Today, we begin a new module which is Silvicultural practices.

This module
will have 3 [Link] first one is seed collection and treatment, followed
by nursery techniques, and plantingand [Link], let us begin with seed
collection and [Link], we all know that a number of plants
originate from [Link], if you want to use plants; if you want to raise
plants, and plant them say, in thecase of artificial regeneration or assisted
natural regeneration, you need to begin [Link], we have 2 options;
you can begin with seeds or you can begin with vegetative [Link]
typically, beginning from seeds is much cheaper and is much faster, as
compared todoing a vegetative [Link], in for a number of species,
we collect seeds; we treat those seeds; we convert theminto saplings, and
then we plant them out in the [Link], let us begin with what a seed is; A
seed is defined as, “an embryonic plant enclosedin an outer protective
coating.”So, it is an embryonic [Link] is not a plant which is well-
developed; this is in an embryonic [Link] is enclosed in an outer protective
[Link], why is it enclosed in outer protective coating?Because, if you
consider these, very these embryonic plants, then there are a numberof
organisms; so that would want to eat up these [Link] so, to protect
itself, the seed has a protective coating around itself, which istypically very
hard and which is typically [Link], even if an animal eats up a
seed, this seed will pass through the digestive systemand it will come out
along with the excreta, and then, it will germinate [Link], this is how
seeds typically look [Link], here is a fruit and within this fruit, we are
seeing these [Link] typically, when this fruit will open up, these seeds
will become exposed and then,they will fall down and then, they will start
to germinate [Link] you look at the structure of a seed, this is what a
seed a looks [Link], here you have the seed coat which is the outer tough
layer that protects the [Link] is the food for the embryonic plant
then it is able to formulate its leaves, untilit is able to start the process of
photosynthesis through which it will be making its own [Link] till the time
that these leaves are formed; they come out; they get exposed to the
sun;so, till that time, the plant needs energy and that energy is provided by
the [Link] are the leaves of this developing plant, and
hypocotyl is the part that is belowthe [Link], when we talk about
the use of seeds for Silvicultural practices, we require good [Link] how
do we define a good seed?A good seed is something that is well ripened
and [Link], when a seed is being formed inside a fruit, then we need to
wait till that stage thatthe seed has become well ripened, well mature, so
that when you plant it in the ground, itshould be able to [Link], it
has to be well ripened, it should be a healthy [Link] should not be a seed
that is infested by say insects or is infested by some
microorganismstypically, [Link], if you have seeds that have a that have
fungi that are growing on top of them, thoseare not the kinds of seeds that
we want for our silvicultural [Link] seeds should be pure and free
from inert materials and weed [Link], when you are doing a seed
collection; and if these seeds are getting collected oncethey have fallen to
the ground; so, in that case, you will also be having some amountof inert
materials such as dirt or such as twigs or [Link], there is a chance that
other impurities such as other seeds also get [Link], what we are talking
about here is that, you have this tree and there are 2 options;either you
collect the seeds when they are there on the tree itself, but then you havea
chance that these seeds are not mature [Link], they are not well
ripened [Link] is a choice that you need to make, or else you can
collect seeds once they havefallen to the [Link] when these seeds
have fallen to the ground, when you are trying to collect them, thereis a
good chance that by the time you went there and collected these seeds;
probably,some fungi have already started to act on these [Link],
there are some insects that have started to bore holes into the seed
[Link], there is also a chance that when you are collecting these seeds
then together withthese seeds, you also collect some other [Link],
those species that you do not want, or you also collect some dirt or some
conkersor some twigs or some leaves that are also there on this
[Link], when you want to use the seeds; when you will finally use
them for the Silviculturalpractices, then you will have to get rid of all these
[Link], the good seeds are pure and free from inert materials and
weed [Link] are viable and have good germination capacity because
we are using these seedsto grow plants and so, we want those seeds that
are living [Link] these seeds are already dead, then they will be non-
viable; they will not give outthe young [Link], they will be useless for
the Silvicultural [Link] should be uniform in the structure and
[Link], typically what happens is, when you look at the seeds, the
seeds of a plant may comein different [Link] just like all of us have
different heights; we have different skin colors; we have differenteye colors;
we have different hair colors; similarly, the different seeds of the sameplant
or of the same species may have different appearances or may be having
different [Link], if you want to go for a mechanical usage of these
seeds, when you want to put theminto a machine that is sowing or that is
doing some sorts of operations on these seeds, itis always preferred that all
these seeds should be [Link] that, if you are say, using a pipe to dibble
these seeds, and if you if there is a bigseed, and there are some small
seeds; so the small seeds will be able to get inside, butthe larger size seeds
will block your [Link], it is always preferred that your seeds, when you are
using them, they should be havingthe same appearances, the same
[Link], they should be free from damage, and should not be broken, and
infected by pestsand [Link], they should be unbroken [Link] your
seeds have already broken apart; so, in that case, the endosperm is now
[Link] is food for the plants, but it is also food for a number
of [Link], once your seed coat has broken, then your seeds are very
easily available to be usedas food by a number of organisms and so, there
is a good chance that it will be very sooninfected or infested by either
pests, diseases or [Link], how many seeds do we require?The
quantity of seeds that are required for your Silvicultural operations; it
dependson a number of [Link] first one is the number of plants that
are [Link], let us say that we are doing an artificial regeneration in
this plot and suppose ourplan is to have say 1000 [Link], you want to
have 1000 plants on this plot, and let us say that we are getting these
plantsfrom the [Link], how many seeds should you start with?Should you
start with 1000 seeds?Should you start with 10,000 seeds?How do you get
to this number?Now, if you start with 1000 seeds and suppose only 80
percent of them are able to germinate;So, in that case, you will be having
800 plants that are [Link], 800 will be less than 1000, and in that
case, you will be having a plant [Link] the other hand, if you start with a
very large number of seeds, suppose you startedwith say 10,000 seeds and
out of those 10,000 seeds, you got say, 8000 seeds; 8000 plants,but out of
those 8000 plants you are only using 1000 [Link], in that case, your
efforts will get [Link], you need to make a plan of how many seeds do
you need for your Silvicultural [Link], the number of seeds will
depend on firstly, the number of plants that are [Link], when we
talked about the Silvicultural management, we said that it begins with
aplanning [Link], in the planning stage itself, you make an estimate of
the number of plants that willbe [Link], these plants will not only
include the plants that will actually be planted, butwill also include some
amount of replacement [Link]?Because, when you are raising 1000
plants, so there is a good chance that after plantingthese plants, say 100
plants out of these, [Link] they because before these plants were
able to establish themselves, there was someclimatic event because of
which 100 plants died [Link], in the same planting season, you will have to
replace these [Link], these will have to be replaced which is known as
casualty [Link], the number of plants that are required is this is
equal to the number of plants thatyou will be planting plus casualty
replacement and we typically take a figure of 10 to 15percent of plants that
will be replaced in the same planting [Link], the number of seeds will
also depend on the germination percentage of the [Link], suppose there
is a particular seed and it there is say 90 percent germination,
whereasthere is another species that shows only 50 percent
[Link], it means that in the case of the first species, if you
started with 1000 seeds, youwill only get 900 seeds;900 plants that are
germinating out of these [Link] in the case of species 2, if you started
with 1000 seeds, you will only get 500 plantsthat are germinating out of
these [Link], if there is a species or if there is a lot of seeds that is
showing a less germinationpercentage, then you should start with more
number of seeds to get the same final [Link], it is also dependent on
the loss in pricking [Link] what is pricking out?In the nurseries,
germination and raising up of plants in poly pots, is done in 2 [Link], the
first stage, we take sand we add seeds; we add water, and we let these
seeds germinateinto [Link], there will be some seeds that germinate;
there will be some others that do not [Link], once you have these
seeds that have germinated into seedlings, the next stage is to do
apricking out [Link], what do you do in a pricking out operation?
Here you have poly pots which are essentially polythene bags that are filled
up with thepotting [Link] now, you will take out these plants and you
will put these plants in the poly [Link], this is to ensure that in each and
every poly pot you have got one [Link], as an alternative, in place of
doing this pricking out operation, suppose you startedwith just these poly
pots and in each of the poly pot, you added the potting mix and thenyou
added the seed; and then out of these poly pots, only 3 seeds have
[Link], in that case, your rest of the poly pots will remain [Link],
to avoid that situation, we do the pricking out [Link], in the pricking
out operation, the germinated seedlings are taken out; they are prickedout
of the sand, and then they are put again into a poly [Link], during this
operation; during this pricking out operation, there is a possibility thatwhile
you are take while you are pricking out some plant, you applied too much
of aof a force to this plant and this plant [Link], those plants that get
damaged during the pricking out operation; they also have tobe considered
when we are trying to compute the number of seeds to begin [Link], the
loss in pricking out also needs to be [Link], there will be mortality
in seedling containers or [Link], once you have so once you have
done this pricking out operation; now, your seedlingsare there in this poly
pot, and now these seedlings are [Link] then, while these seedlings
are growing into saplings, there is a possibility thatsome of these seedlings
will die out in the nursery [Link], because a few of them got
infested with some disease, or with some pests, orwith some insects, or
possibly because a few of them were not able to get sufficient amountof
water, or any reason, or probably they were not able to get sufficient
amount ofsunlight, or because there was some genetic abnormality in that
[Link], there is a chance that a few of these seedlings will also die
[Link], when we are computing the number of seeds to begin with, we
need to factor in the lossof plants during the poly pot stage, and also
during later stages such as [Link], in the case of transplanting,
you are taking these poly pots and then you are diggingup a pit, and you
are putting this plant [Link], here you have this plant and the
surrounding is filled up with [Link], during this operation again, there is a
possibility that some of the plants willdie [Link], you are considering the
mortality at each and every of these different [Link], you also need
to consider the loss due to [Link], culling is a process in which you will
deliberately want to get rid of a few [Link], suppose, you have done the
transplanting operation, but then you are saying that afew of the plants are
odd man out and they are not growing at a fast [Link], in that case, you
will want to replace a few of those plants even though they [Link],
you need to consider all of these different mortalities to compute the
number of seedsto begin [Link], we can write it mathematically as the
number of seeds that are required is the numberof seedlings that is
required for planting, including all of these including the numberof plants
that were to be planted in the first group, plus the replacement, divided by
thesurvival [Link], the survival factor is given as the germination
percentage multiplied by the pricking lossfactor multiplied by the mortality
factor multiplied by the culling loss [Link], when we say mortality
factor; this mortality factor is not mortality, but it is, in fact,the number of
plants that remain after the [Link] we are saying here is that,
suppose, the germination percentage is 80 percent,which means that, 80
out of every 100 seeds are going to [Link], then we will say that this
germination factor or germination percentage is 80 percentor [Link],
when we consider the pricking loss; suppose during the pricking operation
out of 100 seedlings,10 get damaged; so, in that case, 90 [Link], the
pricking loss is 10 percent, but the pricking loss factor is 90 percent,
because90 percent of them are surviving or [Link], when we consider
the mortality during the nursery stages, then there is a chancethat say, we
have you have only 10 percent [Link], 90 percent of the plants
[Link], the mortality factor, in this case, will again be given as 90
percent or a [Link], you have the culling loss [Link], the culling loss
