CURRENT MECHANIZATION SYSTEMS AMONG NURSERIES

While irrigation management, chemical application, and plant pruning are somewhat automated/mechanized, growers have opportunities to apply new or different technology.  For instance, plant transportation throughout the nursery and plant placement in the field utilize little mechanization.  Therefore, new or existing technology may be applied.  Substrate mixing, container filling, and planting are also areas where automation/mechanization might be implemented or modified to help increase production.

With the development or modification of current equipment and technology, growers may be able to lower production costs, and, in turn, increase worker efficiency and safety as well as potential profits.  As worker safety and efficiency are increased through mechanization or automation, production costs might in turn be lowered, which will allow for increased profit potential, or re-allocation of profits or assets to better aide in production or worker morale and safety.

Coker, Randal Y., Benedict C. Posadas, Patricia R. Knight, Christine H. Coker, and Scott A. Langlois. Current Mechanization Systems Among Nurseries and Greenhouses. Proceedings of the 54th Annual Southern Nursery Association Research Conference, 54:117-120.

*Coker, Randal Y., Benedict C. Posadas, Scott A. Langlois, Patricia R. Knight, and Christine H. Coker. Current Mechanization Systems Among Nurseries and Mixed Operations.Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Bulletin 1189, Mississippi State, Mississippi. In press.