An afforestation programme will be successful only if proper planting and management of trees is ensured. It is important that the plant survives, is protected and ultimately grows into a healthy, productive trees so as to achieve the aims and objectives of social forestry programme.
Where to Plant
A thoughtful assessment reveals number of possibilities for social forestry programme and enumerated below possible locations grouped into two categories : (1) uncultivated (2) cultivated
(a) Uncultivated land
(b) Cultivable land
* Boundaries of properties
* Sides of irrigation channels
* Sides of farm paths or roads
* Sides of threshing floors
* Upper and lower sides of terraces
What to Plant
Types of trees in a social forestry should depends on the needs of the people of the area. However, needs can not be the sole criteria for the selection and one need to consider soil and climatic condition too. In areas where soil erosion is a problem, trees are planted mainly for controlling soil erosion. Any type of trees do not grow n saline-alkali soils. In areas, which are dry and have acute water scarcity, trees that are drought resistant, fast growing and succulent stems, leaves and profuse summer foliage should be incorporated in the plantation at the initial stage. These trees can reduce the intensity of summer heat by giving partial shading. Their leaves and stems can be used for mulching and for supplying the much need moisture to the plants. Thus, one has to strike a balance between what is really needed and what is really possible.
Planning for Plantation
Trees planation is a long term project and following components should be considered during planning process :
Planting Material
One year old or one metre high seedlings or saplings grown in polythene bags are the most suitable planting materials. Survival rate is directly proportional to the age and size of the seedlings or saplings. Sowing seeds directly in the field is the least viable method.
Estimation of Seeds / Seedlings
On the basis of following factors, the number of seedlings required can be calculated :
When to Plant
In general, trees are planted at the beginning of the rain. If the place happens to be in region where rain is plentiful, then planting should be done two weeks after the starting of rain. But when the rainy season is short, planting should be done right at the beginning of the showers thus benefitting trees from the seasonal rains. Planting should not be done during the dry season as heavy watering is required. It is better to plant on cloudy days.
Types of Plantation
Listed below some of the types of planting commonly practised :
(ii) Integrating high canopy trees with low canopy plants, e.g. citrus trees with coconut trees, pineapple with Papaya
(iii) Integrating short duration trees with long duration trees, e.g. papaya with mango / litchi / jamun
Choice of the type of planting depends on the purpose of plantation. For commercial purposes, monoculture and block planting are more appropriate. For a social forestry plantation, integrated planting may be adopted. Compared to monoculture and block planting, integrated planting is labour intensive and relatively more expensive.
In fruit plantation, integrated planting of other trees or intercropping is highly recommended. Integrated planting is more suitable to meet the short, medium and long term demands of the people.
Preparation of Planting Area
Planting site is cleared of all the wild vegetation. This helps in surveying the land for assessing its resources and weak points. Establish suitable soil and water conservation measures wherever they are needed.
Very large planting area should be divided into blocks interlinked by roads and paths laid out in such a way that every tree is accessible for all post-planting purpose. If needed, also set up irrigation facilities. Where such facilities are not possible, establish rain water storage and distribution structures.
If needed the area should be suitably fenced and secured from bush fires. If intercrops are planned, the land should be ploughed and soil prepared according to the crops sown. In saline-alkaline soil, facilities for leaching salts down the root zone are recommended.
Arrange for planting trees in contour lines except in very plain land. Demarcate spots for planting every tree, preferably with a peg according to spacing required for various types of trees.
