AgroForstry Uttrakhand

[ashokpokhriyal]

Namaskar,

What are the best trees to grow in Uttrakhand hills (altitude < 1300mts).

- water availability is not good.
- Is poplar cultivation possible?

Please provide as much info as posible as Iam new in this field.

Regards
Ashok

 

[Ashwini]

Hii
Will give you a brief information on flora of Uttarkand then you can decide what to grow.


The sub-tropical zone has pure as well as mixed forests of Shore Robusta (Sa I), the others being Lannea coromandelica (Jhingan), Buchanania lanzan, Dalbergia disso (Shisham), Haldina cordifolia (Haldu), Syzygium cumini (Jamun), Mallotus philippinensis (Rohini), Mitragyna parvifolia, Terminalia spp. (Myrobalans), Ficus spp. (Figs), Macaranga pustulata, Callicarpa arborea, Diopoknema butyracea (Chyura), Bauhinia variegate (Kachnar), Bomb ax cobia (Semal), Lydia claying (Pula), Schleicher oleos (Kokum), Holoptelea integrities (Karanj), Cassia fistula (Amaltas), Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Parijat), Anogeissus latifolia (Bakli, Dhaura), etc. The shrubby vegetation is represented by Murraya koenigii, Carissa opaca, Clerodendrum viscous, Adhatoda vasica, Jasminum multiflorum, Solanum erianthum, Cal/icarpa macrophylla, Eranthemum nervosum, Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis, Jatropha curcas, Rhus parviflora, Dodonaea viscosa, Woodfordia fruticosa and many others.

The Temperate zone of uttarkand is marked by the presence of Quercus leucotrichophora (Banj oak), Rhododendron arboretum (Burans), Myrica esculent a (Kaphal), Leonia ovalifolia (Aynor), Ibex dipyrena, Quercus semecarpifolia (Kharsu Oak), Q. dilatata (Moru Oak), etc. The coniferous forests in this zone are unique. Pure stands of Pinus roxburghii (Chir Pine) and Cadres deodar (Deodar, Cedar), Abides windrow (Raga), Pinus wal/ichiana (Kail), Taxus wal/ichiana (Thuner, Himalayan Yew) at places give a pristine look to the slopes. The slopes in temperate zone also have insectivorous plants like Drosera peltata and species of Utricularia. Another such species is Pinguicula alpina seen in Martoli Bugyal, Kumaon. The Saprophytes and Parasites are also well represented by Monotropa unit/ora, Dendrophthoe falcata (Banda), Balanophora in volucrata, and species of Viscum, Korthalsella, Arceuthobium, Scurrula, etc. The zone has a variety of useful plants, some of them well known for centuries. These include Cedrus deodar a, Pinus spp., Abies pindrow, Quercus spp., Aconitum heterophyllum, Paeonia emodi, Swertia chirayita, Bergenia ciliata, Dioscorea deltoidea, Angelica glauca (Choru), etc.

The sub alpine zone -- The tree species are Pinus wallichiana, Abies pindrow, Prunus cornuta, Acer caesium, Betula utilis (Bhoj Patra) and Salix sp. Species of the genera Cotoneaster, Rosa, Berberis, Ribes, Junipers, Rhododendron anthropogenic, Rhododendron campanulas are the shrubby components of the zone.


Regards
Ashwini

 

[rajeev1965]

Agro Forestry

Mr. Ashwin,
I want to plant acasia mangium or any such forestry plant which u may suggest around kanpur, in UP
this i want to take as commercial venture over and above the benefits to the environment
so please suggest as i am new to agro world / plantation / forestry
regards
rajeev gupta
Please contact...

 

[Ashwini]

HII Rajeev

Herez is a brief cultivation of acacia mangium
Mangium is a major fast-growing tree species in forestry plantation programmes in Asia and the Pacific. It tolerates varied site conditions and has adaptability to different planting objectives. Mangium shows most vigorous growth on well-drained, fertile soils in high rainfall areas (>2000 mm annually) in the humid tropics.

Propagation
Flowering in mangium is precocious. It starts to flower and produces seeds 18-20 months after planting. Pods can be collected from the trees in January-February under Kerala conditions, when the pods turn very dark-green to light-brown in colour. Seeds are extracted manually after sun-drying. Pods and seeds should not be left to dry in the sun for long. Store the seeds under dry and insect/rodent-free conditions. The number of seeds in one kg of pure seed varies among trees (mean: 125,000 seeds per kg).