factor; suppose 1 percent of the plants are culled; so, the cullingloss factor
will be 99 percent or [Link] then, your survival factor will be given as 0.8
into 0.9 into 0.9 into 0.99 [Link], the number of seedlings
required for plantation is 1000 plus 100 which we includeas the casualty
[Link], this is [Link], the number of seeds required will be given
as number of seedlings divided by the [Link], this is 1100 divided
by 0.64 is 1718 or approximately 1800 [Link], for our planting operation
of 1000 plants, we should start with around 1800 seeds, soas to be able to
get the requisite number of [Link] next, seed quantity is given as the
total number of seeds that is required, dividedby the number of seeds per
kg, because we said that we require 1800 [Link] then how, but then we
cannot go and count each and every seed, because seeds typicallyare very
small for a number of [Link], we do a computation as the seed quantity
in kg is given by the number of seeds dividedby the number of seeds per
[Link] by that, we will get a figure as to how many kilograms or grams of
seeds do we haveto begin [Link], when we are doing seed collection,
there are a few things to be kept in [Link] first one is, when do you
collect the seed?Now, we have seen before that for a number of species,
we have different seed [Link], what is a seed year?A seed year is that
year in which the plants give out a large number of [Link], we typically
do our seed collection during the seed [Link] then in the seed years,
which are the days on which you should go out and collect?Because you do
not want to seed that is unripe, and at the same time, you do not want a
seedthat has fallen to the [Link], you want ripened seeds that are still
there on the plants so that you can collectthem without having a
contamination of insects or dirt or twigs or [Link], how do you
determine the best days for seed collection?So, there are 2 [Link]
first one is laboratory method and the second one is the field [Link],
in the case of the laboratory method, you can look at the maximum dry
weight ofthe [Link], in this case, when you look at the growth of a seed;
so, it will start from a smallsize and then typically it will reach a maximum
size at [Link], in this laboratory method, what we do is; from the start
of the seed collectionseason, every day or every few days, one staff will go,
collect a few seeds, bring them outto the [Link] then, the lab
technician there will do a dry weight measurement of these seedsSo, when
the average dry weight has reached to this stage, it means that now the
seedsare [Link] now, it is a good time to go and collect these seeds;
so that is the first [Link] is chemical analysis of fat and nitrogen
[Link], in this case, we compute what is the fat and nitrogen content in
a mature seed, andon every few days, the seeds are collected and their fat
and nitrogen content are computedin the [Link], once it has reached
to that stage where it is mature, then it is a good day to collectthe
[Link] of embryo development and endosperm of sample seeds
through X-ray [Link], in this case, what we do is; we take the
seeds, we soak them in barium chloride [Link], the barium chloride is
able to reach inside the seed especially, in the non-living [Link], in
those areas where you have the living tissue, the barium chloride is
[Link], if you consider a seed, suppose this is the seed, and you have
these [Link], the barium chloride will not be able to reach into the
these [Link] the barium chloride will be able to reach into these
[Link], in that case, once your seeds have been soaked in this barium
chloride solution, thenyou can take these seeds out do an X-ray scan of
them and with that you will be able tosee what is the size of your
[Link], if the size of the embryo is good enough; if you see that the
size of the embryo iswhat it should reach at the time of maturity, then you
will say that now the seeds are matureenough and it is a good time to
collect [Link], we can look at the moisture content of [Link], we can
look at weight, we can look at moisture, we can look at fat and
nitrogencontent, or we can go with an X- ray [Link], these are the
laboratory [Link], we also have the field [Link], in a number
of cases, the field foresters do not have to resort to the laboratory
methods,because you can get a very good idea just by looking at the tree
or the fruit [Link], one field method is the density of fruits, size of fruits
and the density of [Link], once your fruit has reached an appreciable
density, then it means that the seed developmentis now [Link], you
can look at the color of [Link], for a number of species, the fruits start as
green in color and once they have matured,the color changes to say red or
yellow or [Link], if your fruits have now changed the color, it means
that now these are completely developedand now the seeds can be
[Link] good example is [Link], if your mango has reached a
yellow or orangish or reddish color, it means that nowthe seed inside is also
mature enough and it can now be [Link], we can do a visual
examination of seed contents after [Link], in the case of those seeds
that typically are larger in size, the field forester canjust take a few sample
seeds, cut them out in the field, and have a look inside whatis the size of
the cotyledons?What is the size of the embryo?If the size is good enough, it
means that the seeds are now [Link] when we collect the seeds then
we also need to determine not only which days we haveto collect, but also
which trees do we have to collect it [Link], the seed collection is done
from dominant or co-dominant [Link] these are typically the trees
that are large in size because of which they arenow exposed to the
[Link], at the same time, because they are exposed to the sunlight,
so the plant is getting enoughamount of nutrients which will in turn be
diverted to the [Link], here we can say that the seeds will get enough
amount of nutrients because of whichthey will be much more viable as
compared to a seed - as compared to a seed from a plantthat is not a
dominant plant, which is not getting enough amount of [Link]
from a minimum of 10 trees at a time preferably from 25 to 50 [Link]
why is this so?Because, it there is a possibility that the seeds from 1
particular tree may not be [Link], we typically want to go for more
number of [Link], at a later stage, when these seeds are planted out in
the field, if all of them arecoming from the same tree; so, in that case, all of
these plants that will grow will berelated to each [Link] then, in the next
generation, there will be a chance of inbreeding depression and so,you
want to collect not just from ones from one tree, but from a number of trees
typicallyfrom 10 to 50 [Link], collect from trees that are far from each
other to avoid collecting from half siblingsor [Link], this is very
[Link] collecting, mark individual [Link] when you are doing the
seed collection, you should first of all mark these trees sothat at a later
point of time, if somebody wants to cross-check, he or she should beable to
cross-check what are the trees from which you had collected the
[Link] equal number of cones, fruits or seeds per [Link], it should
not happen that that you are collecting from 50 trees, but from the firsttree
you collected say, 50 kgs and from the rest of the trees you just collected
one [Link], that should not be there; you should collect roughly equal
number of seeds from each tree,so that the purpose is not [Link]
of seeds can be done for large-scale [Link], what are the
requirements for proper seed collection?How will you plan the operation?
First of all, you have to organize the collecting [Link] is going to
collect these seeds?And are these people trained enough?So, for instance,
the people who are collecting these seeds should know that the seeds
haveto be mature and the seeds have to be collected from the tree
[Link], if somebody is collecting say 50 kgs of seeds from the tree and
mixes 1 kg of seedsthat was collected from the [Link], in that case, he
or she will be mixing the pure seeds which are uncontaminated andare not
having any infestation of say fungi or insects, and he or she is mixing 1 kg
ofseeds that were collected from the [Link], such sort of things will
then contaminate the whole lot of [Link], in that case, the persons have
to be trained and the organization of the collection teamsincludes the
training of these collection [Link], you need to organize the transport
of these seeds because and there are some seedsthat do not have a very
long [Link], they have to be quickly moved to the next [Link], the
organization of transport is also very [Link], organization of
[Link] you require say, poles or you require certain collection bags;
so, they should also be madeavailable to the people who are
[Link], organization of records; organization of [Link], when
you are moving the seeds from point A to point B, then you should be
having sufficientpaperwork, so that nobody is able to stop the movement of
these [Link] if the movement is stopped, if the seeds are left in
one place for a very longtime, then the viability will [Link] organization
of seed extraction from the [Link], when the fruits are collected and in
certain state, in certain cases, the seeds have tobe extracted very
[Link], a good example is say, [Link], if you have a mango fruit, the
mango fruit is full of [Link] you do not collect the seeds; if you do not do a
depulping operation; if you do notwash and dry these seeds then in a short
time this fruit will start to deteriorate and similarly,the viability of the seeds
will also go [Link], organization of the processing of the fruit has to be
done in such a manner thatit is a fast [Link], how do we collect
the seeds?Once you have done all this planning, how do you actually
collect it in the field?So, there are a number of [Link] first one is a
natural seed [Link], in the case of a natural seed fall, what you will do is;
here, you have a tree andnaturally when the fruits are matured, they will
drop [Link], what you will do is, you will put up a sheet around this tree
and you the fruitswill fall on this [Link] say, every few hours you will
you will depute your team so that every few hours theygo there and they
collect all those fruits that have are that have fallen [Link], this is
collection using a natural seed [Link], this is typically done in the case of
those trees that are very tall or that arevery [Link], you are not able to
shake those [Link] second option is manual shaking or mechanical
[Link], in this case what is done is, if this is typically done for those
plants that aretall and [Link], once you have decided you have determined
that now it is a correct time, you will gothere and you will hold this tree and
you will manually shake it, so that any fruitthat is now mature enough, it
gets a motion and then it falls [Link], this shaking can be done either
manually or with the use of some [Link], there are mechanical
[Link] are they are mounted on a vehicle and then there is a rod
that will go here it willhold this tree and it will shake this [Link], you can
make use of mechanical [Link] option is the use of tree
[Link], tree funnel is generally used for those trees that have very
lightweight [Link], in this case, you will set up a funnel like [Link],
this funnel is made out of cloth and so, the seeds that fall down are
collectedin in this funnel, and then they can be collected by the [Link]
some cases, we also do raiding of animal caches such as those of squirrels
and [Link], animals such as squirrels have a tendency to collect
seeds into their [Link], you can make use of these hollows, and go and
raid those hollows to collect the [Link] typically, this is this can be done
in a research operation, but not for field [Link], we can do collection
by [Link], in the case of collection by plucking, you have this [Link]
tree is having these fruits and seeds that are now [Link], you can ask a
person to climb up the tree and pluck these [Link] that is also an option,
plucking of the fruits [Link] collection by cutting, breaking and
[Link], in this case, what is done is, you cut this tree; so, when you cut
this tree, thistree will fall down; and once it has fallen down, you can collect
these [Link] typically, we do not cut trees to collect the [Link]
then, if there is a Silvicultural operation that needs to be done; so, if there
is a treethat has been marked and is and it has to be felled, then typically
the seeds that arethere on the tree, if they are mature enough, then you
can also collect those [Link], once you have collected these seeds,
then also we have to do a number of otheroperations such as
[Link], in the case of depulping operation, the pulp is removed; the
seeds are [Link], this is done to reduce the total amount of moisture
that is surrounding the seeds,and also to reduce the amount of food that is
surrounding the [Link] if you consider a seed that is surrounded by
this fruit; so now, there is a very goodincentive for animals or insects or
pathogens to raid this seed and they will start to eatup the food material
that is surrounding the seed; but then, this will this may also impactthe
seed [Link] ,you want to get rid of this food material as soon as
[Link], there is this depulping operation that is done in which the pulp
is [Link] after you have gotten your seeds, next stage is to dry
[Link], this drying can be done under shade or exposed to the sun or
done in an artificialkiln or a dryer [Link] on the species;
depending on the seeds, you can go with one or more of [Link],
for those seeds that get damaged by exposure to direct sunlight, you will
go with dryingunder shade or drying in an artificial [Link], for those seeds
that need to be dried very quickly, will not make use of schedule;either
directly dry them in the sun, or you will dry them in a [Link], the next
operation is [Link], you have depulped the seeds; you have dried the
[Link], we go for a dewinging [Link], a dewinging operation is
done for those seeds that have [Link], you have the seed and then there
is a wing that is attached to [Link], why would certain seeds have wings?
