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FORESTRY RESEARCH IN TAMIL NADU –

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

DR. G. KUMARAVELU, I.F.S., (Retd.)


Full Time Member, Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission and
Formerly Addl. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests

BEFORE INDEPENDENCE

Research wing of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department was started

during 1918 with six Research Rangers and one State Silviculturist. During

British period, about 150 species were tested for seed biological character like

Germination capacity, Germinative energy, plant percent, seed rate, viability

etc. Provenance trial in teak, standardization of stump planting, introducing

wattle Eucalyptus and other European species in Nilgiris and Kodaikanal were

the experiments taken. Tests were made on comparison of different

regeneration techniques like seed sowing, naked seedlings, planting, thinning

methods and intensity of thinning etc. Results arrived at were incorporated in

FRI publications, Books on Silviculture of species etc. The main objective of

the British was harvesting of Timber trees for construction and railway sleeper

operations. Therefore, mensurations, yield assessment, felling systems were

given more importance in Forestry Research during those periods.

Immediately after the independence, emergence of indigenous forest

based industries demanded enormous raw materials. Therefore, the main

focus of forestry research was transformed to the production of industrial raw

material such as pulpwood, timber and other forest products and trials were

taken up on silvicultural technical and economical suitability of important

timber species for using them as industrial wood.

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Thrust was given to productivity, mainly for industrial use, pulpwood,

fuel wood and timber production were aimed out. So species, which give

more productivity, were selected by laying out trial plots. Species comparison

trials, spacing trials of native as well as exotic species were done at several

locations representing different agro climatic zones of the state. Survivals,

growth rate, productivity per unit area were assessed. Soft wood species,

Bambax ceiba, Ailanthas excelso were also tried to know about their rate of

growth. In difficult terraine like Theri, Kaluveli, Rameswaram island, several

drought tolerant species like Tecomella undulata, Acacia species and other

desert species were tried to assess the establishment and growth potential.

Trials were also undertaken to assess the suitability of teak in canal banks of

Tanjore District. The sterile hybrid of Casuarina junghuniana male tree

air layers were air lifted from Thailand during 1952 and introduced

successfully in Marakkanam Research Centre. This introduction of excellent

drought tolerant tree has, thus laid the foundation for the large scale

production, about 3 million propagules, during 2007-2008 by Tamil Nadu

Forest Department for supplying to the farmers.

During 1960s also, the same trend was continuing. The productivity of

Eucalyptus, Pinus, wattle and several species, were evaluated with seeds

obtained from various countries for which several trials were undertaken.

73 species of Eucalyptus, 31 species of Pinus were tried. All the wattle

species were also tested for their suitability. Fertilizer trials were also laid to

know its effect in growth rate. Sample plots, PPP, TIPs were laid to assess

the growth rate and to fix the rotation period. Data were also collected to

prepare yield tables / volume tables. Soft wood species of Populus was also

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tried at Nagercoil Research Centre. All India Co-ordinated Research Exper

iments in Eucalyptus globulus, E-tereticornis and other species were done to

find out the effect of fertilizer application and dosage of N. P. K. Correlated

curve trend thinning experiments were also laid in Pine and wattle.

Eucalyptus grandis, E. citreodesa, E. globulus, P. Patula were found to be

most promising as a result of the experimental findings. In dry localities,

several Acacia species were introduced to assess their productivity under

moisture stress conditions. Records show that as many as 257 species were

experimented between 1950 to 1970.

1970s

During this decade, the need to identify, screen and select the most

promising individuals in the population of the selected tree species was felt.

This had resulted in the genetic combing and identification of superior

phenotypes of economically important tree species like Teak and Eucalyptus

species. More than 20 candidate plus trees of Teak were selected mostly from

the Anamalai Hills, which was identified as the centre of origin of this species

in the world.

Similarly, superior phenotypes from among the population of

Eucalyptus hybrid were identified.

Bud grafting technique was standardized in Teak and the buds

collected from the selected candidate plus trees were grafted on to the

rootstock of seedling stumps raised from superior stock.

Not only buds from plus trees of Tamil Nadu origin, but also from plus

trees of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhrapradesh were collected. Utilizing the

technique of ‘bud grafting’, which was standardized by that time, clonal seed

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orchard of Teak was formed at Topslip, in Anamalai Hills of Tamil Nadu during

1972-73. This was the first of its kind in India at that time. Thus, Tamil Nadu

Forest Department was a pioneer in the field of Teak tree improvement

programme of the country.