Pre-sowing treatment and nursery practices
To break dormancy of mangium seeds, hot water treatment is recommended. Pour the seeds into water at 100ºC that is removed from the heat source. Stir the seeds for exactly 30 seconds. Pour off the water. Add cold water (room temperature) 20 times of the seed volume. Let stand overnight to imbibe and sow the seeds in the nursery beds/seed trays. Seed inoculation with appropriate rhizobial strain is recommended before sowing. Mangium seedlings are ready for pricking out in 6-10 days after sowing. Polythene bags are the most common containers used in the tropics for pricking out. Mangium seedlings attain a target size of 25-40 cm height in about 12 weeks. Seedlings are hardened by progressively reducing watering and removing shade in the nursery. If the seedlings have grown larger than the target size in the nursery, they may be lopped.

Planting and stand management
Planting is usually done in pits of 20 cm depth and 10-12 cm diameter. In monospecific stands, spacing of 2 x 2 m or 2.5 x 2.5 m is common. However, if saw log production (large diameter stems) is the objective, wider spacing (3-3.5 m between rows and between plants) should be followed. In agroforestry situations, spacing within rows and between rows must consider the effect of shade and root competition on the yield of associated crops.

First weeding must be carried out two months after planting and thereafter at regular intervals depending on weed growth. On favourable sites, mangium plants emerge and dominate the weeds within two years, thus not requiring any further weed control. Fertilizers may be applied @ 30-40 g N, 15-20 g P2O5 and K2O per seedling per year from the second year to the fifth year. Mangium needs regular pruning and thinning if the plantation objective is to produce quality saw logs on a 15 to 20 year rotation. These operations in general are not required for pulp wood production on a 6 to 8 years rotation. However, multi-stemmed seedlings may be 'singled'. In pruning, branches are carefully removed in one or more steps along the bottom trunk up to about 6-7 m height.

Injuries and protection
Although root rot disease caused by Ganoderma sp. (red rot), Phellinus sp. (brown rot) and Rigidoporus lignosus are major problems in mangium stands, there are no specific control recommendations against these fungi. Signs of the disease are evident on the roots after the tree has fallen or upon excavation. Depending on, which fungus causes the disease, there may be dark reddish granular rusty brown encrustation or white thread-like rhizomorphs on the surface of the rots. The usual method of controlling root rot caused by fungi that spread by root contact is to remove and destroy all diseased roots and woody debris.

Chemical protection against pink disease (Corticium salmonicolor), especially in endemic areas, can be achieved by using copper fungicides. The best way to prevent pink disease, however, is to plant tolerant varieties.

Progressive decay of the heartwood (heart rot) is another malady afflicting mangium trees. Normally, fungi that decay heartwood do not attack sapwood; such trees continue to grow to maturity and may outwardly appear healthy and vigorous. However, since heart rot is progressive, there will be considerable decay cull at the end of the rotation. A variety of basidiomycete fungi have been associated with this malady. At present there are no control measures against mangium heart rot. The best way is to avoid injury to trees and wound dressing.

Although about 30 insect species are reported to be pests of mangium, only a few such as root feeders, branch and stem borers and the red coffee borer are considered economically important. Root feeders (Sternocera aequisignata) can be controlled by, carbofuran and chlorpyrifos application to the soil or seedbeds. For controlling termites apply a water solution of chlordane 1% or dieldrin 0.5% around the affected area. To prevent branch and twig borer (Sinoxylon anale) occurrence, remove and burn all broken branches in which breeding takes place. The only effective method to control red coffee borer (Zeuzera coffeae) damages is to inject insecticide into the holes where larvae push out their frass.

Utilization of mangium wood
Timber is used for a variety of purposes like wood-based panels, pulp and paper industry etc. Mangium wood gives attractive furniture, cabinets, moulds and door/window components. However, the presence of flutes and incidence of rots and termite attack will detract both the quality and quantity of sawn timber from mangium logs. Therefore, mangium has greater potential as a component of composite wood products such as veneer and plywood, laminated veneer lumber, fibreboards etc. and for chemical uses such as pulp, paper and tannin production, besides fuel-wood.


Regards
Ashwini

 

[manojsinghchandel]

Contact the concerned deptt. (Agroforestry) for exact information

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education P.O. New Forest, Dehradun (Uttarakhand) - India Pin Code: 248006. Phone: +91-135-2759382;

Forest Research Institute, Dehradun

Regds