Because if you consider a plant, so here you have this tree and you have
the [Link], if you have a species that does not have the wings, then
the seeds directly fall downto the [Link] which case, this the new plant
that will grow up will be growing in the shade of themother [Link] to
avoid this possibility, for certain species, we have winged [Link] a
winged seed when it is exposed to air, the wings will make use of the air
and supposethis is the wind direction, so this seed will fall down [Link] in
that case, the plant will come up at a distance from the mother [Link],
this wing is a is a structure that has evolved through [Link] then,
when you are doing the your Silvicultural operations; when you are doing
Silviculturalpractices; when you are raising the seeds in a nursery bed; then
you do not need [Link], in that case, these wings will be
[Link], once you have collected these seeds, and these seeds have
these wings; so, these wingswill be removed either by cutting or by
[Link] that is the dewinging [Link] is only applicable for a
certain number of [Link] operation is hand picking of large-sized
[Link], these impurities could be things like twigs or leaves or say
seeds of some otherplant or probably some [Link], if they have come
up along with the seeds, then you need to get rid of [Link] is the
threshing [Link], in the threshing operation, you separate the
heavy portion from the lighter [Link] typically, in this case, the heavy
portion is your seed and the lighter portions arethe smaller [Link],
next you can make use of sieving and blowing [Link], in the case
of a sieve, a sieve is a mesh like [Link], you can have a mesh with
these [Link], this mesh or this sieve is shaken and the seeds are
dropped on 1 [Link], the larger-sized seeds will move past this mesh, but
the smaller size impuritieswill go down from the [Link], this is a sieving
[Link] you can make use of a blowing operationNow, in the case of a
blowing operation, the seeds together with the impurities fall downwith
gravity, and you have a fan that is blowing [Link], because in this case,
the fan will blow-off these impurities, whereas the seeds will falldown, and
you will have a purer collection of [Link], this is the next [Link]
is followed by grading [Link], in the grading operation, the seeds are
graded based on their size; based on theircolor; or based on certain other
criteria such as the appearance of the seed [Link], you will you will want
to have seeds that are very similar in appearance that are verysimilar in
size, shape, weight and their coat as a single [Link], this is known as the
grading [Link] operation is that of [Link], in the case of
testing, once you have graded these seeds, once you have collect;you have
made these lots, next you want to know what is the germination
percentage?What is the viability of these seeds?So that will be done in the
testing [Link], you will have all these different operations that are
[Link] the case of seed testing, typically we want to know these
[Link] is the genuineness of these seeds?So, if I get a packet and
this packet says that these are seeds of a particular bamboovariety such as
a Dendrocalamus [Link] then, there is a possibility that the seller was
selling these seeds in place ofDendrocalamus strictus has given me some
other species bamboo seeds such as say Bambusa [Link], during the
testing phase, we want to know, if all these seeds are actually
Dendrocalamusstrictus or whether they belong to some other [Link],
the seed testing you want to know, what is the genuineness of these
seeds?What is the level of purity in these seeds?Purity means whether you
have these seeds as pure seeds or whether there are [Link]
you have certain amount of say, dust that is added to these seeds?Just to
increase its [Link], whether you have some fragments of leaves and
twigs that are left with these seeds?What is the level of purity?Then, you
also want to know what is the level of seed viability and vigour?Now, seed
viability and vigour are checked using cutting [Link], in the case of a
cutting test, you cut the seeds and look at the development of theembryo
inside this [Link] the embryo mature enough?If it is mature, then there will
be a good [Link] it is an immature embryo or if the embryo itself is
missing in most of the seeds, thenit will tell us that these seeds are non-
[Link], we can make use of things like physical tests such as winnowing
and [Link], in the case of winnowing, it is a very similar operation to
the blowing [Link], in the case of winnowing, you want to know what
is the density of these seeds?Whether these seeds are having holes inside,
cavities inside, because probably insectshave infested these seeds; so,
they have bored holes inside; they have made cavities inside,and so, now
these seeds are very light in weight, they have a lesser [Link],
because these seeds have already been infested, so they will not be able to
[Link] will be non-viable or the viability will be [Link], how do you
know whether your seeds have cavities inside or not?So, a good option is to
do [Link] the case of winnowing again, you take you drop these
[Link], they are falling down because of gravity, and you blow air to it,
and in this case,the smaller size seeds will fall at a distance, the larger size
seeds will come [Link], you can look at the percentage of seeds that are
lighter or that are having lesserdensity; so, that will give you an indication
of those seeds that are having cavities insideor you can make use of a
flotation [Link], in the case of a flotation test, you take a container with
water, you add the seeds,so there will be some seeds that float on the top
and there will be some seeds thatstaying down to the [Link], those
seeds that are floating on the top are having air cavities probably
becausethey have been [Link], you can make use of these physical
tests to get an idea of the amount of viabilityof these [Link], you can
make use of chemical tests such as the TTZ [Link] TTZ is 2,3,5-triphenyl
tetrazolium chloride or [Link], this is a chemical which is reduced by
those tissues that are [Link] you take a you take your seeds; you cut
them; you soak them in the TTZ solution, andthose portions that are living
will be stained red in color, because they have reduced itto a red colored
dye and those portions that are non-living will be [Link], suppose you
took 10 seeds so, we began with we began with 10 [Link], out of these
10 seeds we are seeing a red color and say, 7 of [Link] will tell us that 7
out of these 10 seeds are viable the rest 3 are [Link], this is a
chemical test of [Link], we can make use of germination [Link], in
the case of a germination test, the seeds are actually [Link], you
take a tissue paper;you add these 10 seeds; you add water to it; you cover
itwith another sheet of tissue paper, and you leave it for say 2 [Link],
this number of days will depend on the species to which these sheets
[Link] suppose, there is a species generally germinate germinates in
2 [Link], you had added these 10 seeds; you allow them to germinate and
then after a while yousee that only 6 plants have germinated [Link],
germination test is also an actual test that can give you the amount of
viabilityin these [Link], why do we have all these different methods?
Because germination is possible, but is difficult in certain [Link], there
are certain seeds that will take a very long period to [Link], in that
case, it is much faster to take to make use of say the chemical test the
TTZtest, because it will give you a result in a few hours whereas, in the
case of actualgermination, it might take even say a few weeks for certain
[Link], when we are doing the germination test, we compute 2
[Link] first one is the germination percent which is the number of
seeds that are germinatedas a percentage of the total number of seeds
that were [Link], out of 10 seeds if 6 germinated, it means that the
germination percentage is 60 [Link] next thing is the germination
energy or the number of seeds in the sample that germinateup to the peak
germination period expressed as [Link], what this is talking about
is that if you plot the number of seeds germinated [Link], in the
beginning, very few number of seeds will germinate, then the number of
seeds thatare germinating will [Link] will reach a maxima and then it
will come [Link], till this maxima point, what is the percentage that is
there on the left side of this curvewill give you the germination [Link],
till the maxima time, if more and more number of seeds have germinated,
it meansthat they have a large amount of vigour, which means that they
will germinate very fast,when they are actually used in the Silvicultural
[Link], if you get a curve something like this, so it increased
and then you get a verylong tail; so, this is the [Link], in this case, the
germination energy is less because the seeds take a very long periodto
germinate [Link] test is the use of [Link], in this case, you soak
your seeds in water for a few hours, then you soak them in a
bariumchloride [Link] chloride will enter into the dead parts, but
will be unable to enter into the [Link] thenn you expose these
seeds to [Link], suppose we started with these 10 seeds, and we find that
barium chloride was ableto enter say 5 of [Link], how do you know that
barium chloride was able to enter?Because X-rays will not be able to pass
through these [Link], when you look at the film of X-ray, X-ray was able
to pass through this first seed soit will look dark in [Link] will look white
in color, again, dark, again dark, this will look white, this iswhite, white,
dark, white and [Link], anything that is dark on the film where the film
was getting exposed, it means thatthe X-rays were able to pass through the
seeds which means that those seeds were [Link] wherever you get a
white spot, it means that the X-rays were not able to pass throughthe seed
because barium chloride was able to enter [Link], because barium
chloride was able to enter inside, it means that those seeds for non-
[Link], in this case, we can see that there is a 50 percent viability
in these [Link], we can make use of all these or even some other
parameters to do or testing to determinethe seed viability and [Link],
once you have collected these seeds, you have to store these
[Link] typically, you will not be using all of these seeds
[Link], while storing we need to be sure about the natural longevity of
these tree [Link] are certain species that have microbiotic seeds,
which means that the seeds have a shortlife [Link] are mesobiotic,
which have a middle life [Link], some are macrobiotic with a very long
life [Link], those seeds that are macrobiotic can be stored for very long
periods of time, whereasthose seeds that are microbiotic can be stored for
a very short period of [Link], based on this, we classify seeds into two
categories - orthodox seeds and [Link] seeds are
those seeds which can be dried down to a low moisture content of around5
percent successfully stored at low or sub-freezing temperatures for very
long periods, such asgrass [Link], recalcitrant seeds are those
seeds that cannot survive drying below a relativelyhigh moisture content,
and they cannot be stored for long periods of time, such as thesal [Link],
while storing, you need to know whether your species is an orthodox
species or itor a recalcitrant [Link] it is an orthodox species, you can dry
it out and you can store it for a very longperiod of [Link], while storage,
the longevity goes down with time, and it will go down depending onseveral
[Link] first one is the condition of the seeds; were the seeds mature
when you are puttingthem for storage? were the seeds damaged?If they
were damaged, then they will lose their viability in no [Link], there
were fungi or insects?How much was the initial viability?If you start with a
high initial viability, then you will end up with a substantiallylarge initial -
substantially large [Link], if your seeds themselves were having very
low viability to begin with, then duringstorage, the viability will go down
[Link], finally, you will be having seeds which are [Link], age
of the seeds and the storage [Link] is the atmosphere where the
seeds are being stored?Primarily, the level of oxygen when you are storing
these [Link] should store them in low oxygen environments; you should
store them in low temperature environments;in low moisture environments,
and in low light [Link] typically, we store seeds in bins that are
airtight and we store them in those areasthat are that are dry and that are
having low [Link], after storage, we also need to know about
seed [Link], a seed certificate gives you information about the
genuineness of the species, andthe variety, the year of collection, the
origin or the provenance of these seeds; so whetheryour seeds were
collected from say Uttar Pradesh or whether they were collected from say
[Link], these plants will be having certain local differences in
their appearance andin their [Link], you need to know about the
origin of these seeds; you need to know about the purity ofthe seeds; the
germinative capacity and any other relevant [Link], a seed
certification typically is done by a third-party agency which gives a
certificatethat gives you all this different [Link], once you have
collected these seeds, you have processed these seeds; you have
storedthese [Link], you want to germinate these seeds for use in a
[Link], in a number of cases, before germination the seeds have to
be provided with certainother treatments to increase their level of
[Link] why are these treatments done?This is done typically
because the seeds have a very hard outer seed [Link], this seed coat, in
certain instances, it prevents the embryo from getting [Link], you need to
break this seed coat or you need to make it its soft, so that the embryois
easily able to break it itself and come [Link], what are the seed treatments
that we generally provide to the seeds?The first one is a cold-water
[Link], in a cold-water treatment, you take water at room
temperature, dip your seeds insidesoak them for a few hours, and then you
will use them in the [Link] is a hot water [Link], in a hot
water treatment, you add water at a higher [Link] cold water
treatment is generally used for the species like amla, khair, and [Link]
water treatment is required for Cassia and Albizia [Link] water
[Link], in the case of a boiling water treatment, you take a
container, put seeds, add boilingwater, and then let these seeds remain in
this water till it cools down to the [Link], a boiling water
treatment will typically be required for those species where the seedcoat is
very [Link], you may you may require a wet and dry [Link], in
a wet and dry treatment, you soak these seeds, then you dry them out in
thesun, then you soak them again, then you dry them [Link], by doing
this process again and again, you are softening or breaking up the
[Link] is typically required for [Link] certain other species, you
require acids scarification or mechanical [Link] which case, you
use acids or you use mechanical abrasives to break open the seed [Link]
is typically required for species like [Link] certain other cases, you require
a shell [Link], in the case of a shell cracking, the your laborer will be
using an equipment tocrack open the [Link], this is used for those
species where the coat is very hard such as [Link], for certain other
species, such as harra and bakain, you go with a cow dung
[Link] which case, you bury these seeds along with cow dung
so that enzymes and insectsare able to eat away the seed coat, and then
you will be able to use these [Link], these are the different kinds of seed
treatments that are [Link], in this lecture, we looked at what a seed
is? how do you collect a seed?When do you collect a seed?From which trees
do you collect a seed?How do you collect a seed?How do you ensure that
your seed is good?What are the characteristics of good seeds?How do you
test these seeds?How do you do a viability assessment, germination
assessment?And finally, how do you store these seeds?And, how do you
use these seeds?And what are the kinds of seed treatments that at times
are required before using theseseeds?So that is all for [Link] you for
your attention .

