Tree saplings Plantation and Protection

D. C. Joshi Principal Scientist (ex.)

Natural Resources and Environment DivisionCentral Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur-342003

Email: dcjoshi66@yahoo.com

Trees add Beauty to landscape, Settlements, Schools, along Streets, Highways and Common Property Resources Like Park, Talab, Nadi, Gochar.

Shelter to birds, monkeys, animals and human beings

A normal tree Absorb CO2 and releases O2 which meets need of 5 persons in a day.

During its life time a tree absorbs 1000 kg CO2 gas

Tree plantation improves Landscape beauty and microclimate

Landscape and Trees are an Important part of Human life

• Trees absorb solar radiation which have cooling effect on

environment

• Trees planted as windbreak reduce wind speed there by

check dust movement and evaporation from water bodies

Trees Improve Quality of Environment through Carbon Sequestration

Since ancient time, trees are planted

along highways and around water

sources like Baori, Talab, Nadi to

provide shade, shelter, and pleasant

environment to those passing through

Selection of Tree for Plantation as per Location

• Climate (Arid / semi arid/ humid) and landscape: hilly, shallow soil depth, sandy, salt affected, water eroded)

• Location landuse• Near water bodies (Talab, nadi): broad

leaf, minimum leaf fall, religious aesthetic value, Shelter plantation to protect adjoining areas from effects of wind viz. Peepal, Bargad,

• Along street/ highways: fast growing trees provide shade and not liked by stray animals viz, neem, saras etc.

• Residential and school: Fast growing, shade and ornamentals trees

• Grazing land: Shade and Fodder value

Procurement of proper plant type

Good quality tree saplings: From recognised nursery, disease free, 70-90 cm height

Tree Sapling hardening: Tree saplings obtained from nurseries need to be protected from harsh environment and hardened with local environment before taking to field.Plantaion time: after effective rainfall

Dig Pits for plantation at 5 m intervalEach pit should be dug to one metre depth or/up to hard rockIf mud (CaCO3) layer, removePit filled with good soil Clods broken and gravels taken out Soil mixed with compost @ 5 kg per pit Sapling take out from polythene bag so that roots are not damagedPlant sapling in the centre of pit so that its 60% part is in soil. Immediately water the saplingCatchment compact two metre diameter around sapling for rainwater harvesting be created

Sapling plantation method

Tanka

Depth 2.1m

Diameter1.8m

Cap. 5000 litre

Tanka for Irrigation of Tree Sapling

Prepare catchment around tanka to harvest rain water compact sloping towards centre

Young seedlings need frequent watering during winter and summer season. Rainwater collected in Tanka is used for irrigation

Regular watering as per matka technique

(1)ProvideTrench around tree sapling In the central part of circle tree sapling is

plantedAround tree 2-3 ft wide and one ft deep trench (Blue) is provided so that animals are not able to attack the saplingIn most of the plantations along roads, in different govt. programs, MNAREGA etc this method is adopted

Success of plantation is limitedOnly those plants which are thorny and non palatable can survive the damage by animals

Protection from stray animals: Provide 150 cm high tree guard to each saplingSelection of tree guards as per location

(2)Stone/Brick wall around tree sapling

About 4-5 ft high wall around the

sapling constructedWall has sufficient openings for sunlight

and airGood protection against stray animalsEasy to water and monitor growth of tree Costly and can be applied in villages and

schools where stones/ bricks are available at

reasonable cost

Iron Tree guards are made of

different size rods, in cirular and

rectangular shape and about 150 cm

heightIron tree guards provide good

protection to the saplingsThese are easy to install

directly fixed into the ground

(3)Iron Tree guards

Once secured to the ground, they need no maintenance

Easy to water and allow for regular checks on the growth of the young trees to be carried out.

Very common for roadside plantation in cities

(4)Iron Tree guards

The NGO MIRAJ has used successfully for road side plantation from Kailashpuri via Nathdwara to Charbhuja (100 km)

Iron rod Tree guards: Field view

Tree guard made of cement

Not easy to transport, likely to break

Once secured to the ground, they need no maintenance,

easy to water and allow for regular checks on the growth of the young trees to be carried out.

Tree guard made of cementNGO Pani Ram established thousands of Plants in and around

Udaipur city

Tree guard : Wire Mesh

Thick mesh provides complete protection for young plants because it

inhibits shoots from penetrating through the mesh so that no damage by

animals and it also offers protection from the wind

Wooden tree guard

Easy to transport, but susceptible to white ant

Life less than iron / cement tree guards

easy to water and allow for regular checks on the growth of the young trees to be carried out

Cluster of trees

Conclusion• Successful tree plantation depends on proper selection of

plant type, healthy seedlings, correct method of plantation, regular watering and last but not least the protection from biotic interferences.

• It is often thought that the cost of sapling in very nominal and in comparison the tree guard is very costly

• To reduce cost of tree guard particularly in govt. programmes local methods are adopted

• But this does not prove very successful• Field observations suggest that where ever good tree

guards made of iron rods, wire and cement have been adopted the saplings have grown as trees

• Cost of tree beats the cost of tree guard by offering services to humanity in many-many ways