Forestry

                                                               Introduction about forests, Definition of Forest and Forestry

Forest -Latin word ‘foris’ meaning outside the village boundary or away from inhabited land.

Forest is referred to an area occupied by different kinds of trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses maintained as such.

Forestry

Forestry is defined as the theory and practice of all that constitutes the creation, conservation and scientific management of forests and the utilization of their resources.

CLASSIFICATION:

· Intensive forestry is defined as the practice of forestry with the object of obtaining the maximum in volume and quality of products per unit are through the application of the best techniques of silviculture and management.

· Multiple-use forestry which is defined as the practice of forestry for the simultaneous use of a forest are for two or more purposes, often in some measure conflicting, e.g., the production of wood with forest grazing and/or wildlife conservation

Based on the objectives, forestry is classified as under:

Protection forestry – Protection forestry is the practice of forestry with the primary object of protecting lands whether those upon which the forest is situated or those at a distance from it, against wind and water erosion,conserving water supplies for human consumption, fish culture, etc.

Commercial forestry – Commercial forestry is the practice of forestry with the object of producing timber and other forest products as a business enterprise.

Social forestry – Social forestry is the practice of forestry on lands outside the conventional forest area for the benefit of the rural and urban communities.

1.Farm forestry – Farm forestry is the practice of forestry on farms in the form of raising rows of trees on bunds or boundaries of field and individual trees in private agriculture land.

2.Extension forestry – Extension forestry is the practice of forestry in areas devoid of tree growth and other vegetation and situated in places away from the conventional forest areas with the object of increasing the area under tree growth. It includes within its scope the following:

· Mixed forestry – Mixed forestry is practice of forestry for raising fodder grass with scattered fodder trees, fruit trees and fuelwood trees on suitable wastelands, panchayat land and village commons.

· Shelterbelts– Shelterbelt is defined as a belt of trees and/or shrubs maintained for the purpose of shelter from wind, sun, snow drift, etc.

· Linear strip plantations – These are plantations of fast growing species on linear

strips of land on the sides of public roads, canals and railway lines.

3.Reforestation of degraded forests

4.Recreational forestry – Recreational forestry is the practice of forestry with the object of raising flowering trees and shrubs mainly to serve as recreation forests for the urban and rural population.

Silviculture : Silviculture is that branch of forestry which deals with the establishment, development, care and reproduction of stands of timber.

Silvics : The Study of life history and general characteristics of forest trees and crops with particular reference to environmental factors as the basis for the practice of silviculture

Objectives of silviculture:

· Production of species of economic value

· Production of larger volume per unit area

· Production of quality timber

History of Forests and Forestry in India

❖ Algae appeared on the earth about 1500 million years ago

❖ First terrestrial plant in India appeared 450 million years ago – Silurian period

❖ Man appeared on the earth on 1 million years ago

❖ During Vedic period (1800 BC), rishis identified medicinal and poisonous plants to

cure various types of ailments

❖ Epics Ramayana & Mahabharata – 1500 BC – description oof various types of forests

reveal the dependence of man on forest

❖ In Vishnu Puran, there is description of 13 types of forest occurring different parts of

the country.

❖ Cleaning forest for agriculture to obtain higher taxes

❖ Forest regarded as Hunting ground for kings, Nawabs and jagirdars

Forests in British period

❖ They considered that Forest in India are inexhaustible

❖ Eucalyptus introduced in Nandi palace garden, Mysore-1790

❖ 1800 – Forestry commission appointed to make regulation prohibiting felling in

young teak forests of Malabar forest

❖ 1806 - Mr. Watson – police officer appointed as a conservator of forests for arranging

exploitation of forests

❖ 1842 – initiated plantation in Teak in Nilambur – Conolly, malabar collector, Chathu

menon (Sub Conservator of Forest)

❖ 1854 – Dr. Mc Clelland, Superintend of Forests in Pegu submitted a report to the

Govt of India suggesting restrictions on unchecked exploitations of forest by private

persons. This report formed the basis of Memorandum (Charter of the Indian Forests – Memorandum) of GOI which was issued during 1855 by Lord Dalhousie, the

governor general of India

❖ 1864 – Foundation of Scientifc forestry started. Creation of Forest dept in GOI –

Appointment of the first Inspector General of Forest –Dr. Dietrich Brandis- Father of

Indian Forestry

❖ 1865 - Indian Forest Act was formulated

❖ A separate Forest Act for Madras Presidency was enacted during 1882

❖  During1890, a German Botanist Dr.Voelcker was invited to study the problems of

Indian Agriculture and to suggest measures for improvement. 