Seeds from the candidate plus trees were collected and a ‘seedling

seed orchard’ was established during 1975-77, to evaluate the heritability of

the parent trees.

India’s first ‘Tree Seed Centre’ was established by Tamil Nadu Forest

Department during 1974 which mandated itself to collect quality seeds from

Seed Orchards, Seed Production Areas, Seed stands etc., for the then

economically important tree species like Teak, Wattle, Eucalyptus, Acacia

species, Ailanthus and other species. The seeds thus collected from these

genetically superior stock were cleaned, graded, tested for germination status,

stored in appropriate containers and then distributed to the users, mostly to

Forest Departments of the Southern States based on their indent.

To cater to the needs of the quality seed demand for raising large-scale

industrial plantations, large extent of ‘Seed Stands’ were identified and

gradually converted into ‘Seed Production Areas’. Tamil Nadu Forest

Department was the pioneer in establishing Seed Production Area in Teak,

Ecualyptus, Wattle etc., during 1970s. A separate ‘Wattle Research Division’

was formed to undertake research in wattle exclusively.

To facilitate achieving higher percentage of success in establishing

plantations, various nursery experiments and planting trials were undertaken

mostly in species like Eucalyptus, Wattle, Teak and Acacias.

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Yield tables and volume tables for Teak, Eucalyptus, Acacia, Wattle,

Pine plantations were prepared for each region.

During 1980s

This decade laid the foundation for the future of the Forestry Research

in Tamil Nadu.

Focused attempts were concentrated upon the selection of plus trees

in Teak, Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Tamarind, Pine, Wattle and Sandal.

Vegetative propagation experiments were conducted to standardize the most

appropriate technique for maximum success. This paved way for

establishment of large extent of Clonal Banks and Germplasm Bank for these

species for the production of high yielding plant propagules. Parallely, clonal

seed orchards and seedling seed orchards were established for obtaining

quality seeds in sufficient quantity for ensuring enhanced yield of the

plantations raised from these seeds.

For the first time in the country, side-grafting technique was

standardized for Eucalyptus tereticornis and the scions from the 40 candidate

plus trees were utilized to produce large number of ramets. Computer

generated design was utilized to produce a double ring isolation Clonal Seed

Orchard at Neyveli during 1985.

PROVENANCE TRIAL EXPERIMENTS

1981 was declared as International Provenance trial year for the

Eucalyptus species by C.S.I.R.O. – Australia. 18 provenances of Eucalyptus

tereticornis, 20 provenances of E. camaldulensis, 12 provenances of

E. grandis and about 10 provenances of E. microtheca seeds were obtained

from the Canberra Seed Centre of Australia and experiments were laid out at

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Pudukottai and Karaikudi regions of the Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation

Corporation for E. tereticornis and E. camaldulensis to evaluate and identify

the best performing ones.

The results obtained after 7 years have proved that Laura, Kennedy

River and Mt. Garbet have outperformed the yield of the local cultivators. The

local inbreeding population yielded a paultry 20 Tonnes / ha. after 7th year,

whereas the chosen provenances have yielded 80 to 100 Tonnes / ha. in

7th year. TAFCORN had about 30,000 ha. of Eucalyptus plantation at that

time, and for raising plantations the seeds of these selected provenances

were utilized which ensured double the yield for the same expenditure.

SANDAL : (Santalum album)

A thorough genetic combing was undertaken in the existing sandal

population of Tamil Nadu during 1982-83 and more than 30 plus trees were

selected in Tamil Nadu, which had high heartwood proportion, oil and santalin

content. Similar selection of plus trees were undertaken by the then Sandal

Research Institute, Bangalore, a Govt. of India Institution, in the state of

Karnataka, Kerala and Andhrapradesh. This has resulted in selection of the

most superior 79 individual plus trees of the species Santalum album (Indian

Sandalwood Tree) from among the Southern States, mostly found in

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu having approximately 5000 sq.km. and 4000

sq.km. of Reserve Forest areas containing this valuable species. This species

is endemic to the Southern India, which means that this is nowhere in the

world found to be as naturally occurring population.

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A germplasm bank consisting of 35 plus tree propagules was

established at Salem Research Centre during 1983-84. This is one of the very

first Sandal Clonal Banks established in India, the other at Karnataka.

CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLIA -

This species is a native of Australia and was introduced into

Tamil Nadu during 1940s to function as a bio-shield to arrest the deposition of

sand over the railway trails in the Southern part of Tamil Nadu. The shifting

sand dunes were immobilized by the shelterbelt of this species. It was

introduced to the coastal zones to act as wind belts. The farmers of

Tamil Nadu were innovative enough to embark upon the cultivation of this

species in the inland cultivable agricultural lands. This proved to be a high

density, short rotation, and profitable tree cultivation model.