We carry forward our discussion on Silvicultural [Link], today we will

have a look at Nursery [Link], what is a nursery?A nursery is a
production unit, where forest seedlings are [Link] our case, we are only
talking about the forest [Link] are not talking about horticultural
nurseries or agricultural [Link], in the case of a forest nursery, it is a
production unit; it means that the majorobjective of setting up a nursery is
to produce [Link] is not a research organization; it is not for any other
purpose; the primary purposeis production of [Link], it is a
production unit, where forest seedlings are [Link], the question is we
know that we can raise plants from seeds; so, why not just go intothe forest
area those areas, where you want to do the afforestation and just
dispersethe seeds [Link] is the importance?why do we need to have a
nursery?This is because the nursery provides us with certain
[Link], what is the advantage of raising the plants in a nursery via
via raising the plants directlyon the field?The need for nurseries!The first is
to grow and maintain a large number of plants per unit area, because
anursery is a small place and you can do very intensive management in
that small [Link], it is possible to grow a large number of plants in a very
small [Link], area or land is a very pricey commodity and when you
want to have a large number ofplants in a small area; to produce a large
number of plants in a small area, you needto do an intensive
[Link], the place where you do this intensive management is
the [Link] and expensive hybrid seeds can be raised more
effectively due to better care and [Link], because you have a
small area, a more intensive [Link], it also means that the raising
of plants is much more effective; is much better, whenwe are doing this
operation in a nursery as compared to doing this operation out in
[Link], increase germination percentage and vigour of seedlings
grown in seed [Link], in the case of a nursery, we make seed beds, we
provide those conditions, which areoptimal conditions for germination and
for the growth of [Link], this results in a much better or increased
germity germination percentage and also thevigour of [Link],
vigour refers to the hardiness of the seedling, and also the rate of growth
thatit will show once you have planted it out in the [Link], because in a
nursery, the plants get the most optimum conditions, so, they putup a very
fast growth and once they once they have shown this fast [Link]
they have become hardly enough to put them out in the field, then in the
field aswell, they will be showing a very fast [Link], the vigour is much
better, when we talk about plants that are raised in the [Link]
management with reduced care, cost and maintenance due to small
[Link], let us consider two scenarios; in one, we are enclosing a small
area and we are makinga [Link], in the second one, we are doing the
- we are raising the plants out there in the [Link], let us say that we are
raising say 1000 plants [Link], because of intensive management, you
are having a much greater density of plants,whereas, if you were to raise
these same number of plants out there in the field, the densitywould have
been much [Link], this has a higher density and this has a lower
[Link], let us consider some management intervention that we will
need to provide to these youngseedlings that are [Link] us say that
we will that we will that, we need to provide water to the [Link], in this
scenario; in the case of a nursery, because this area is a small; so, it is
muchcheaper to provide water, whereas, in the case of the forest area, you
will have totraverse long distances to give water to each and every
[Link] then, giving water is not the only intervention; you will have to do
weeding as well, so thatyour plants that have germinated are not out
competed by the [Link], when you want to do weeding is typically a
very labour intensive [Link], in the case of this is small nursery, the
people can come to this area a large numberof people can come into this
area and do this weeding in a very time efficient [Link], in the
case of raising the plants out in the field, the person would have togo here
then here then here [Link], it becomes very much time consuming just to
traverse these larger [Link] another management
intervention; application of [Link], again in the case of a field
scenario, the persons will have to traverse long distances;similarly
application of insecticides or [Link], when we talk about the nursery,
the management is much better with reduced care cost andmaintenance
due to the small [Link] the area is small, and in this small area, you
are raising a large number of [Link], per plant cost; per plant
maintenance goes down, easy manipulation of growing [Link],
there are some plants that require some manipulation in the growing
conditions; suchas in the very early stage of their lives, especially if it is a
shade bearing [Link], this plant would have to be provided with some
amount of [Link], later on this plant, probably will be requiring
more intense [Link], in the case of a nursery, because you are
growing these plants in a smaller area;so, manipulation of these growing
conditions is very easy, because you can very easilyput up a thatch roof or
say a shade net on top of those seedlings that need to be providedwith the
[Link], manipulation of the growing conditions is very [Link] and
uniform crop growth in the field due to selection of vigorous and healthy
[Link], in the case of any growth, if let us say we plant we plot the
number of plantsversus height; typically, when you are when you are you
are using seeds to you to makethese plants these plants would show a
curve like [Link], this is like the average height of the plants; but then,
there will be some plantsthat show a very low height and there will be
some plants that show a very great heighta large [Link], this is very
similar to what we see even in the case of human [Link] of us have
different heights, but then we can say that for any race there is
onestandard average height, but then we also find in the population that
there are somepeople who have a lower height and some people they have
a higher [Link], in the case of plants as well, if you look at any
parameter - be it height be itgrowth; so, let us say the growth rate, there
will be some plants that grow at the averagerate there will be some plants
that grow very fast; there will be some plants that growvery slowly or let us
say [Link], this can be resistance to, say draught or insects or
[Link] again, you will find that most of the plants will be having an
average resistancesome will be very highly resistance some will be very
low [Link], when you are growing these plants in a nursery, it is
possible to do a gradingof these plants and then, select the best plants for
sending out at the [Link], for instance, if you are going for production
forestry, you want to have plants that growat a much faster [Link], in the
nursery when you are raising the seedlings for say 2 or 3 [Link] the end
of these 3 years, you can select those plants that will that have been
showinga very fast rate of growth, and you can send those plants to the
[Link], all the plants that are finally, planted on the field will be showing a
very fast rateof [Link], it is possible to have a better and uniform crop
growth in the field; because a better,because you have selected for those
plants that are showing a faster growth rate andat the same time it is
[Link], all of your plants will be growing at nearly the same rate
because of which anysilvicultural operation that needs to be done later on
to the stand will become much easierto [Link], better and uniform
crop growth in the field, due to selection of vigorous and
[Link], those seedlings that are showing fast growth, and
those seedlings that are completelyhealthy; only those are selected to be
sent out to the [Link], off season sowing of seeds is [Link], what
happens in nature is that, a number of seeds germinate in the rainy season;
butthen, rainy season is also the best season for the establishment of a
[Link], if you have a seed, or if you if you if you want to raise plants
out in the field,it is much better to begin a bit before the rainy [Link],
in a nursery, you can artificially irrigate the seedlings; we can artificially
make themgerminate by manipulating the conditions in the [Link]
your seedlings have germinated, you can grow [Link], because you can
manipulate the growing conditions; so, it is immaterial which seasonyou are
doing the plantations or which season you are raising the [Link], you
can begin in say the spring season, or you can begin even earlier in the
[Link], you can ensure that, by the time the rainy seasons
come, your plants are alreadya bit big in size; so, they are like this [Link],
that when you put them out in the field, they have a competitive
[Link], so this off season growing of seeds sowing of seeds is
possible, in the case of [Link] it is very difficult out in the field,
because you have little control over the [Link], lower seed
requirement of nursery raised crops due to better [Link],
because of better management; because you are able to provide better
protection,you are able to provide the management [Link], a
large number of seeds are germinating and they also are able to survive as
[Link], if the mortality goes down, the seed requirement also goes
[Link] we have seen earlier, the total number of seeds depends on the
on the number of plantsthat you want to [Link] it is also dependent on
what is the rate of germination?what is the rate of mortality?what is the
loss factor in pricking out and so [Link], in the case of a nursery, you have
much better control over germination mortalityand so on, because of which
the seed requirement typically is [Link], easy management of insects,
pests, diseases and weeds, because these plants are growingclose
[Link], it is very easy to apply insecticide, pesticide, weedicide onto
your young [Link], we can see that nurseries have a very important
role to play in the [Link], the next question is where do
you plan a nursery?what are the locations? where your nursery should be
located?So, there are certain siting factors that help us to select the
location for settingup a [Link] first is even topography, because your
nursery will be a very small place; but, ifit is a flat land, then the
management will be much [Link] your staff will be able to traverse
[Link], also because irrigating of this area will become easier, if the
topography is [Link], we prefer sites with loamy sandy soil with
large organic matter; because, aloamy sandy soil, is perhaps the best soil
for the growth of plants; for the growth ofa majority of [Link], if you
have this soil then this soil can very easily be used, in the making ofthe
growing beds or as a potting [Link], loamy sandy soil with large
organic matter is [Link] should be good availability of water in the
site, because you will have to irrigatethe [Link] has to be a good
amount of drainage, so that there is no water logging that willinhibit the
growth of [Link] should be an ease of [Link], typically,
we locate our nurseries near to the [Link], that once the plants have
been cultivated in this area, it is easy to transport themout into the
[Link] availability of labour, because nursery management is a very
labour-intensive joband you would require a number of manual operations
to be done, whether it is pricking out theseedlings, transplanting them,
filling up the polythene bags, and so [Link], there should be an easy
availability and perhaps also a cheap availability of [Link] from
animals because these seedlings are also very good food for [Link],
typically, you will find that the herbivorous will try to enter inside because
of whichyou need to have good amount of protection; perhaps, by means of
fencing or by means [Link] large markets or plantation sites, so that
ultimate transportation costs go [Link], also located in a pollution free
area; because, in the case of very polluted areas,you have large amount of
settlement on top of leaves, which also reduces the photosyntheticability of
the [Link], typically, we want to have a nurseries in areas that are
pollution [Link], how do you lay out a nursery?A nursery needs to have
several [Link], there will be certain areas where you will be raising your
[Link] us say that this is a [Link], there will be certain areas, where
you will be raising the [Link], this is where the plants are actually
[Link], these beds should also be accompanied by trees to provide
certain amount of shadeto the beds, so that these are not completely
exposed to the [Link], in the nursery, you will require these roads, so
that people are able to access thebeds, for the different op management
operations that will be [Link], at the same time, you will probably
require a source of [Link], probably there is a well or a tube well, with a
pump set, which is providing water;perhaps, through [Link],
because you need to have a chowkidar (guard) to protect this [Link], you
will also require a chowkidar (guard) hut in this [Link], they will also be
a unit for storage; so, because we need to store the seeds; youneed to
store fertilizers manures, and so [Link], all of this area will have to be
fenced, for [Link], also you will have connection to the main road,
for [Link], this is a typical [Link], here, in this picture, we can
see that here we have the beds [Link] have a tube well that is providing
water for irrigation [Link] are saying that there is a storage room; we see
a plenty of trees in this area to provideshade to the [Link], there will be
some beds that will be having a larger amount of shade; there will be
somebeds that will be more [Link], fencing is very crucial for a
[Link], if you did not have a fencing here, then the animals will be able
to get [Link], here, we can see the fencing poles and there is barbed
wire that is moving [Link], fencing can be of different [Link]
mostly use barbed wire fencing because it is cheap, but we can also go with
a chainlink fence, or a stone wall, or a wooden wall, or a brushwood
[Link], a brushwood fence is also known as a barbed [Link], in the
case of a brushwood fence, people take [Link], brushwood is
branches and twigs of different plants preferably those plants that are abit
thorny, and they can be made into a [Link], that is a brushwood
[Link], we can even go with live fences like agave and [Link], these
are those plants that have thorns or spines, and these plants can be
raisedalong the boundary of the nursery to act as a [Link], these will be
known as live fences or green [Link], this is a typical barbed wire
fencing, here we are seeing these cement [Link], these cement poles are
reinforced poles, and they are put in into the ground by digginga hole and
putting the fence putting the pole, and then also putting concrete around it
forsetting it [Link] then, there are certain projections on these poles on
which the barbed wire fenceis [Link], along with the concrete poles, we
can even make use of wooden [Link], this is a fencing with wooden
[Link], we have wooden posts and we have these barbed [Link] is a
typical brushwood [Link], these are just some twigs and branches that
have been fashioned into a fence thisis a stonewall [Link], typically
you will also have boards for information to public, because a nursery
alsoserves as a point where people can purchase or procure these
[Link], if somebody wants to raise certain species, on their fields; on in
their homes, they canpurchase the plants from a nursery, including a forest