Forestry after Independence

❖ 1948 – Central Board of Forestry was constituted to provide policy guidelines for

forest management in the country

❖ 1952 – Van-Mahotsav (Festival of tree planting ) to popularize planting of trees in

private lands

❖ 1952 – A new forest policy was initiated to provide guidelines for forest protection

and management – Policy set a target of bringing about one-third of geographical area

under forests

❖ 1970 – National Commission on Agriculture formulated

❖ 1973- NCA submitted its report – The concept of social forestry emphasized

❖ 1988 –National Forest Policy – the policy aims at conservation of forest resources,

which includes preservation, maintenance, sustainable utilization, restoration and

enhancement of natural environment

❖ 1990 - Joint Forest Management Programme

❖ 2002- Biological diversity Act; 2004 - Biodiversity Bill, 2006- forest rights act

❖ 2014- National Agroforestry policy

                                                                                   Role of Forest

Productive function (Tangible benefits)

ü  Fuel wood

ü  Timber

ü  Non timber resources

§  Fibres and flosses:Ceiba pentandra , Agave sisalana, Sterculia urens

§  Grasses and bamboos:Sabai (Eulaliopsis binata)

§  Essential oil : Eucalyptus, Bursera, Cymbopogan, Santalum album etc

§  Oil seeds : Madhuca indica, Pongamia pinnata, Shorea robusta,

§  Tans and dyes :A.mearnsii, A.decurrens, A.dealbata and Cassia auriculata.

§  Gums and resins : Sterculia urens, Anogeissus latifolia.

§  Tendu and other leaves :Diopyrus melanoxylon

§  Lac and other products :Butea monosperma

§  Fodder and grazing :Acacia, Albizia, Hardwickia, Pterocarpus, Robina, etc.

§  Cane

§  Industrial raw material:

• Pulp and Paper : Bamboo, Casuarina, Melia , Eucalyptus

• Plywood : Melia, Eucalyptus, Toona

• Timber : Teak, Rosewood, Terminalia

•  Packing cases  : Pinus sp., Silver oak, Fir

•  Matchwood : Ailanthus, Simaruba, Bombax

•  Toys  : Adina, Red sanders, Rosewood

§  Dendro power: Prosopis, Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Subabul, Acacia.                                                          

Protective role (Intangible Benefits)

Ø  Forest maintains the hydrological cycle

Ø  Forest provides the  ecological security

Ø  Forest provides ecotourism

Ø  Forest avoids the pollution

Ø  Forests act as a carbon sinks

Classification of Forest based on mode of regeneration, age, composition. ownership, object of management and growing stock

Classification of Indian Forests

  Classification based on method of regeneration

          1.High Forests: Forest regenerated from seed

          2.Coppice Forests: Forest regenerated by some vegetative method

  Classification based on age

          1.Evenaged or Regular Forest :  Forest composed of even-aged woods

      2.Uneven-Aged or Irregular Forest: Forest composed of trees of different ages.

    Classification based on composition

          1.Pure Forest : Forest composed of almost entirely of one species

          2.Mixed Forest : Forest composed of trees of two or more species.

    Classification Based on Objects of Management

          1.Production Forest: Forest managed for produce

                2.Protection Forest: Forest managed prevent erosion, hold shifting sand .

          3.Farm Forest: Forest raised on farms and its adjoining area.

          4.Fuel Forest: Forest raised on village wasteland to supply fuel, small timber

          5.Recreational Forest:Forest managed to meet the recreational needs .

   Classification based on ownership and legal status

            1.State Forest is a forest owned by state

                  a.Reserved forest:  Area under section 3 of Indian Forest Act 1927.

                  b. Protected Forest: Area under the Chapter IV of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.

                 2. Village Forest is a state forest assigned to a village community.

                          3.Communal Forest is a forest managed by a community such as village, town.

.                        4.Panchayat Forest is a forest which is managed in a village panchayat.

   Classification on the basis of growing stock

                          1.Normal Forest: Forest which for a given site and given objects of management.

            2.Abnormal Forest:Forest in which as compared to an acceptable standard.