Since the seeds were collected from the inbreeding unselected

population, there existed a wide variability in the individual tree girth and

height. Therefore, a thorough genetic combing was undertaken during

1983-84 all over the population of Casuarina equisetifolia in Tamil Nadu by

the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Genetics) who identified and selected

79 candidate female plus trees and 20 candidate male plus trees. Vegetative

propagation of the sprigs technique was perfected and clones of these plus

trees were raised. During 1985, Worlds first Clonal Seed Orchard of

Casuarina equisetifolia was established at Neyveli Research Centre.

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TEAK (Tectona grandis)

To enable obtaining of superior quality seeds in sufficient quantity, a

clonal seed orchard was established at Neyveli Research Centre comprising

of more than 30 clones of Teak of the Southern India.

WATTLE (Acacia mearnsii)

This species supplied the bark for the extraction of quality tannin used

by the leather industries. This species is a native of Australia and had been

introduced into the Nilgiris and Kodai hills for this purpose. Plus trees were

selected from the existing population based on their superior rate of growth

coupled with higher tannin content of the bark. Vegetative propagation

technique was standardized and a clonal Seed orchard was established at

Nilgiris and Kodaikanal.

PINUS (Pinus patula)

This fast growing economically useful exotic species was introduced in

the Hill Ranges of Western Ghats of Tamilnadu beyond 1500 mt. Elevation

during 1960s and 1970s. "Seed Stands" were formed which were later

converted to "Seed Productions Areas" gradually for sourcing very superior

seeds. Plus trees were selected and vegetative propagation technique like

‘Cleft grafting' was standardized to enable establishment of ' Clonal Seed

Orchards;.

Other tropical Pines were introduced in Ooty, Kodaikanal, Kolli Hills etc

for evaluating their potentiality to grow and yield more wood. Some of the

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individuals in Pinus psudostrobus were identified to be having higher utilizable

biomass because of their lengthier internodes.

Similarly, among the Eucalyptus species, Eucalyptus grandis,

Eucalyptus smithii, Eucalyptus fastigate etc., were found to be potential

producers of pulpwood biomass comparable to Eucalyptus globules. Seeds

were collected from superior phenotypes of these species and progeny trial

plots were raised to evaluate their heritability.

TAMARIND (Tamarindus indicus)

Trees yielding more than 300 Kg. upto 1000 Kg. per year were

selected from the existing population in Tamilnadu. More than 30 such plus

trees were selected based not only on the quantity of fruit yield but also on the

colour, keeping quality, acidity, sweetness etc., Tamilnadu Forest Department

thus was the first in India, to have attempted this selection. Simultaneously

vegetative propagation technique like approach grafting, cleft grafting, side

grafting and bud grafting for Tamarind were standardized. Clonal Bank of

these clones were established in all the agro-climatic zones of Tamilnadu.

NEEM (Azadiracta indica)

This multipurpose tree was assuming great importance and therefore

invited more attention due to its active principles like Azadractin and Nimbidin

which were of great medicinal and of biological control use. The Azadiractin

content of average neem tree being in the range of 2000 to 3000 ppm. in the

seed kernel, trees having as high as 8000 to 9000 ppm. were selected from

among the population. Clonally they were multiplied and assembled in the

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Research centers. Mass multiplication technology was standardized for these

plus tree propagules and the ramets were utilized to establish Clonal Banks.

1990s

This decade of Forestry Research in Tamilnadu amplified and

fine-tuned the successful and adoptable experimental results emanated from

and out of the previous decades.

The focus of the research of this decade was based on the 1988 Indian

Forest Policy, which mandated that 1/3rd of land area of this country should

be under forest/tree cover and that wood based industries should source their

raw materials from the lands lying outside the Reserve Forests. The

eco system services of the Forests were given their due importance ensuring

its biodiversity conservation.

Tamilnadu Forest Research, therefore, undertook 'Population Dynamic

Studies' of the Wet Evergreen Forests, Moist deciduous forests and Dry

deciduous forests to monitor the status of these forest types constantly. The

density of population, regeneration status and the species composition were

the documented parameters, which helped to monitor the changes happening

in these eco systems.