Spacing of Trees
A tree requires sufficient space below and above the ground to spread its roots and branches. Spacing for various trees is as suggested in below table :
Type of Trees |
Spacing in Metres |
Almond |
6 - 8 |
Apricot |
6 - 8 |
Apple |
8 - 9 |
Avocado |
8 - 9 |
Banana |
6 - 8 |
Cashewnut |
7 – 8 |
Cherry |
9 – 12 |
Custard Apple |
5 – 6 |
Datepalm |
11 – 12 |
Fig |
3 |
Grapefruit |
6 – 8 |
Guava |
6 – 8 |
Hzelnut |
2 – 3 |
Jackfruit |
10 – 12 |
Jamun |
10 - 12 |
Karonda |
1 – 2 |
Lemon |
5 – 6 |
Litchi |
10 – 12 |
Mandarin |
5 – 6 |
Mango |
10 – 12 |
Mangosteen |
10 – 12 |
Mulberry |
6 – 8 |
Papaya |
3 – 4 |
Peach |
6 – 8 |
Pear |
4 – 5 |
Pecan nut |
10 – 12 |
Pineapple |
1 – 2 |
Plum |
5 – 6 |
Pomegranate |
5 – 6 |
Pumelo |
5 – 8 |
Santra |
6 – 8 |
Sapota |
8 – 10 |
Sweet Orange |
6 – 8 |
Walnut |
10 – 12 |
Manure Trees |
2 – 4 |
Fodder Trees |
2 – 4 |
Small Timber Trees |
1 – 2 |
Large Timber Trees |
1 – 8 |
Bamboo |
10 – 12 |
In every leveled land, planting can be done in square, diagonal, quincunx or hexagonal; otherwise contour system is preferred.
Variation in spacing is due to factors such as varities, soil fertility, availability of moisture, purpose of plantation whether for fruits and seeds, fodder, manure, small and big timber.
Spacing is an important consideration for thinning operation in timber trees if no intercrops are planned. Saplings planted for large timber should be planted initially at closer spacing to maintain an optimum coverage of area. As the plant grow and more space is required, they can be thinned out by removing alternate ones in the rows. By thinning spacing is doubled. It can be done whenever branches of trees begin to overlap. Generally, the first thinning is done when trees are five to eight years old, the second when they are eight to fifteen years and third after fifteen years. Therefore, while planting sapling for large timber, spacing should be chosen that, on progressive thinning, it will provide sufficient space for the tree to grow.
Marking and Digging of Pits
The location of each pit is marked according to the design and the distance of plantation. The size of the pits varies with the nature of soil and the type of trees. Pits should be bigger and deeper when dug in saline-alkaline compact, stony, infertile and shallow soil. Generally, pit size in good, poor, and very poor (saline-alkali) soil should be 45, 60 and 90 cubic cm, respectively.
The depth of the pits on the slopes should be measured at the lower side of the pit since filling is possible only upto lower side. In waterlogged areas, mounds of 60-90 cm high are made to plant the trees, besides the necessary drainage facilities.
Hard pan formation present in the soil should be broken while digging the pits to facilitate easy penetration of roots.
While digging the pits, care should be taken to place the top soil on one side and bottom soil on the other side. Allow the dug out soil and pit to weather for two to three months.
After weathering, fill the pit upto two-third to three-fourth height with a mixture of top soil and well rotten farmyard manure in equal proportion.
In saline-alkali soil, deeper and bigger pits are made even one year ahead and the salts are leached down by filling them with water periodically through irrigation or rain. They are filled in with a mixture of good soil, farmyard manure and pyrites or gypsum. The quantity of manure and pyrites/gypsum varies with the pH value and the amount to be used for each pit as mentioned below :
pH Value |
Farmyard manure |
Gypsum/Pyrite |
3.0 – 9.0 |
5 |
2.0 |
9.0 – 9.5 |
5 |
2.5 |
9.5 – 10.5 |
5 |
3.0 |
Beyond pH 9.5 only very few plants survive.One should identify such locally available plants, multiply and plant them. If they are not available locally, exotic species may be introduced. When there is problem of termite, BHC or Aldrin power is mixed with the above mixture at the rate of 50-100 gm per pit.
Time of Digging Pits
It is advisable to dig the pits at the end of rainy season or winter semeason when the weather is pleasant and the soil has sufficient moisture. Digging during this period provides sufficient time for weathering of pit in sun and sporadic winter rains. The bigger and deeper the pits and better their preparation, the greater is the survival rate of saplings planted in poor soil. Hence, pits should be dug well in advance.