   Classification criteria based on canopy density

          1.Dense forest: Canopy density of forest is more than 40 %.

                      a.Very dense forest : Canopy density of forest is more than 70 %.

                      b.Moderately dense forest : Canopy density of forest is between 40 and 70 %.

          2.Open forest  -The canopy density of forest is between 10 and 40.

•  Canopy - Branches and foliage formed by the crown of trees

•  Closed canopy: condition where the individual crowns touch each other

•  Crown – Upper branchy part of a tree.

.                                                                                   National Forest Policy 1988

BASIC OBJECTIVES

The basic objectives that should govern the National Forest Policy 1988 are the following

ü  Maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and, where necessary, restoration of the ecological balance

ü  Conserving the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remaining natural forests with the vast variety of flora and fauna

Drawbacks of the NFP, 1988.

 No Official definition of the term “Forest”, which may comprise of a “Self-Sown”

area which supports a Community of Creatures dependant on the plants and

Interdependent on each other.

                          “Natural Heritage” should include All Green Cover such as Grasslands, Wetlands and

Other Ecosystems.

                                                                             Forest regeneration

                   Regeneration is defined as the renewal of a forest crop by natural or artificial means.

Natural Regeneration:

Natural regeneration is defined as ‘the renewal of a forest crop by self-sown seed or by coppice or root suckers.

ü  From seed

ü  From vegetative parts

Natural Regeneration from Seed

Natural regeneration from seed depends upon

  1. Seed production

             2. Seed Dispersal

By wind – Conifers, Acer, Betula, Rhododendron, Populus, Alnus, Salix

By water – Trewia, most mangrove species, Dalbergia, teak, etc.

By gravity – Oaks, Juglans regia, Aesculus, etc.

By birds – Prunus, Mulberry, Broussonetia, Trema, Diospyros melanoxylon

By animals – Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora, Ziziphus, Anthocephalus, etc.

   3.Germination

Germination of seed depends upon:

a)  Internal factors

• Permeability to water

•  Permeability to oxygen

•  Development of embryo

• After ripening

•  Viability

•  Size of seed

•  Germinative capacity and germinative energy

Germinative capacity is defined as ‘the percentage, by number, of seeds in a given sample that actually germinate, irrespective of time’.

Germinative energy is defined as ‘the percentage, by number, of seeds in a given sample that have germinated upto the time when the rate of germination (number of seeds germinating per day) reaches its peak

b) External factors – External factors are the factors of environment which affect germination. These are:

ü  Moisture

ü  Air

ü  Temperature

ü  Light

ü  Seed bed

3.Seedling year

Seedling year is defined as a year ‘in which a given species produces abundant first year seedlings.

4.Seedling establishment

Establishment is defined as the ‘development of a new crop, naturally or assisted, to a stage when the young regeneration, natural or artificial, is considered safe from normal adverse influences.

Natural Regeneration from Vegetative parts

Asexual reproduction in plants from some part of the plant body, e.g., of trees by coppice or root sucker or from root, stem or branch cuttings.

Methods of vegetative reproduction

(i)Coppice: Shoot arising from an adventitious bud at the base of a woody plant.

(ii)Root sucker: Root of a plant is partially or wholly cut to produce a shoot.

(iii)Natural regeneration by coppice

ü  Seedling coppice : Coppice shoots arising from the base of seedlings that have been

                          cut or burnt back’It is generally used in case of sal and teak.

ü  Stool coppice: Coppice arising from the stool or a living stump.

Natural regeneration supplemented by artificial regeneration

Examples of methods of supplementing natural regeneration of some species:

• Sal – Sowing of seeds or planting container plants raised in polythene bags, e.g., in Midnapur (West Bengal) and Dehradun (U.P.)

• Teak – Stump (root and shoot cutting) planting.

• Deodar – Naked root planting.

• Chir – Sowing seed or planting 2 year old plants raised in polythene bags.

                                          Tending operations - Weeding, Cleaning, Thinning and pruning

        Tending is defined as an operation carried out for the benefit of a forest crop at any stage of its life between the seedlings and the mature stages.

Limitation in Tending

1. It has to be done for several times from seedling to maturity

2. It requires considerable funds and staff

3. This creates labour shortage problem which in turn creates supervising problem

1) Weeding

Weeding may be defined as a tending done in the seedlings stage in nursery or in a forest

crop that involves the removal or cutting back of all weeds.