[Link], the nurseries can be raised by the department, or in certain
cases, we outsource them tothe joint forest management [Link],
we will have a look at this joint forest management in a later [Link],
we can also have nurseries that are being managed that are being built and
maintainedand managed by the joint forest management committees,
mostly in collaboration with theforest [Link], in these nurseries,
we make [Link], what is a bed?A bed is defined as, “a land made free of
weeds, stumps, stones, pebbles etc., usedfor sowing of seeds to raise
seedlings and multiplication through vegetative propagation.”So, what we
are saying here is that, a land will be having a number of inert materialsa
number of which will not be useful, or may even be detrimental to the
growth of [Link], if you prepare your land in such a manner, that
you have removed all these detriments,such as pebbles stones stumps and
so [Link], this prepared land is known as a [Link], there are three
different kinds of [Link] can have a sunken bed, a flat bed or a raised
[Link], what we are saying here is [Link] you take a piece of land, and you
have removed all the pebbles stones stumps andso [Link], you have
prepared this land, to raise your seedlings, then this will be called
[Link], you can have a flat bed or you can have [Link], if you look at
them from the side, you can have a bed like [Link], this is the ground
[Link], you can have a bed that is a raised [Link] here, you have
channels, or you can have a bed that is a sunken [Link], this is a sunken
[Link] now, in the case of a raised bed, you will be raising plants above
the ground [Link] the case of a sunken bed, you will be raising plants
below the ground [Link], in the case of a flat bed, you will be raising
your plants on the ground [Link], when do when should we use which
kind of a bed?A sunken bed is typically used in dry season and in windy
areas, because it conserves [Link], in the case of this sunken bed, if
you add water to this area, the water will enterinto these beds and it will
stay in these beds for a longer period of [Link], the water gets
concentrated in these [Link], we prefer them in the dry seasons or in
windy areas, because if we look at the impactof wind, then these structures
will protect the plants from the impacts of high winds,especially the
desiccating impact of the [Link], we prefer sunken beds, in dry seasons
and in windy [Link] beds are made at the ground [Link] bed is
used in wet seasons, because it prevents water [Link] what
happens in the case of a raised bed is that, the water is not able to
accumulateon the [Link], any water that accumulates goes down and then
moves away in this [Link], water logging of plants is [Link],
typically in the rainy seasons, we go with raised [Link], a flat bed is
used when the season is neither very dry not as very [Link], that is the
average sort of a [Link], we have these three different kinds of
[Link], this is how these beds look [Link], this one is a raised [Link],
we are growing plants in this area and these are the [Link] the
plants grow, it looks like [Link], here we can see that these beds are raised
up from the ground level and the plants arebeing rolled on top of these
[Link] beds look like [Link], here is the ground level and, we have
made a depression, and in this depression,we are raising up these
[Link], a flat bed is like [Link], here on the ground level itself, grass
has been removed and we are raising the plantsin poly pots, in this flat
[Link], in a number of situations, when we are growing plants in
polythene bags, we alsoadd a plastic sheet beneath these poly bags; so,
which is a very thick [Link], we can see it [Link], this plastic sheet
prevents the growth of roots, if they are able to move out ofthe polythene
[Link], essentially what we are saying here is that in the case of a
polythene [Link], we have soil here; we are raising a plant here, but in
certain situations, the rootsof the plant are able to penetrate the polythene
[Link], if these roots are able to reach into the ground, then the plant will
start to establishitself out here in the [Link], a nursery is not meant
to for the seedling to establish itself.A nursery is meant so that the seedling
can later on be transported to the field and [Link], to prevent its
establishment what we do is that we add a thick sheet of polythenebelow
this polythene [Link], that the roots are unable to reach the [Link],
with we when we are making these beds, we need to treat the [Link],
treatment is typically two kinds of treatments are [Link] first one is soil
solarisation; what is solarisation?You take the soil, break it into small parts;
break up the lumps, and spread it out in [Link], that the sun is able to
dry up the soil, and also the ultraviolet light is able toreduce or eliminate
the pathogen load in the soil; so that is soil [Link], we typically do
it before we are making the [Link] second treatment is treatment with
chemicals, including formaldehyde, fungicides such ascaptan and thiram,
insecticides like chloropyriphos and bio-agents such as Trichoderma
[Link], formalin kills possibly all forms of life that are [Link],
essentially if you have a soil that is having a very high pathogen load, you
willtypically treat it with [Link], if your soil is having pathogenic
fungi, you will treat it with [Link] you have insects or pests, then you
will treat it with insecticides and bio-agents,such as Trichoderma fungus are
added to the soil, because it acts as a same biotic funguswhich helps in the
growth of the [Link], different kinds of treatments are given to the
[Link], as we have seen before sowing, the seed is also given certain
[Link], soaking either in cold water hot water or boiling
water, or in certain casesacid or mechanicals scarification, or treatment
with fungicides and/or insecticides, may alsobe required before the sowing
[Link], once your seeds are ready; once your beds are ready, you
need to ensure that youhave proper growing medium for the [Link],
we have two different kinds of [Link] is the germination medium and
the second one is the growing [Link], a germination medium,
typically is just plain [Link], you can raise a [Link], let us say that this is
a raised bed and on top of it you can add sand, on which youwill add the
seeds; irrigate it, and you have the plants that are growing [Link], once
these plants have germinated, because they will germinate in a very high
[Link], next will have to reduce the [Link], this reduce this
reduction of density is done through a process that is known aspricking
[Link], what is pricking out?In the process of pricking out, you will take
these plants and move them into another bed,while maintaining the proper
[Link], we are removing these plants from the germination bed, and we
are shifting it tothe growing [Link], in this growing bed, we will need to
put the growing [Link], this is not just sand, this is a growing
[Link], growing medium comprises of a combination of soil, sand,
compost and [Link], soil is important for the growth of plants, sand
is added to make the soil more [Link], addition of sand will ensure that
there is no water logging, and the plants are rebuilt,and the roots of the
plants are able to get access to the [Link] is added not only to
fertilize the soil, but also to ameliorate this structureof the [Link], organic
matter is [Link], also we can add certain other additives such as
[Link], moss matter; moss is also added to change the structure of the
soil or we can add [Link], a peat soil is a soil with a high organic
[Link], here again, when we are adding peat, we are increasing the
organic content of thegrowing [Link], we can add coco-peat which is
in which is a replacement for peat for those areaswhere we do not have
access to [Link], it is made out of coconut shells or we can add
[Link] is a substance that is produced by heat treatment of
[Link], this substance is able to helped the help thus the soil, retain
moisture and italso changes the structure of the [Link], we can add perlite,
which is a natural mineral of volcanic [Link] is very similar to sand, or we
can add [Link], we can add all these different additives, depending on
whether we need to change thestructure of the [Link], these are the
growing [Link], later on, if we want to shift these plants into
polythene bags, then we can also makeuse of the growing of the potting
[Link] potting medium is something that is used in [Link], what we
are talking about here is that, if we have a polythene bag, and this
polythenebag will also have to have certain [Link], this soil is the potting
[Link], in this case, we are shifting one plant and we are planting it in
this polythene [Link], this potting medium typically is the 1:1:1 ratio of
sand soil and compost or farmyard [Link], this is a typical combination
1 : 1 : 1 sand soil and compost or farm yard manure,which is used to raise
these seedlings in polythene bags or in [Link], the sowing of seeds can
be done by various [Link] way is [Link], in the case of
broadcasting, you just take the seeds in your hand and you just throwthem
out in into the [Link], when you throw the seeds, this is known as
[Link] method is that of line [Link] the case of line
sowing, what we do [Link] this is a bed, then we will create grooves in this
[Link], here we are making these grooves in the soil and then, they will
add a seed at everycertain distance in this [Link] then, we cover
these grooves with soil or the growing [Link], in this case, the plants
that come up will come up at finite [Link], in this case, the density
or the spacement of the plants is easily [Link], this is line
[Link], in the case of broadcasting, if we consider this bed; in the
case of broadcasting,it is possible that you have a greater concentration of
seeds here and a lesser concentration ofseeds [Link], in this case,
when the plants come up when they germinate, and you will have a
veryhigh density here, because of which your plants will not be able to
grow [Link], you will have very less density in the other areas,
in which case, we can saythat we are not fully utilizing the [Link], line
sowing is able to overcome this [Link], another way is to raise the
plants in plug [Link], what is a plug tray?This is a plug [Link], here you
have a tree that is made out of plastic; it has a number of small plugsor
containers in which the plants can be [Link], what we do is, if you have
these [Link], we will add potting medium to them, and then in every
plug, we will be adding a seedand so, we will have one plant in every
[Link], the good thing about these plug trays is that because they are
made of these [Link], we can have machines that can put
seeds into these plugs; otherwise the option thatis available is to do it
[Link] the case of a manual operation, the worker uses a sharp object
to take out some soiland create a [Link] this hole, a seed is put and then,
the surrounding soil is added to [Link], in this way, we are able to put a
seed into one of these pots on in a polythene [Link], the important thing
to keep in mind here is that the depth of the seed should be roughlyone to
two times the size of the [Link], essentially your seed should be near to
the surface, but it should not be exposedto the [Link], it should not
also be so down, below that the plant, when it is germinating itis not able to
come [Link], roughly the depth is one to two times that of the seed
[Link], in the case of a plug tray, the machine can be set so, that it
always adds these seedsat this particular [Link], this not only reduces
the requirement of labour, but it also ensures maintenanceof [Link],
once you have raised your plants, next you need to care for these
[Link], what is the sort of care that we require in a nursery?One proper
handling during shifting; hold the pots from the base and not from the
[Link], when people need to move these polythene bags, So, here you
have a bag with soil andwith a [Link] you when you need to move this
polythene bag from one place to another, you shouldhold it like this..
Suppose, this is the plant; you should nothold it from the plant, you should
hold it from the [Link], that the plant is not [Link] proper placement
of the pots, it they should be placed in a flat position and not in aninclined
[Link], this is because the roots are positively geotropic; what do we
mean by positively geotropic?They go towards they go in the direction of
[Link], suppose you kept a pot like this, in this case, what will happen
is that, yourplant will start to grow like this and the root will grow like
[Link], later on, when you want to put this plant in the field, you will
have a plant that isgrowing like this, which is neither good for a field
[Link], at the same time, the roots are not able to get access to all
of this [Link], whenever you are using these plants, they should be raised
in an upper right positionstraight [Link] caring is thinning of the plant
[Link] you are growing plants that are very close together, then one
there will be a dearthof resources; there will be out competing each other,
and to there will be a phenomenonthat is known as [Link], what is
whipping?If you are having plants that are very close to each other, then
because each of theseplants wants to have access to light, it will try to
grow up as soon as [Link], you will have these plants that grow very
[Link], in these tall plants, they have not had enough time to put up their
side words [Link], they are only growing in one direction putting all
their energy in growing [Link], what happens, in this case, is that because
the sideways tissues are not [Link], once you take this plant out of
this scenario, you will have a situation where you have thispot, and you
have this plant that starts to [Link], it is falling because of its own
[Link], to avoid that you need to ensure that the plants are not raised
in a very high-densityenvironment; there is a thinning operation that is
done from time to [Link], you need to water the plants you need to do
[Link] need to do [Link], what is hardening?When you are
growing these plants in the nursery scenario; so, there you are putting a
greatamount of care, you are giving a great amount of care to these
[Link] then, when once you shift these plants out in the field in a forest
area, then thereis nobody to take care of [Link], if there is a sudden shift
between say watering every day versus getting water onlyin the rainy
season, and then, there is a good possibility that the plants might notbe
able to tolerate this certain [Link], there will be a large-scale
[Link], to avoid that you need to harden the plants, and this
hardening is done by graduallyreducing the amount of water that is being
provided to the plants, and also by exposingthem slowly and slowly to more
extreme [Link], for instance, earlier if you were raising a plant in a
shade net, then you will graduallytend to increase the amount of light that
is available to the [Link] finally, you want to shift the plant to harsh
[Link], once this plant has remained in the harsh sunlight for a few
days or say a few months,then it is now ready for the field situations,
because in the field it will typically begetting a very harsh sunlight then
staking for [Link], what is staking?In the case of some plants, that
are unable to raise themselves you might need to adda stake and tie the
plant with the stake, so that this plant does not fall [Link], there will be a
stake right next to the plant and the plant will be tied to it so,that this plant
