 Producing healthy seedlings is a challenge many farmers face. To help meet this challenge, scientists from the International Rice Research Institute and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in India have developed a best practice in crop establishment, growing seedlings in a modified mat nursery. In this video, you will learn how to establish a modified mat nursery and its benefits and limitations. But first, what is a modified mat nursery? A modified mat nursery establishes seedlings in a layer of soil mix arranged on a firm surface. Seedlings are ready for planting within 15 to 20 days after seeding. But what are the advantages of a modified mat nursery over traditional wet bed filled nurseries? First, the modified mat nursery uses less land and can be established right in your own backyard or in a small section of your main field It requires fewer seeds and lower amounts of inputs, such as fertilizer and water, thus reducing nursery costs by up to 50% Separating seedlings before transplanting is easier, thus minimizing root damage And most importantly, a modified mat nursery produces healthier and faster growing seedlings, which produce higher yields Now that you know the benefits, here are 10 easy steps to prepare a modified mat nursery Step 1 Use good quality seeds To plant 1 hectare with 1 to 2 seedlings per hill, 20 cm apart, use 12 to 25 kg of good quality seeds with a minimum germination rate of 80% It is important to use good seeds because they result in a lower seed rate, more uniform germination, less replanting, fewer weeds, healthy seedlings, and 5 to 20% higher yields Step 2 Pre-germinate your seeds Soak your seeds for 24 hours. Some varieties may need a longer time to bud Drain the water after 24 hours and keep the seeds moist by covering them for another 24 hours By this time, the seeds will have sprouted buds and the first seed root will be about 2 to 3 mm long Step 3 Prepare the soil mixture You need 4 cubic meters of soil mix for every 100 square meters of nursery area Mix 70 to 80% soil, plus 15 to 20% well decomposed organic manure, plus 5 to 10% fresh or charred rice hull That is, mix 7 pails of soil with 2 pails of manure, preferably chicken manure, and 1 pail of fresh or charred rice hull Step 4 Prepare the nursery area Prepare a 100 square meter nursery area for every 1 hectare to be planted Select a level area in your backyard or in the main field Level your seedbed and spread banana leaves or plastic sheeting on top to prevent the roots of the seedlings from penetrating into the soil Step 5 Lay the soil mixture You can do this with or without using a wooden frame If you use a wooden frame, place the frame on top of the banana leaves The frame should be 50 cm long, 30 cm wide, and 4 cm deep, divided into equal segments Then, fill the frame almost to the top with the soil mixture you prepared Step 6 Sew the pre-terminated seeds uniformly Sprinkle soil and pat gently to embed the seeds at about 2 to 3 cm into the soil Then, sprinkle water immediately Step 7 Remove the wooden frame and repeat laying the soil mixture and sowing seeds until you have finished the whole nursery area For those who prefer not to use a wooden frame, you can use banana stalks instead Simply create a fence around the nursery using banana stalks pegged with wooden sticks Pour the soil mixture inside and level before sowing Cover the nursery with banana leaves or plastic sheets once you're through Step 8 Water the nursery twice a day for 5 days and keep it covered with banana leaves or rice straw to keep the soil moist Make sure that you protect the nursery from heavy rains for the first 5 days after seeding Step 9 Five days after seeding, remove the cover and flood the nursery Maintain a 1 cm water level around the mats, then drain the water two days before removing the seedling mats for transplanting If your seedlings show yellowing after 7 days, it means they lack nitrogen You can solve this by sprinkling the seedlings with 0.5% urea solution Simply dissolve 1.5 kg of urea in 300 liters of water to sprinkle over 100 sq.m Step 10 About 15-20 days after seeding, your seedlings are tall enough and at the ideal 4-leaf stage, ready for transplanting Now, you can either transport the seedling mats as such or pull them gently and transport them to the field Now, let's go over the 10 easy steps in preparing a modified mat nursery Step 1 Use good quality seeds Step 2 Pre-germinate your seeds Step 3 Prepare the soil mixture Step 4 Prepare the nursery area Step 5 Lay the soil mixture using a wooden frame or banana stalk fence Step 6 Sew the pre-germinated seeds Step 7 Remove the wooden frame and repeat laying the soil mixture and sowing seeds until the required nursery area is completed Step 8 Water the nursery twice a day for 5 days and keep it covered with banana leaves or rice straw Step 9 Five days after seeding, remove the cover and flood the nursery Maintain water at a 1-centimeter level around the mats Step 10 Pull the seedlings 15-20 days after seeding and transport them to the field Now, you are ready to prepare your own modified mat nursery and grow strong and healthy seedlings