Objects of weeding:

• To reduce root competition for nutrients

• To reduce water loss through transpiration

2) Cleaning

Cleaning is defined as a tending operation done in a sapling crop which involves removal

of inferior growth including individuals of favoured species.

Objects of cleaning:

• To improve light conditions

• To reduce root competition

3) Thinning

Thinning is defined as ‘a felling made in an immature stand for the purpose of improving

growth and form of the trees that remain, without permanently breaking the canopy’.

Object of thinning:

• To distribute growth potential of a site among the trees retained

• To increase the net yield of timber and money from a stand

Kinds of thinning:

1. Mechanical thinning

2. Ordinary thinning

3. Crown thinning

4. Free thinning

5. Maximum thinning

6. Advance thinning

1. Mechanical thinning

§  It is defined as a kind of thinning in which the trees to be cut is selected by some

common thumb rule.

§  Trees in alternate diagonals or rows, alternate trees in a row,etc are removed.

2.Ordinary thinning

§  This is also called as low thinning from below and German thinning.

§   In this, inferior individuals of a crop, starting from the suppressed class are removed followed by some dominated and some of the dominant trees removed.

Principle:

This principle is based on the survival of the fittest (i.e., it considers only the fittest or dominant trees inside the forest). The removal of inferior trees such as suppressed and dominated reduces the competition which enhances the superior trees (dominant trees).Secondly, the week suppressed trees are more liable to infected by diseases and insect.Thirdly it increases the fire possibility. Hence it is better to remove the inferior vegetation.

Advantages of ordinary thinning

1. It is simple and easy to execute

2. This is useful in areas where small sized timber is needed.

Demerits of ordinary thinning

✓ The dominant trees suffered due to competition because of delayed thinning

✓ In case teak plantation, thinning of dominants is not appreciable

Application of ordinary thinning

✓ It is applicable to light demanding species

✓ It is applicable to areas where small sized timbers are marketable .

3. Crown thinning

This thinning is also called as French thinning, High thinning and thinning from above.in

this method, thinning is carried out mainly on dominant trees.in this diseased, malformed and

less promising dominant trees are removed mostly the less promising trees are removed in the

interest of the best available individual, the dominated and suppressed stems are retained.

Principle

The retention of dominated and suppressed trees has a potential for further growth compared

to retention of diseased dominant tree.

Merits of crown thinning

✓ Growth of retained dominant trees is faster.

✓ The suppressed and dominated trees suppress the growth of dominant trees.

Demerits of crown thinning

✓ It is a cumbersome process.

✓ Suppressed and dominated trees compete with dominant trees and affect it

Application of crown thinning

✓ It is applicable to moderately shade tolerant species such as deodar and sal

✓ It is applicable to dry regions 

4. Advance thinning

      It is defined as thinning done in a regular crop in anticipation of suppression as it is developed by craib and O ‘Connor,it is called as craib thinning.

Girdling

Girdling is defined as cutting through bark and other living layers of woods in a continuous

incision all around the pole of a tree.

Lopping and pruning

Lopping means cutting of branches of a tree. Incidentally the lopped trees produce new shoots which are annually or periodically lopped for various purposes.

Though pruning means cutting of branches from the bole of trees for improvement of timber of trees, this term is, sometimes, used for cutting branches to produce new shoots.

                                                                      Artificial regeneration

      Artificial regeneration is defined as ‘the renewal of a forest crop by sowing, planting or other artificial methods.

OBJECTS OF ARTIFICIAL REGENERATION

Artificial regeneration is mainly carried out for the following two objects:

ü  Reforestation

ü  Afforestation.

Reforestation may be defined as the ‘restocking of a felled or otherwise cleared woodland’ by artificial means.

                                                                                    Forest Mensuration

            Forest mensuration is that branch of forestry which deals with the determination of

            dimensions(e.g., diameter, height, volume, etc.), form, age and increment of single trees,

            stands or whole woods, either  standing or after felling.

Objectives of Forest Mensuration

ü  Basis for sale

ü  Basis of management

ü  Measurement for research

ü  Measurement for planning

                                                                      Social Forestry

ü  Word Social forestry was coined by Westoby.

ü  Used in the Ninth Commonwealth Forestry Congress in 1968.

Social forestry is the practice of forestry on lands outside the conventional forest area for the benefit of the rural and urban communities.