is not able to whip [Link], staking might be [Link] of excess
roots; so, in the case of a plant, suppose the roots have come outof the
polythene bag, then they will need to be clipped, at this [Link], this
clipping is also a caring operation to prevent the rotting of or the killing
outof the roots on exposure to pure air to, when control of diseases and
control of pests bythe use of insecticides pesticides and so [Link], here we
can see that in a nursery there is a large-scale operation and people
areregularly caring for the plants regular watering of plants is [Link]
then, this watering also has to be [Link], if we look at the
impact of different amounts of water to a plant; so, let us saythat this curve
is showing that different amounts of water are being provided to
[Link], this plant is only getting a small amount of [Link], its
growth is limited; this plant is getting more amount of [Link], it grows at
a rate that is faster than that of the first [Link] then, in the case of this
plant which is getting a very large amount of water, thenthere will be water
[Link], this water logging will then adversely impact the plant growth
and the plant growthwill come [Link], when we are doing watering of the
plants, this watering has to be [Link] should be neither very low nor
very [Link] is an image that is showing the hardening [Link], in this
process, these plants are being raised under a shade net, so that they
arenot getting exposed to 100 percent [Link] they are getting
exposed to say 70 percent [Link], you will you will move slowly and
steadily from 50 percent sunlight, 60, 70, 80, 90 andthen finally, out in the
100 percent [Link] is a weeding operation being [Link], here you
have these polythene bags so on, in which you have the plants and the
grassesor other plants that are growing in these poly pots together with
your plant of interestare being manually taken [Link], this is the weeding
[Link] also perform grading operation in the [Link], in the
grading operation, those plants that are of the same size that are
showingthe same growth characteristics they are kept [Link], they will
be sent out as a [Link] are plants that are ready for sale or [Link],
here also we can see that there is these stakes that are there together with
[Link], transportation of these plants is done either by using a
tractor and trolley or byusing small trucks in which these plants are
[Link], in this case, we can see that these plants have been put in three
different [Link], these shelves need to be of at need to be at
sufficient [Link], that the plants are not damaged during the
[Link] is the raising of plants in [Link], container is a
plastic pot like structure in all of these are of standardized
sizes,standardized [Link], in this case, the mechanization of plant
growth or plant production it becomes easier.. So, this is a plant that is
growing in [Link], one innovation that has been done recently is
that of the use of the raised iron [Link], in this case, what we are saying
is that, you have these iron stands on which we areraising the plants; the
use of a an iron stand, it is raising the [Link], it is very similar to a raised
bed, but then these plants are not in direct contactwith the soil because of
which the chances of the plants getting exposed to the pathogensreduces
[Link], in this case, we are using these iron stands, and we are
growing we are puttingthe poly pots on top of [Link], these poly pots
will be having the potting medium, and perhaps this potting medium isvery
different from the surrounding [Link], probably the soil here was not good
enough for the [Link], here you have the potting medium, which is
very different from that of the [Link], the best thing is that, if
you have pathogens here; if you have fungi or certain insectsthat are not
able to move very [Link], these fungi or these pathogens will not be able to
reach into these poly pots, becausethey are physically separated from the
soil [Link] the case of a raised bed, your plants were directly in contact
with the surrounding [Link], if there are pathogens in the surrounding soil,
they will be able to reach the [Link] in the case of a raised iron bed,
this possibility goes down [Link], in certain nurseries, we also
need to make use of [Link], a greenhouse is a structure in
which the climate gets controlled you have plasticor glass sheets that are
able to capture the sunlight, and keep the inside much warmerthan the
[Link], we typically use greenhouses in colder [Link] days
in certain nurseries, we are also using mist [Link], what is a mist
chamber a mist chamber is a room in which the humidity is controlledto a
level that is roughly equal to 100 [Link], what we are seeing here is
that, we have these pipes on the top and from this thesepipes, we will have
a regular flow of mist because of which I and this room is coveredfrom all
[Link], because of this mist the whole of this chamber will be kept at
roughly 100 [Link], why would you want to have an area
with 100 percent humidity?Now, this is because in the case of certain
plants that we are raising through [Link], in the case
of vegetative propagation, you have taken a poly pot added the
growingmedium and you have just added a part of the [Link], this plant
does not have roots, it does not have [Link], this plant needs to be
kept in a situation where it does not dry out, because it doesnot have
[Link], it will not be able to get water from the [Link] then, if the if the
surrounding area is dry, then this stem will dry out in no [Link], we keep
such plants in a mist chamber where you have 100 percent [Link],
that there is no loss of water, because of [Link], we keep it till
that time that it is able to develop the leaves and the [Link], this is a mist
chamber and this is how a mist chamber looks at looks while in
[Link], here we can see that there is a mist of water that is now,
surrounding these plantsbecause of which there will not be any loss of
water, because of [Link] certain nurseries, these days we are also
using tissue [Link], in the case of tissue culture, the parenchymal
tissues of certain plants are raised insidebottles in growing [Link],
this growing medium also contains agar, so that you have a solid medium
on whichto grow the [Link], with the help of tissue culture, it is
possible to do this vegetative propagationat a much faster [Link]
way of vegetative propagation is through [Link], here we are seeing
a nursery in Punjab that is making eucalyptus through [Link], in this
case, the stems are cut, then they are then they are treated with
certainhormones like rooting hormones which will aid in the growth of the
[Link] finally, we will be able to generate a large number of eucalyptus
plants throughvegetative [Link], in this lecture, we started with
what is a nursery?why do we need a nursery?what is the layout of a
nursery?what are the things that we need in a nursery? and then what are
the kinds of operationsthat we do in a nursery?Now, these nurseries can be
low-tech nurseries, or they can be high-tech [Link] high-tech
nurseries are those in which we are using tissue culture and mist
chambersand vegetative [Link], we looked at different kinds of
beds; we looked at different kinds of [Link] will get the impacts of
watering and so [Link], that is all for [Link] you for your attention .

We move forward with our discussion on Silvicultural [Link] in this

lecture, we will have a look at Planting and [Link], the aim of
silviculture is to ensure a regular production of timber and for thatwe need
to ensure the [Link], when we talk when we talked about
regeneration, we also talked about artificial regenerationin which case the
young plants are planted in the [Link], how is this planting done?What are
the areas that are available for such plantings?And, what is the procedure
that we follow to ensure that the regeneration comes up [Link], we
begin with the areas that are available in the [Link] first one is recently
clear-felled [Link], we had seen in the lecture on clear felling system
that, in the clear felling system,we remove all the trees that are there on
the piece of [Link], when all the trees have been removed, then natural
regeneration is not possible,except in a few cases where we have copies
regeneration or regeneration through [Link] in general, we
can say that in the case of a clear-felling system, you remove
everything;so, you will have to go and plant in those [Link], the areas
where you have done clear felling are areas that are available for
[Link], there are certain areas where the forest cover is to be
[Link], here we talk about those areas where the density of the
plants is [Link], the plants that are there in the forest are not utilizing the
whole of the [Link] of the growing space is still available and
we can plant more number of saplings inthe in that area to utilize that
growing space, so that there is an optimal utilization ofthe growing
[Link] is also done in those areas where our objective is to increase
timber productionor to do more and more amount of carbon
[Link], those areas are also areas where planting needs to be
[Link], there are some certain open areas; in forest areas, certain
wastelands, certainpanchayati lands and so [Link], especially, in the case of
social forestry, these days people are coming up with a demandthat they
require fuel wood [Link], where will we plant these fuel wood crops
panchayati lands are available, and in thoseareas, we can come up with
those [Link], these open areas whether they are in forest in
revenue land or in wasteland, they canbe put up for [Link]
roads, canals and railway [Link], if there is a plantation along the road, it
is known as an avenue plantation and anavenue plantation is done
primarily for two purposes; one is the provisioning of [Link], if there is a
road and there are trees on both the sides, then there will be spaceon the
there will be shade on the road, and because of that shade the movement
of trafficwill be much more [Link] will feel comfortable when is
even in the peak [Link] second objective is to have an optimal utilization
of that space that is [Link], because we have a land, and because
there are communities that are living close to thatland, and they require
certain trees, probably they require certain fruit crops, such asmangoes or
they require certain fuel wood [Link], if there is a land of label and there
is a demand, we can put that land into usein the form of an avenue
[Link], in certain areas, an urban plantation is also [Link]
plantation is to beautify a [Link], all those areas which are available they
can be put up under [Link], another category is that of
agroforestry or farm [Link], there is there is a slight difference
between agroforestry and farm [Link] is a situation where a
farmer is trying to have revenue both from his forestcrops as well as the
agricultural [Link], a classic situation is where a farmer might want to
have mango trees on his farmmand below these mango trees, he might
want to put up say haldi (turmeric) [Link], haldi is a species, turmeric,
which grows in the [Link], if he has these trees as well as these haldi
(turmeric) crops, then these trees willbe able to provide shade for the
growth of or for the sustenance of these healthy [Link] these haldi
(turmeric) plants will be able to grow in a much better manner as
comparedto if they were put out in the open [Link] at the same time, this
farmer is able to get cash crop as well as fruits from thesemango trees, and
also in certain cases, timber from these mango [Link], in the case of
agroforestry, the farmer is getting income both from forestry as wellas from
[Link], the second term here is farm [Link] what is farm
forestry?.So, there is a farmer who is having an agricultural field, and let us
say that this farmer isgrowing say wheat on his [Link], there are certain
species that are available in the form of maid and this, on this spacethe
farmer is not planting any [Link], what the farmer can do is that he or
she can plant a tree [Link], this tree is not being planted to generate
revenue, but it is being planted to meet certainsmall requirements, such as
certain requirement of fruits, probably for self consumption orconsumption
of his family, or certain amount of fuel [Link], these kinds of plantations
in which the primary objective is [Link], the secondary objective is
to have a few trees to meet certain requirements isknown as farm
[Link], basically all these areas; whether they are clear felled areas,
areas where coveris to be increased or open areas or areas along the
roadways or railways or canals orareas, where agroforestry or farm forestry
is to be promoted or done are the areas, whereyou need to do planting
[Link], whenever we begin with a planting operation, we need to
keep certain considerations inthe [Link] is the availability of sufficient
areas because when the department does a plantationplant say 3 or 4
plants, because that will become prohibitively expensive to employ alabour
just for 3 or 4 [Link], the first requirement is the availability of sufficient
[Link], they so, there should be sufficient area to plant say 100 trees or
100 [Link] second is accessibility of this area during the monsoon
season because most of the plantationsin our country are done during the
monsoon [Link], if this area is inaccessible during the monsoon
season, then probably it will notbe worthwhile to begin with the planting
[Link], the third one is availability of labour, because in our country
the planting is donein a labour-intensive manner and so, there should be an
easy and cheap availability oflabour in this [Link], there are three things
availability of sufficient [Link], this sufficient area also includes the
areas that are capable of supporting [Link], this area should be
preferably an area that has sufficient amount of [Link] has sufficient
amount of rainfall; it is not a very dry or a very wet [Link], when we say
sufficient area; it is sufficient area that is also suitable area for
plantation,then accessibility of the area during monsoon and the
availability of [Link], before we do a planting operation, we begin with
the generation of a soil [Link] soil profile is typically figured out by
digging certain soil profile pits whichare generally of the depth of 1.75
[Link], why do we need to have a soil profile map?Now, this is
because soil is of utmost importance in supporting the [Link], if an area
does not have a sufficient depth of soil, then probably it will not beable to
support the [Link], before planning our planting operation, we need to
look at the soil profile map ofthe area and the soil profile map is
constructed by digging [Link], if this is the area where you need to do
the plantation, then probably you willdig a hole here, a hole here, a hole
here, here, here, here and so [Link], when you are digging the hole, you
will see till what depth a soil [Link], depending on the depth, we
divide the area into three different [Link] first zone is where the soil
depth is less than 10 centimetres and we call theseareas as refractory
[Link], in these areas, because the soil depth is very less so, it does not
make any senseto plant trees in these [Link] the soil is not of a
sufficient [Link] will not be able to support the [Link] second depth or
the second zone is where the soil depth is 10 to 30 centimetres, 10to 30
centimetres is a depth which is not an optimal depth for most trees, but yes
sometrees can be [Link] primarily this area should be used as a
pasture [Link], basically you will be, you will be planting grass slips and