On slopes and ravines, instead of pits, trenches of 60 cm width, 45cm depth and 3.5 metres length are dug in contour lines and the soil is placed on the lower side of the trench in the form of a ridge. Saplings are planted on these ridges at the appropriate spacing. The trenches are adjusted in such a way that they fit in between rows of trees. The same procedure may be adopted in dry and shallow soil areas because of pits and heaping of the soil conserve more moisture from the rain and makes it available to the plants.
Transport of Saplings
Healthy and vigorous seedlings or saplings (of one year or one metre height) transported to the field should be preserved under a shade and in good condition till they are planted out in the fields. Utmost care should be taken not to damage them while transporting. Extra seedling should be stored for making up any loss during transport.
Planting of Seedling
Planting of seedlings in pit should preferably be done on a cloudy day of in the evenings. Some of steps for planting are :
Post-planting Care
Post-planting care is extremely important for the survival of plants. Post-planting care operations are illustrated below chronologically :
Rainy Season
Winter
Summer
Rainy Season
Winter Season
Summer
C. Third year
Rainy Season
Winter
Summer
Rainy season
Winter
Summer
By the time the trees are five years old, they should be fully established for the plantation and uniformly growing. They should have attained proper shape and direction of growth.
From the fifth year onwards, fruit trees may be allowed to flower and fruit if they have attained sufficient vegetative growth. If fruiting is allowed, additional manuring and fertilization should be done to cope up with the requirements of the nutrients for further growth and fruiting. Care should be taken that fruiting does not affect the growth of tree.
For non- fruit trees grown for timber, prune the lower branches and allow them to grow straight up. They can be harvested from the seventh year onwards depending upon growth of trees and requirement.
Care during Pruning and Harvesting
Care should be taken while pruning and harvesting, not to split the branches or stem. Give a slant and clean cut using a well maintained saw. The cut portion may be smeared with coal tar, paint or some other water proofing material. Cutting with knives and axes leaves a number of notches in which water and decaying material cause rotting. The cut portion is a suitable place for worms and insects to enter into the tree. Pruning and harvesting for regeneration should be carried out generally during rest period (winter of before sprouting of the new shoot). While harvesting fruits, avoid breaking of branches and stripping of leaves. Dried, unwanted and over-lapping branches are removed.
Common Damaging Agents
A general idea of the type of the agents damaging the trees is useful for taking anticipatory measures to counteract their attack.
Till the trees have grown beyond the reach of cattle, animals should not be allowed inside the plantation. One day’s of grazing can wipe out many years of growth.
In areas, where strong wind prevails, plantation should include wind breaks, planted along the borders or intermittent strips.
Certain parasitic plants like Cuscuta reflexa (dodder) naturally establish on trees. Grower should watch for them and remove them entirely before any serious damage is done to trees.
In areas having th problem of wild animals, effective measures, such as, electric fencing, trap trenches, strong fencing or permanent watch should be arranged.
In fruit plantation, birds and bats can be real pests. Effective measures, such as, scare crows, watch, net cover, thorns etc should be adopted in such plantations. Fixing thorns on fruit trees effective against bats. Birds traps may also be adopted against birds.
Termites are ubiquitous insects. Mulching and green manuring often encourage infestation of termites in the plantation area. Once they establish themselves in an area it is impossible to get rid of them. They attack the roots and stems of the trees when mulching and manuring materials are exhausted. Sprinkling BHC or Aldrin powder along with mulching and green manuring materials can prevent the termite attack. Appropriate measures should be adopted to eradicate termites already established.
Rats can be real menace to trees planted. They gnaw the roots and make burrows in the root zone weakening the tree. Appropriate measures have to be taken to counteract the rat attack. Clean cultivation and frequent movements of people in the plantation area scare off the rats to some extent.
Diseases vary with the location, species of trees, and weather condition. They may be fugal, bacterial or caused by nematodes. A grower should get familiar with the common diseases and adopt preventive measures.
Fire can be very detrimental to plantation crops. Fire may spread from outside or originate within the plantation. Outside fire can be prevented by clearing 8 to 10 feet strip around the plantation. Inside fire can be prevented by maintaining the ground surface free of dry litter which should be incorporated into the soil by ploughing or digging.