 Benefits of Social forestry

ü  Increase the supply of fuel wood and fodder

ü  Generate rural employment

ü  Maintain ecological balance

ü  Appropriate use of wastelands

ü  Promote village and cottage industries

ü  Induce environmental and tree consciousness among people

ü  Relieve pressures from natural forests

ü  Stabilize agricultural production Farm forestry:

Constraints

ü  Loss of green space is continuous as cities expand; available growing space is limited in city centers. This problem is compounded by pressure to convert green space, parks, etc. into building sites.

ü  Inadequate space is allowed for the root system.

ü  Poor soil is used when planting specimens.

ü  Incorrect and neglected staking leads to bark damage.

ü  Larger, more mature trees are often used to provide scale and a sense of establishment to a scheme. These trees grow more slowly and do not thrive in alien soils whilst smaller specimens can adapt more readily to existing conditions.

ü  Lack of information on the tolerances of urban tree cultivars to environmental constraints.

ü  Poor tree selection which leads to problems in the future

ü  Poor nursery stock

                                                            Silvicultural practices of major trees

Species                            Flowering,fruiting                       Rotation and yield           Planting season and spacing

Casuarina equisetifolia          Flowers twice a year,

                                             Fruiting – June and December                Rotation period – 4 to 15 years, 

                                                                                                                 Yield-75– 100tonnes/ha.                          June to September                                                                                                                                                                                           December to January,1.8m*1.8m.

Eucalyptus teriticornies      Flowers late spring to summer,

                                              Fruiting – January-February                       5 to 10 years,60 to 150t/ha     Late spring to early summer, 5m*2m.

Ailanthus excels                   Flowers February to March,

                                               Fruiting – May to June.                            5 to 6 years,120 – 135 tonnes           July or October,5m*5m.

Tectona grandis                  Flowers June to September,

                                          Fruiting –November to January                    25 to 80 years,2.85 cubic meter     June and September,2m * 2m.

Melia dubia                          Flowers January to March,

                                           Fruting-October to February                       6 to 12 years,12 to 15 cubic feet  Onset or during the monsoon,5m*5m.

                                                                      AGROFORESTRY

                    Agroforestry   is a collective name for land-use systems and technologies. where woody  perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are deliberately used on the same land- management units as agricultural crops and/or animals, in some form of

spatial arrangement or temporal sequence.

                          §  All Indian coordinated projects in agroforestry was initiated in 1983 in 20     centre.

§  National Research Centre for Agroforestry (NRCAF), Jhansi was established in Jhansi in 1987.

§  Now it is renamed as Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi.

BENEFITS

ü  Environmental benefits

•  Reduction of pressure on natural forest

•  Efficient recycling of nutrients within soil at different depths by deep rooted trees on site

•  Better protection of ecological systems

•  Reduction of surface run-off, nutrient leaching and soil erosion by tree roots and stems

ü  Economic benefits

• Increment in outputs of food, fuel wood, fodder, fertilizer and timber

• Reduction in incidence of total crop failure which is common in mono cropping or monoculture systems

• Increase in levels of farm income due to increased outputs per unit area

ü  Social benefits

•        Improvement in rural living standards from to sustained employment and higher income

•        Improvement in nutrition and health due to increased quality and diversity of food output.

Limitations

ü  Trees in agroforestry systems often compete with agricultural crops for light, water and nutrients from the soil which may reduce the crop yields

ü  The use of farm machines is more difficult in the confined space in an agroforestry field.

ü  This system is very difficult to manage and needs more accuracy with highly skillful management practices

                 CLASSIFICATION OF AGROFORESTRY:

                                    Agroforestry has been classified based on the structural,functional,socio-economic and ecological bases.

 Taungya System:

ü  The taungya (taung = hill, ya = cultivation) is a Burmese word coined in Burma in 1850s.

ü  The taungya system was introduced into India by Brandis in 1890 and the first taungya plantations were raised in 1896 in North Bengal.

Types of Taungya systems

Taungya systems are of three types:

▪Departmental Taungya:

Under this, agricultural crops and plantation are raised by the forest department by employing a number of labourers on daily wages. The main aim of raising crops along with the plantation is to keep down weed growth.

▪Leased Taungya:

The plantation land is given on lease to the person who offers the highest money for raising crops for a specified number of years and ensures care of tree plantation.