also some plants, becausethere is a good chance that the tree species that
you plant in this area might die [Link], the third zone is where the soil
depth is greater than 30 centimetre and these arethe areas that are best
suited for [Link], when you were making these soil profile these soil
profile pits, then probably thisonly raised till 5 centimetre, this reach till 7
centimetres, this was say 30 centimetres,this one was 40 centimetres, this
one was say 70 centimetres, this one let us say thisis 80 centimetres, and
here let us say that this was 10 centimetres, 20 centimetres,
[Link], when you are when you get this data, you will be
dividing this area into these [Link] is the first zone; this is the
second zone, and this is the third [Link], this third zone is where you will
be planting the [Link] first zone is where you will not be planting
anything or probably you will only be plantinggrasses, and in the second
zone, it will be grasses plus some [Link], in this one, you will be planting
the [Link], this sort of a map is known as a soil profile [Link], before
doing the planting operation, you need to figure out the soil depth and
getthe soil profile map of the [Link], we perform a pre planting survey
and prepare a treatment [Link] what is a pre-planting survey?It is a
survey; and, we have seen what surveys are; this is a survey that has done
beforeplanting and what are we trying to figure out in this survey?We need
to see the area to be planted and the area to be left unplanted for
researchwork, for conservation work, and so [Link], for instance, when we
were looking at this soil profile map, so, the zone I willnot be planted, but it
is also possible that a certain portion of the zone III belongsto a research
[Link], if this is a research plot, then probably we will not be doing
anything to this [Link], while doing the pre-planting survey, we have
looked at the soil profile map and wehave also marked those areas where
we should not be doing any [Link], areas to be planted and areas not
to be planted both of them are [Link], species [Link], species
selection depends on a number of [Link], especially in the case of hilly
areas, there will be a different species that isplanted on the south facing
slopes, and a different species that will be planted onthe north facing
[Link], India lies in the northern hemisphere and so, the south
facing slopes will be exposedto much more amount of sunlight as compared
to the north facing [Link], probably the species will be
[Link], if the area where you are doing the plantation is large
and it [Link], in that case, let us say that the area is something like
[Link], in this case, these sections with very high slopes will probably be
having a verydifferent species as compared to these tops of the [Link],
here, you will have a very different species as compared to these species
which are thereon the valley [Link], in this point, you have an
excess moisture that is available, whereas in thesepoints you have less
moisture of [Link], while doing the pre-planting survey, you will also
have a look at the topography ofthe area to decide which species should be
planted in which [Link], we do a species [Link] also do a site
preparation [Link], what is a site preparation planning?It is possible
that in these areas the soil is very less in depth; so, probably some
moreamount of soil needs to be put [Link], in these areas, you need to
have contour [Link] what is a contour trench?A contour trench is a
trench that we dig parallel to the contour lines, which means that, ifyou
have a hill, then along these contour lines, we will be making trenches and
thesetrenches are primarily to retain water and to prevent soil [Link],
these are trenches that we are making parallel to the contours to prevent
soil erosion,and also to retain [Link], in these areas, probably we
require contour [Link], in these red areas, probably certain pit
digging needs to be [Link], while doing the pre-planting survey you are
also looking at what are the sorts ofsoil preparations that need to be
[Link], we look at different site preparations; then, we also make a layout
of roads, inspectionpaths, fire lines, water points and so [Link]
whenever you are doing a plantation, at certain times, you will also need to
monitorthis [Link] will have to get into this plantation once the
plants have established themselvesand perform certain tending
[Link], if you are doing this plantation from the beginning, then it
makes much sense tolayout your roads, so that all parts of the plantation
are easily accessible for eitherobservation or monitoring or tending
operations later [Link], what we do in this case is that, if this is the area
that has to be planted and probablythis is an area which is suitable for
making of a gate, then we will say that let us havea road like this and
probably roads like this, so that we are able to access different portionsof
this [Link], you need to make for roads also you need to make
provisions for fire [Link], fire lines are made so that, if later on; if there
is any fire, then the fire shouldnot be able to move throughout the
[Link], because you are doing this plantation to generate a forest, then it
makes much senseto do a planning for the fire lines from the beginning
[Link], you plan for the roads; you plan for the fire [Link] may also plan
for certain inspection [Link], an inspection path will not be a road, but
it will be more like a pagdandi (roughpath) that is moving [Link], on an
inspection path, people can move on foot, and have a look at the
plantation;to monitor the plantation; to grade the [Link], all these
preparations layouts for roads in inspection paths, fire lines, water
pointsespecially, for plantations being done in urban areas where you want
to have a fastgrowth, you will probably also require certain areas where you
will dig a tube [Link], where is the point where you want to have the tube
well for irrigation of this areais also something that you will decide during
the pre planting [Link], construction of treatment map showing
layout, slope, soil, depth, fertility [Link], what we are saying here is
that you have this layout map, you also have this soil [Link],
similarly, you will you may also generate a map of the slope of the [Link],
this is a slope map, probably, it will show that these are the areas with high
slopeand these are the areas with low slope and these are the areas with
moderate [Link], when you combine all of these maps together; so,
you have the layout map, slope map, soildepth map, fertility map and so
[Link] you combine all of these together, you generate a treatment
[Link], a treatment map is generally having a number of colours to depict
these [Link], by looking at the treatment map, you can very
easily understand why you are doinga certain operation and where you are
doing these [Link] next point is to demarcate these zones on the
[Link], here we talked about that this is how we are going to do this
[Link] then these lines which you have drawn on the map, will now
also be pointed out onthe ground [Link] through the use of certain
sticks, or in certain cases, you may put rocks thatare painted with
limestone with lime so that, these rocks look white in [Link], you are
actually demarcating all these lines on the ground [Link], these are all
different activities that need to be done even before you have startedto do
the [Link], once you have demarcate these and demarcated these
lines on the ground, next you need togo with the site [Link] is
site preparation?You are preparing the site so as to make it suitable for the
next operation which is theplanting [Link], what do you do in site
preparation?Step 1 is to clear the site by the removal of unwanted
[Link], probably your site is full of an invasive species which is
Lantana, or probably yoursite is having certain species that are not useful
from a timber point of view, and youwant to generate a [Link],
probably your site is having certain trees that are very disease [Link], in
the site preparation phase, you will be removing all of these vegetation and
cleaningup your site, so that the planting operation can [Link], you will
perform the soil conservation works to prevent soil erosion and
[Link], soil conservation works and moisture conservation
works are done [Link], what do we do in the case of soil and moisture
conservation works?Suppose, you have a hill where you are doing this
plantation, and because of erosion, thereare a number of gullies that have
developed in this [Link], if you do not plug these gullies, then with the
next rain the soil and moisture bothof them will be able to move away from
your plantation site to other [Link], typically, when you are doing a
plantation, you are also digging pits and you are looseningup the [Link],
right after you have done your digging step, the chances of erosion go
[Link] to prevent that what we do is that, at certain points we make
brushwood dams, incertain locations; we will probably make check dams, in
certain other locations; we willbe making large size concrete dams,
concrete check [Link], these are the stone check dams either loose
stone check dams or boulder check damsor gabion check [Link], we are
making all these different sorts of check [Link], in certain areas, we are
also doing a plugging through dirt plugs or soil [Link], we are doing all
these different; we are putting all these different obstacles so thatin any
gully the water is not able to move [Link], when you have in the rainy
season, the water together with the sediments will comeand collect at the
first [Link], whenever you are stopping the water flow if what is
flowing in this direction and youhave put up and put up a stop [Link], the
speed reduces; when the water is touching this dam, then the speed of the
water [Link], when the speed of the water reduces, its ability to carry
the sediment also [Link], this water will deposit the sediments
[Link], from the overflow, the water that moves is more clearer with less
amount of [Link], whatever sediments have remained, at they
will get stopped at the next check dam,then whatever sediments I mean
they will get stopped at the next check dam and so [Link], through these
operations, you are slowing down the speed of water, so as to
[Link] whenever you are stopping this water, this water
will also percolate downwards intothe [Link], you are also
stopping the sediments from moving [Link], these soil and moisture
conservation works are also done in site [Link] your area could be a
waterlogged area, then you will have to make provisions forproper
[Link] these are typically, in the case of the bottoms of the valleys,
where there is anexcess moisture that is [Link], if there is a chance
of water logging, then drainage channels will also have to [Link], in
site preparation, we also do fencing to protect our [Link] it is put
up, and these fencing can be barbed wire fencing, a chain link
fencing,stone walls, cattle proof trenches or live [Link], we have seen
four of these in the previous lecture, what is the cattle proof trench?So, if
this is your ground level; in a cattle proofed trench, you will dig this area
andput up this earth [Link], now, the ground profile looks like [Link], if
you have a plantation here on this side, and if the cattle wants to move
inside,then the cattle will have to negotiate this deep trench and also a wall
in front of [Link], in a number of cases, the cattle is the these the cattle are
unable to cross [Link], CPTs are also used as fencings in a number of
[Link], once you are done with your site preparation, the next
step is [Link] what is the staking?It is marking planting wall or soil
working spots on the land using [Link], here now you are deciding that
ok.I am going to do a plant, I am going to plant my trees here, but then
what are the locationswhere I should actually plant the [Link], what you
will do is you will mark these points using certain substances, such as
eitherbranches or bamboo sticks or rocks that are painted white in colour,
or probably you caneven make use of plough [Link], staking is marking
of planting spots or soil working spots, on the land using stakesmade of
branches, stones, halved, bamboo pieces, lime and so [Link], this ensures
uniform [Link], once you have started to dig the holes, if you
have done a proper staking,then your plantation will look [Link] it is not
done properly, then your plantation will look very [Link], this spacing
of a staking is decided based on the objectives of the [Link], do you
want to have a plantation just for fuel wood, in which case, you will wantto
have the this spacing as to be less, so that all the area is covered up with
[Link], if you want to have a plantation together with a pasture land;
so, in that case, youwill want to have a few trees, but the area in between
should be full of [Link], if that this is your objective, you will be having
a larger [Link] your objective is only fuel wood, then probably you will
be planting the trees veryclose [Link] also depends on the site
and species [Link], probably you want to go with certain plants that
are strongly light [Link], in this case, you will probably want to go
with a larger spacing, so that your plantsare very far away from each other
and there is hardly any shadow that falls on any [Link] will also be wary
of the growth rate of these different [Link], if you have certain plants
that grow very fast, then probably it is a good idea to havea closer spacing
in the beginning, and then doing a thinning up [Link], if you do not
have an option of thinning, then you can directly go with a larger
spacing,so that more amount of light and nutrients are being made
available to the plants fortheir fast [Link], it also depends on soil
moisture, soil depth and so [Link], if the site is more fertile, then
probably it will be able to support a largernumber of [Link], what we are
saying here is that, a better sitewould mean more plants; more plants
means lesser spacing between the [Link], this is how you decide use
your [Link], how is it actually done in the field?So, here we are seeing
a person who is doing the staking [Link], these are the locations
where the holes will be dug, and this person is now digginga small mark on
the ground so as to tell the next person where to dig the [Link], this is a
[Link], a stake could be in the form of a wood that is projecting outside,
or in certaincases you can just make marks on the ground, such as this, to
let the next person knowthat this is the point where you need to dig a
[Link], when we want to do these plantations, there a certain amount of
soil working thatis [Link] this soil working; because, you want to
make the soil loose, so that your plants areable to establish themselves
easily and [Link], how do we do these soil workings?We can either
plough the hole of the land as we do in [Link], we can bring the
tractor and plough the whole land, or this ploughing can also bedone in the
form of [Link], we can say that we are going to raise plants in these
strips and so, these stripsneed to be [Link], once you have ploughed
up these strips, then you can plant your saplings at certaindistances on
these [Link], this is one way of soil [Link] way is so; ploughing
generally requires the use of machines, and in our country, becauseforestry
also happens to be an to be an occupation that provides livelihood to
[Link], we generally prefer labour intensive [Link], labour intensive
works could be in the form of pit [Link], pits are of different shapes
and sizes; the simplest one is an ordinary [Link], what is an ordinary pit?
