to prune plants include deadwood removal, shaping (by controlling or

directing growth), improving or maintaining health, reducing risk from falling branches,
preparing nursery specimens for transplanting, and both harvesting and increasing the
yield or quality of flowers and fruits.

What is the best time to prune plants?

Evergreen Shrubs – Prune evergreen shrubs in late March to mid-April before new
growth begins. Light pruning may also be done in late June or early July.

Deciduous Trees – While deciduous trees can be pruned anytime during the year, the
best time to prune is late winter or early spring before the trees leaf out. This also helps
in preventing hassles of cleaning leaves daily.

Flowering plants can be pruned soon after the flowering fade. For example – roses can
be pruned just before start of winter after Diwali.

Most fruiting plants need to be pruned while they are dormant. Just after the fruit has
been taken.

Autumn should be avoided, as the spores of disease and decay fungi are abundant at
this time of year.

Places for soil testing in Haryana

In every district soil testing labs are being opened. Universities like HAU also facilitate
such activities.

Awards given for environmental protection and promotion

• Goldman Environmental Prize – Considered as environmental Nobel. In 2014, it was

won by Ramesh Aggarwal
• Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar
• Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Awards – given by Ministry of Environment and
Forests of Government of India to individuals and institutions who have done pioneering
and exemplary work in the field of afforestation and wasteland development
 © Nitin Sangwan

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established the Global 500 Roll of
Honour in 1987 to recognize the environmental achievements of individuals and
organizations around the world.
TREE PLANTATION PROMOTION

Why promote tree plantation?

Because tree planting creates low-skill jobs, and trees provide benefit to current and
future generations, have a direct impact on carbon reduction, restoring forests,
improving wildlife habitats, and upgrading water catchment areas, and offer flowers,
fruit fodder and fuel for local communities and all living creatures.

Haryana Specific

• Western Haryana semi-arid.

• Haryana forest cover less than 1%.
What kind of trees do you promote?

Which are endemic, require less water and have some utility – wither economic, health
etc.

Organizations that are working to promote tree plantation

Government of India also has one of the 8 sub-missions under National Mission for
Climate Change – Green India Mission, which calls for promoting tree plantations.

Social-forestry and agro-forestry schemes also incentivize tree plantation.

Horticulture mission, National Bamboo Mission etc also promote such activites.

United Nations Environment Programme’s Billion Tree Campaign is also there which
plans to plant a billion trees. The Billion Tree Campaign was inspired by Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai. In India alone, 2.1 billion trees were planted under
this campaign which ended in 2011.

Grow Trees is a unque effort to promote tree plantation. It was also a partner of the
United Nations Environment Program's Billion Tree Campaign. It plants tree on the
behalf of people who want to donate for tree plantation. Trees planted by it are only on
government and community land. Further, only endemic species are planted to protect
biodiversity. Further, local labor is used and independent auditors are used to monitor
the progress.

'Plant a Tree India' is a voluntary effort which provides support to community based
tree plantation projects.

People who did some extraordinary work in tree promotion

 © Nitin Sangwan

• Shrenik Rao created the environmental initiative, titled TreeCycle, for which he cycled
along the length of India for 4,100 Kms and raised a pledge of three million trees in
support of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Billion Tree Campaign
• Padma Shri (2015) Jadav Payeng is a Mishing tribe environmental activist and forestry
worker from Jorhat, India. Over the course of 30 years, he planted and tended trees on
a sandbar of the river Brahmaputra turning it into a forest reserve
TRIVIA

• Plants like tomatoes and chillies are easier to grow and do not require much care, so you can
start with those.
• Excessive watering can drain the nutrients away
• Waste vegetables, leaves etc can be used to create compost at home (but it might invite
unexpected guests like rats)
• World kitchen garden day – 30 August
• World Environmental Day – 5th June
• Earth Day – 22nd April. First time, the world earth day was celebrated in the year 1970.
• Earth Hour – Earth Hour is a worldwide movement for the planet organized by the World Wide
Fund for Nature (WWF). The event is held worldwide annually encouraging individuals,
communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour, from
8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday in March.