▪Village Taungya:

This is the most successful of the three taungya systems. In this, crops are raised by the people who have settleddown in a village inside the forest for this purpose. Usually each family has about 0.8 to 1.7 ha of land to raise trees and cultivate crops for 3 to 4 years.

Advantages offered by the taungya system are:

Ø  Artificial regeneration of the forest is obtained cheaply

Ø  Problems of unemployment are solved

Disadvantages of the taungya system:

Ø  Loss of soil fertility and exposure of soil

Ø  Danger of epidemics

Ø  Legal problems created

Ø  Susceptibility of land to accelerated erosion increases

Multispecies Tree Gardens:

In this system of agroforestry, various kinds of tree species are grown mixed. The major function of this system is production of food, fodder and wood products for home consumption and sale for cash.

Major woody species involved in this system are: Acacia catechu, Areca catechu, Phoenix dactilifera, Artocarpusspp., Cocosnucifera, Mangifera indica, Syzygiumaromaticumetc

Alley Cropping (Hedgerow Intercropping):

Alley cropping, also known as hedgerow intercropping, involves managing rows of closely planted (within row) woody plants with annual crops planted in alleys in between hedges.

Species for hedgerow intercropping:

Ø  Alley cropping usually includes leguminous trees to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation; hence an ideal alley-cropping tree or shrub species should have following characteristics

Ø  It should have a sparse, small crown to permit sunlight penetration or should resprout rapidly after pruning, coppicing, pollarding or lopping.

Ø  It should form a deep taproot system with few lateral root branches near the surface so as not to compete with crop roots.

Ø  It should have shallow lateral roots that are easily 'pruned' by ploughing along the hedgerow, without serious damage to the plants.

Multipurpose Trees and Shrubs on Farmlands:

▪In this system, various multipurpose tree species are scattered haphazardly or according to some systematic patterns on bunds, terraces or plot/field boundaries.

▪The major components of this system are multipurpose trees and other fruit trees and common agricultural crops.

▪The primary role of this system is production of various tree products and the protective function is fencing, social valuesand plot demarcation.

▪Examples of multipurpose trees employed in agro forestry are: Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia albida, Cassia siamea, Casuarina equisetifolia, Azadirachta indica, Acacia senegal, Cocosnuciferaetc.

Crop Combinations with Plantation Crops:

Perennial trees and shrub crops, such as coffee, tea, coconut and cocoa, are combined into intercropping systems in numerous ways, including:

(a) Integrated multistory (mixed dense) mixture of plantation crops;

(b) Mixture of plantation crops in alternate or other regular arrangement

(c)Shade trees for plantation crops, shade trees scattered; and

(d)Intercropping with agricultural crops.

Shelter-belt:

           These are belts/blocks consisting of several rows of trees established at right angles to the prevailing wind.

 The purposes are:

• to deflect air currents,

• to reduce the velocity of prevailing winds,

• to provide general protection to the leeward areas against the effects of wind erosion,

• to protect the leeward areas from the desiccating effects of hot wind,

• to provide food, fodder, timber etc.

Ø  Grasses:Saccharumspontaneum,Panicum antidotale,Cencnrussp.

Ø  Shrubs:Calotropisprocera, Cassia auriculata, Dodonaiaviscosa

Ø  Trees:Acacia arabica, A. leucopholea.

Wind-break:

Wind break

Wind-breaks are strips of trees and/or shrubs planted to protect fields, homes, canals or other areas from wind and blowing soil or sand.

The important reasons for which wind-breaks are planted include:

•to protect livestock from cold winds

•to protect crops and pastures from hot, drying winds

•to reduce/prevent soil erosion

•to provide habitat for wildlife

•to reduce evaporation from farmlands

•to improve the microclimate for growing crops and to shelter people and livestock

•to retard grass fire

SILVIPASTURE SYSTEM

i)Protein bank

In this Silvipastural system, various multipurpose trees (protein rich trees) are planted on or around farmlands and range lands for cut and carry fodder production to meet the feed requirement of livestock during the fodder deficit period in winter

Example: Acacia nilotica, Albizia lebbeck,Azadirachta indica

ii)Live fence of fodder trees and hedges

In this system, various fodder trees and hedges are planted as live fence to protect the property from stray animals or other biotic influences.