You have the soil you dig a [Link], this is just a pit that is dug downwards,
generally the thus the standard sizes are30 centimetre in width, 30
centimetre in length and 30 centimetre in [Link], this will, if you look at
this pit, this will be in the form of a cube 30 centimetres,30 centimetres and
30 [Link] standard size is 45 by 45 by [Link], this size is
roughly 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 [Link] size is one and a half feet by one and
a half feet by one and a half feet [Link], this is a standard pit or an
ordinary [Link] option is to have a saucer [Link], in the case of a
saucer pit, you will dig the pit like thisand here is your this is your
[Link], essentially when you look at a saucer pit from the top, you will
see this area followedby this [Link], this circular region this typically
[Link], this region is having a slope towards the pit, and why is that
helpful?That is helpful, because such a pit will be able to retain moisture
that is falling onthis much large [Link], all the water that is falling during
the monsoons in this area will be channelizedtowards the pit, otherwise, if
you went only with an ordinary pit, only this much amountof water is
entering [Link], a saucer pit is generally preferred in those areas that
are a bit drier because youwant to retain more and more amount of
moisture for your [Link] option is a crescent edge [Link] a
crescent edge pit is generally made in sloppy [Link], if your area has a
slight slope, you will dig a pit, but you will also dig a crescentaround this
pit; so, from the top it will look like [Link], this is your pit and you are
creating a mound out of mud like this, where this isthe top portion and this
is the direction of the [Link] why would you want to do this?Because,
all the water that falls in this area gets channelized towards the centre
andnear the centre you have your [Link], this sort of a crescent pit is
bringing all the water from this big an area towardsthe pit [Link], this is
generally preferred in those areas that have an even drier sort of a
[Link], we have a ring [Link], in the case of a ring pit, you have a
pit which is surrounded by a large sized trenchin the form of a [Link], if
you take a cross section of this; so, this area is having a pit, this area is
elevated,then this area again is having a pit followed by the normal
[Link], this is your pit and this is the ring followed by ground here and
ground [Link], why would you want to go with such an intricate
structure?This sort of a structure is preferred for two reasons; one, you
have generated a largesized ring in which water can [Link], this is
preferred in drier areas; and two, if you have a sufficiently large sizedring,
then animals will also not be able to access the plant that is growing in your
[Link], this also serves to repel animals from browsing on the [Link], if
you are going with a ring pit, then probably you do not have to go with
othersorts of fencing [Link] option is a ridge and [Link]
in a ridge and ditch; this is also preferred in sloppy [Link], here you have
a ridge and here you have a [Link], a ridge and a ditch is generally
preferred in those areas where you have a slope, andalso the rainfall is
[Link], it is possible in that in a particular year you are getting a very
low amount ofrainfall it is possible that in a certain year you are getting a
huge amount of [Link], because you will be doing your plantations in
the rainy season, and you are digging thesepits [Link], if your area
has an erratic rainfall, this sort of a structure provides you witha certain
amount of [Link]?Because, any water that is flowing along the
slope will get accumulated here and so, ifthe rainfall is less, you will be
having an excess moisture here which is helpful in [Link], if by
chance, you have a very heavy amount of rainfall; in that case, your
ditchwill get completely overfilled and it will it might even get
[Link], if you do if you plant a plant here, then it will be safe from
water [Link], when we do a ridge and a ditch sort of a system, we
always plant two plants one inthe ridge one in the [Link], whether it is a
very dry season or whether it becomes a season with more amount of
rainfall,in both the cases, one of these plants is going to [Link], this is
an insurance [Link] option is to have contour trenches with a
staggered or [Link], as we have seen before in the case of a
contour trench, you will be digging trenchesalong these contours and these
trenches can either be continuous in which case you willhave all these
areas that have been dug up in the form of a trench, or you can have itin a
staggered manner, where if you have a trench [Link], in the next line,
you would not be having a trench, but you will be having a trenchin these
locations and then in the next line, you will be having a trench here; then
youwill leave this area and then you will have a trench here, so that any
water that is fallingon this hill it gets accumulated in one or the other
[Link], you can have a staggered trench or a continuous trench, and
typically in these trenches also,we can make use of these trenches also to
plant the [Link], you can whenever you are making these trenches,
they these the soil that comes outis generally accumulated on this
[Link], in this case, you can also use these contour trenches as your
ridge and ditch [Link], in certain cases, you can plant your plants inside
the trench is also and also on theup side another option is to have
[Link], mounds are preferred in those areas that have an excess
amount of [Link], what do we do in a mound?In the case of a mound, you
will be digging a pit, but the soil that is coming out ofthis pit, you will put it
like this and later on you will plant you plant [Link], in this case, the water
that comes it gets accumulated here in the pit, but yourplant is not
exposed to a waterlogged [Link], your plant is protected against water
[Link], this sort of a structure is a [Link], we can call it a mound
[Link], let us see how this happens in the [Link], we saw that there was a
stake that was made [Link] this person is now marking the area where a
pit needs to be [Link], you can see this is stick which is used to decide
the [Link], this stick is say a 30 centimetre stick and this will be used to
mark exactly wherethis pit needs to be [Link], the digging operation will
[Link], this person is now digging a [Link], whenever a pit is being dug,
we keep the soils in two [Link], the first heap is that of the [Link],
when you are digging a pit, the topsoil will be kept on one side and the
subsoil willbe kept on another [Link], you will be creating these two
[Link] why would you want to create these two mounds?Because,
typically the topsoil is much more fertile as compared to the [Link],
you want your plants to have the maximum amount of nutrients that can
be made [Link], whenever you are planting your plants, they will
come, if you are taking these plantsfrom a nursery and they are being
grown in a poly pot, which is a polythene bag withsoil, and here you have
the [Link], before planting, you will get rid of this polythene bag, but the
soil is retained becausethis soil typically is having a large amount of
[Link], when you are digging up, it the amount of soil that comes
out and the amount of soilthat you will be putting back in will be different,
because, later on, you will when you are puttingyour plants like [Link], this
much of this space has already been [Link], when you are when you
have put your plant and when you are putting the soil back inthe first go
you will put this soil [Link], the topsoil will be put back first in any of the
space that remains after puttingyour plant and after putting the topsoil will
be filled up by the [Link], this is what we are seeing here, there is a
mound for the topsoil and there is amound for the [Link], this is how
the pit [Link], this is a pit, you have topsoil you have the [Link]
measurements are taken to ensure that these pits are of sufficient
[Link], it is important to remember here that the larger the pit size, the
more friableis the soil in that area, because you have you have worked a
larger volume of soil; becauseof which more and more amount of moisture
will be able to seep in during the rainy [Link], if you have larger sized
pits ,then you will have a better growth of [Link], it needs to be ensured
that the minimum sizes of the pits; the minimum depths of thepits also are
being [Link] typically, these pits are dug before the planting
season; so, they are dug generallyin the months of April, May and probably
the first half of June, because this is also theseason where a number of
labourers are available; because this is not an agricultural [Link], you
can provide employment to people during this [Link], these pits are
left for a while and then the planting is [Link], planting in our country is
generally done in three different [Link] most prominent is the
monsoon [Link], it is most common to have your plantations done in
the monsoon [Link] in those areas where you get pre-monsoon
showers, you can also have planting in thepre-monsoon [Link], in
those areas where we get a winter rains or spring rains, we can do
plantationsin those areas as [Link] very cold [Link] planting is
preferred, because the plants are dormant in the winter [Link], if you
plant them in the winter season, then they will be able to make maximum
utilizationof the spring [Link], how is planting done in the field?
Here ,we are seeing that you have the pits the plants have been brought to
this [Link], in the planting operation; the first thing is to get rid of the
polythene bag aroundthe [Link], the polythene bag is cut away using a
blade and the plant is exposed along withthe ball of soil that is [Link], at
this stage, it is very important to ensure that the ball of soil is not
[Link], essentially, you have to be careful that you handle this plant
together with the soilvery carefully and that you do not expose its roots to
the air; because, suppose thisis the plant and if in place of holding it like
this; if you hold it like this, thenit is possible that the soil will fall [Link],
if that happens, the roots get exposed and we do not want [Link], once
you have exposed; once you have removed the polythene bag, the next
step isto put the plant in [Link], when we are putting the plant, it is
essential to ensure that the collar depthis maintained which means that,
when you are putting your plant, the plant should be putin such a position
that this collar is at ground [Link], typically, the pits are a bit deeper in
[Link], what we do is that we had collected this topsoil on one side, and
we had collectedthe subsoil on the other [Link], we add this topsoil
downwards, so as to make some sort of a stand on which this plantcan now
be [Link], your plant will be kept in such a manner that the collar remains
at the ground [Link], you start to fill up the [Link], here again the
topsoil will be put up first followed by the [Link], the hole is being the
pit, is being filled [Link], once this pit has been filled up, the next step will
be to compress the soil surroundingthe [Link], this compression is
generally done by holding the plant and compressing it withcompressing
the surrounding soil using feet or [Link], now this person is compressing
the soil and once this is done your planting is [Link], typically,
when we do plantations are done on a very large [Link], here you can see
that all these regions have are full of [Link], before you are doing the
actual plantation on the field, it is important to train thepeople to ensure
that no polythene bags are put together with the plant; to ensure thatthe
plants are planted in such a manner that the collar depth is maintained; to
ensurethat the compression of the soil is done [Link] there is an excess
compression, then it might lead to soil [Link] there is a less amount
of compression, then probably with the next rains, the waterwill enter in will
enter into the pit in such a huge volume, that there might be water
[Link] also have to have train people to ensure that they are having a
maximum utilizationof the topsoil and not the [Link], once your
planting is complete, you need to care for these planted [Link] need to
perform tending operations on these [Link], what sort of care is done?
First is [Link], in those areas where you have a dearth of water in
arid and semiarid regions, wateringof the plants at least right after
plantation it becomes [Link] is also done in those areas where you
want to have plants showing of higher speed ofgrowth typically in urban
areas and in [Link] certain areas, you will also have to add
[Link], fertilizer is generally neither used nor required for 2-3
different [Link], when you are doing this plantation; the soil ball that
is surrounding this plant thissoil ball has come from the [Link], in the
nursery, you had added farmyard manure; you had added compost, and
you hadadded fertilizers to this [Link], this soil is already there with the
[Link], for the first few months of its life this these fertilizers are already
[Link] later on because plant because these tree species grow at a
very slow rate so, if youadd fertilizers, they will not be able to use those
fertilizers at that faster [Link], typically, the rocks and the minerals that
are present in that area when they undergodegradation the minerals are
slowly and slowly released and they are being made availableto the
[Link], fertilizers are not [Link], a addition of fertilizers would
increase the cost, and if it is not leading to thatlarger benefit, then there is
no need to put [Link] typically put fertilizers in those areas where
you require a very fast growth, especiallyin species like eucalyptus or
poplar where the cycle will be complete in say 5 [Link], in those 5 years,
the plant has to grow to the maximum height, and in those cases,fertilizers
might be [Link], fertilizers may also be used in those areas that have a
very poor soil, but thoseare exceptional cases; in general, fertilizers are not
[Link] caring operation is [Link], weeding can be done in the
form of circular weeding, strip weeding or complete [Link], in the
case of a complete weeding, if you have this plantation, then everywhereall
the weeds will be [Link], even though you are having plants like this;
in the case of complete weeding, allthe areas cleared of all the weeds, but
then that becomes extremely labour intensive andcost [Link]
second option is to go with a strip [Link], in the case of a strip
weeding, these areas outside of the strips; but inside thestrips, all the
weeds will be [Link], the third option is to go with a circular
[Link], around every plant, you will be removing the weeds, but you
will let all the otherweeds remain in on the side, because they hardly
matter for your [Link], is loosening of the soil with weeding, to
eliminate the rootstock of the [Link], whenever we are removing the
weeds, we also loosen up the soil so as to break upall the rootstock of the
weeds that might be present in that [Link], this is to ensure that the
weeds will not come up [Link] is beating up of casualties; which means
that in the plantation after some time, whenyou go to your plantation site,
you might see that a few plants have died [Link], those plants will be
replaced with new plants, and this is known as beating up
[Link] caring operation is a singling [Link], singling
operation means that, suppose you later on you went to this site and
yousaw that this plant is having these two main shoots; so, in the case of a
singling operation,one of these shoots will be [Link], as to ensure that
the plant does not show a forking in a later stage of its [Link], this is
typically done for those plants that are to be used for [Link], a singling
operation is done in the case of coppice [Link], if there was a there is
this stump, and a number of plants are coming up through [Link], in
this case, all the plants except one will be removed so that only one plant
isable is able to grow on this [Link], it is getting all the nutrients that
were being made available by the root [Link], a singling evaporation is
also required in certain cases.A mulching operation may also be needed in
certain [Link] what is mulching?Mulching is the process in which once
you have; so, in this case, you have filled upthis [Link], your plant is
ready; now, what you do is, you add a mulch on the [Link] a mulch may
comprise of any organic matter or even inorganic matter that is put on
thesite so as to conserve [Link], essentially when you are doing this
planting, why not put the polythene bag on top of thissoil in a flat manner,
so that the amount of evaporation from the soil will reduce,or you can make
use of organic mulch such as sawdust or even leaves that have been
[Link], these leaves will be or the sawdust will be spread on this area,
so as to ensure thatmore and more amount of moisture is retained in this
[Link], later on, when they get degraded, they will also add to the
quality of the [Link], a mulching operation is also done in certain
[Link], one of the most important things is, to ensure that whatever
you are doing, isbeing also recorded in the plantation [Link], plantation
journal is a document that records how the how you selected the site,how
you selected the species, when did you dig the pits, how many pits were
dug, howmany plants were planted what are the; what are the kinds of
caring or tending operationsthat you did on the site and so [Link], in this
lecture, we looked at the planting operation in great [Link] are the
different steps; what are the different stages of planting; and, how dowe
ensure that our plants are able to survive, and the regeneration is able to
come [Link], that is all for today thank you for your attention