Example: Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania grandiflora, Erythrina sp, Acacia sp.

iii)Trees and shrubs on pasture

AGRISILVOPASTURAL SYSTEM

Home gardens

Home gardens are highly productive, sustainable and very practicable. Food production is primary function of most home gardens.

Structure of Home Gardens:

• Home gardens are characterized by high species diversity and usually 3-4 vertical canopy strata.

• The layered configuration and compatible species admixture are the most conspicuous characteristics of all home gardens.

• Generally, all home gardens consist of a herbaceous layer near the ground, a tree layer at the upper levels and an intermediate layer.

• The lower layer can be partitioned in to two, the lowermost being at less than 1.0m in height, dominated by different vegetables and the second layer of 1.0 - 3.0/m height comprising food crops such as banana, papaya and so on.

• The upper tree layer can also be divided into two, consisting of emergent, full grown timber and fruit trees occupying the upper most layer of 25m height and medium size trees of 10-20m occupying the next lower layer.

• The intermediate layer of 5-10m height is dominated by various fruit trees.

Choice of species:

Ø  Woody species: Anacardium occidentale,Artocarpus heterocarpus, Citrus sp

Ø  Herbaceous species: Bhendi, Onion, cabbage, Pumpkin, Sweet potato

Ø  Woody Hedgerows: Erythrina sp, Leucaena luecocephala , Sesbania grandiflora

OTHER SYSTEMS

• Apiculture with trees: In this system various honey ( nector) producing trees frequently visited by honeybees are planted on the boundary of the agricultural field.

• Aquaforestry: In this system various trees and shrubs preferred by fish are planted on the boundary and around fish ponds. Tree leaves are used as forage for fish. The main role of this system is fish production and bund stabilization around fish ponds

• Mixed wood lots: In this system special location specific multipurpose trees   

 ( MPTs) are grown mixed or separately planted for various purposes such as wood, fodder, soil conservation , soil reclamation etc.

Arrangement of Components:

Spatial Arrangement:

Spatial arrangement of plants in an agroforestry mixture may result in dense mixed stands (asin-home gardens) or in sparse mixed stands (as in most systems of trees in pastures).

Temporal Arrangement:

Temporal arrangements of plants in Agroforestry may also take various forms. An extreme example is the conventional shifting cultivation cycles involving 2-4 years of cropping and more than 15 years of fallow cycle, when a selected woody species or mixtures of species may be planted

          Ecological classifications

Ø  Agroforestry systems in Humid / Sub humid lowlands

Examples: Home gardens, Trees on rangelands and pastures, Improved fallow in shifting cultivation and Multipurpose woodlots.

Ø  Agroforestry systems in Semiarid and arid lands

Examples: Various forms of silvopastoral systems, Wind breaks and shelterbelts

Ø  Agroforestry systems in Tropical High lands

Examples: Production systems involving plantation crops such as coffee, tea.

Nature of biological interactions in agroforestry system

Ø  Complementary:

Agroforestry system provides a greater yield than the yield of their corresponding sole crops

Ø  Supplementary:

The yield of one component exceeds the yield of corresponding to its sole crop without affecting the yield of another component.

Ø  Competitive:

In this system the tree and crop components interact in such a way that the increase in the yield of one component leads to decrease in the yield of other component

Below ground and above ground interactions

• Tree Crop interactions (TCI) – Tree crop interface

• Tree animal interactions (TAI) – Tree animal interface

Various interactions take place between the woody trees and herbaceous plants (Crops or pastures) which is referred to as tree-crop interface.

Possible interactions at TCI and TAI

POSITIVE

1.Tree- Crop Interaction

ü  Shading trees (Stress reduction)

ü  Biomass contributions

ü  Water conservation

ü  Soil conservation

ü  Microclimate amelioration

ü  Balanced utilization of nutrients

ü  Efficient use of light or reduce waste of light resources

ü  Efficient use of aerial space

ü  Weed suppression

2.Tree- Animal Interaction:

ü  Shading

ü  Manure deposition

          NEGATIVE:

1.Tree- Crop Interaction

ü  Light competition

ü  Nutrient competition

ü  Water competition

ü  Allelopathy

2.Tree- Animal Interaction:

ü  Phytoxins

ü  Browsing damage

ü  Trampling

ü  Disease / pest host

Allelopathy

Allelopathy refers to the inhibition of growth of one plant by chemical compounds that are released into the soil from neighbouring plants.

Microclimatic modification for pests/diseases

The effect of plant associations on pest and disease incidence is a potentially important but rather unexplored area. Bacterial and fungal diseases may increase in shaded, more humid environments.

Component management

The magnitude of interactive effects between trees and other components of agroforestry systems depends on the characteristics of the species, their planting density, and spatial arrangement and management of the trees.

                                       National Agroforestry Policy 2014, objectives and salient features

National Agroforestry Policy 2014

Ø  Need for Agroforestry Policy in India

• Absence of a dedicated and focused national policy and a suitable institutional mechanism

• Lack of an integrated farming systems

• Restrictive regulatory regime

The major policy goals are:

•Setting up a National Agroforestry Mission or an agroforestry Board to implement the National Policy by bringing coordination, convergence and synergy among various elements of agroforestry scattered in various existing, missions, programmes, schemes and agencies pertaining to agriculture, environment, forestry, and rural development sectors of the Government.

•Improving the productivity; employment, income and livelihood opportunities of rural households, especially of the smallholder farmers through agroforestry.

Basic objectives

The basic objectives of the National Agroforestry Policy are to:

•Encourage and expand tree plantation in complementarily and integrated manner with crops and livestock to improve productivity, employment, income and livelihoods of rural households, especially the small holder farmers.

•Protect and stabilize ecosystems, and promote resilient cropping and farming systems to minimize the risk during extreme climatic events

•Meet the raw material requirements of wood based industries and reduce import of wood and wood products to save foreign exchange.

Strategy to implement the policy

1. Establishment of Institutional Setup at National level to promote Agroforestry

2. Simple regulatory mechanism

3. Development of a sound database & information system

4. Investing in research, extension and capacity building and related services

5. Improving famers’ access to quality planting material

                                                                   FOREST UTILIZATION

MFP                                                   SPECIES                                                               USES

Stem fiber                                   Sterculia villosa                                       Ropes, fishing nets, cordage.

Leaf fiber                                      Caryota urens                                        Ropes, fishing nets, cordage.

Flosses                                     Calotropis gigantia                                                Stuffing,mattresses

Bark tans                                 Cassia auriculata                                 Treating hides and skins of animals

Fruit tans                                Terminalia chebula                               Treating hides and skins of animals

Leaf tans                                Anogeissus latifolia                               Treating hides and skins of animals

Wood dye                             Pterocarpus santalinus                            Dyeing textiles and colouring food

Flower or fruit dye              Mallotus philippensis                              Dyeing textiles and colouring food

Root dye                                 Punica granatum                                   Dyeing textiles and colouring food

Leaf dye                                 Lawsonia inermis                                  Dyeing textiles and colouring food

Fatty oils                                Madhuca indica                                     Soap making, lubricants making

Essential oils                          Santalum album                                      Medicinal and cosmetic uses.

Gum Arabic                       Vetiveria zizanoides                                             Medicine,textiles.

Katira Arabic                    Acacia senegul                                                            Paste,polish.

Babul Arabic                        Sterculia urens                                        Paint and confectionary industry

Ghatti Arabic                        Acacia niloticaa                                                      Dyeing

Semal Arabic                      Anogeissus latifolia                                           Staining material

Kino Arabic                         Bauhinia retusa                                                           Paper

Drugs                             Pterocarpus marsupium                                         Various medicinal uses

Spices                                   Piprer longum                                                    Confectionary uses

Edible  products                Mangifera indica                                                      Edible uses

Grasses                            Heteropogen cantortus                                            Thatching material

Bamboos                            Bamboosa bamboos                                       Making houses,tool handles

Cane                                    Calamus tenuis                                                        Walking sticks

Lac                                      Laccifera lacca                                                     Silk manufacturing

Honey Wax                          Apis dorsata                                                     Edible and medicinal uses

Silk and tussar                   Terminalia arjuna                                                    Silk manufacturing

Hides and horns                     Deer,antelopes                                                      Ornamental uses

Ivory                                    Tusks of elephants                                                    Ornamental uses

Mineral products             Building stones, boulders                            Construction and  ornamental uses

Leaves                                 Bauhinia vaghlii                                                         Thatching huts

Fruits                                Sapindus mukorossi                                                      Soap making.

Bark                                    Cassia nilotica                                                      Cleaning gur,tanning