To ensure that the Bio productivity of the tree species planted is

enhanced to the optimum, there was a felt need to converge all the adoptable

research findings like species selection, provenance trials, plus tree

selections, clonal propagation, nursery techniques, land amelioration,

productive potential enhancement of the dessicated, depleted, dead soil

deprived of nutrients by inoculation of Bio nutrient and Bio fertilizers etc.

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Raising Taller Seedlings

Abatement of urban air pollution was remaining as an uphill task till late

1980s. Planting smaller size tree seedlings has road avenues are

environmentally ameliorating, aesthetically appealing and for providing shade

faced more failure due to heavy biotic interference. The technique of raising

taller seedlings for about 20 species was perfected in ‘90s with appropriate

quantity of bio fertilizers like Azospirillum, Phosphobacteria, VAM and

Vermicasting, etc., along with top soil in the pot mixture and the saplings of

2 to 3 meter height were raised and planted successfully to mitigate the air

pollution in urban areas. This improved and innovative technique was

instrumental in the successful implementation of the mega project of urban

tree planting.

Genepool Garden

Western Ghats, which is one of the 12 mega bio diversity centres of the

world, is enriched with repository of rich and diverse resources. Many species

in this tract have been driven to the brim of extinction due to pressure on the

forest and fragmentation of the eco-system. Therefore this biological hot spot

needs continuous protection, care, concern and consideration. Bearing this in

mind Tamil Nadu Forest Department has established a Tropical Genepool

garden at Nadugani near Gudalur in Nilgiris District, under Hill Area

Development Programme over 242.14 ha. with the object of insitu

conservation of existing plant life forms, exsitu conservation of endemic and

endangered species, reintroduction and recovery programme of endangered

species, propagation of fast disappearing plant species and also for education

and awareness.

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In the Genepool Garden 1200 species were assembled including

Ferns, Orchids, Bryophytes, and Xerophytes, etc. Most of them are in

endemic and endangered status. Three species namely Cotaneustrus

buxifolius, Sygizium travancoricum and Crotalaria longipis have been

successfully recovered from the endangered status and the Genepool garden

is steadily becoming a living reference point for all floral species of the

Southern tract.

Medicinal Plant Conservation

Herbal medicine holds solutions for medicinal problems where there is

no effective cure by allopathic medicine. In this context, demand for herbal

medicine is increasing exponentially world over and western countries looking

forward at India for natural herbal drugs and cosmetics. Chemical and

Pharmaceutical industries are mainly depending on the collection of these

plants from forest, resulting in unscrupulous collection and there by extinction

of hundreds of species of medicinal plants and are declared as endangered.

To create awareness on medicinal plants and as exsitu conseration

measures medicinal gardens were raised in each research centre. In Aliyar

medicinal garden, coming under Genetics Division, Coimbatore 411 species

of medicinal value were assembled and one siddha doctor is also engaged for

free medical consultancy and to explain the importance of medicinal plants to

the visitors.

MODERN NURSERIES
6 Modern nurseries were established during 1998. These were the

state of the art of implementation of the then modern techniques and

technologies. These modern nurseries had the assemblage of many

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economically important tree species, plus tree propagules as germ plasm

Banks, Hedge stools, chains of mist tents, modern containers etc.,

The following species were assembled. Eucalyptus clones, Thornless

Bamboo varieties, High yielding Tamarind clones, Simaruba glauca,

Casuarina hybrids, apart from the fast growing timber, Veneer trees like

Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Acacia mangium x auriculoformis hybrids, Acacia

elata, Albizzia richardiana, Alstonia scholaris, Anthocephalus cadamba,

Gmelina arborea, Melia dubia etc.

These modern nurseries had Vermi-casting production sheds from

which sufficient quantities of Vermi-castings were produced and supplied to all

the Forest divisions for raising nurseries. Till now about 4313.7 Tonnes of

vermi-castings have been produced by these modern nurseries.

The following quantities of Bio-nutrients and Bio-fertilizers have been

produced by the Modern Nurseries of Tamil Nadu Forest Department

Research Wing so far.

Quantity in Tonnes
Vermicasting :: 4313.7
VAM :: 1402.5
Azospirillum :: 564.79
Phosphobacteria :: 597.17
Psudomonas :: 1.55
Tirchoderma viridi :: 1.25
Frankia :: 7.44
Azotobacter :: 1.05

VAM (Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza) was produced on large scale, under

field condition. Tamilnadu Forest Department was the pioneer in

demonstrating this technique for the first time in India.

BIOFERTILIZER PRODUCTION LAB:

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A modern laboratory was established from which plant beneficial

Nitrogen fixing bacteria like Azosprillum, phosphate solubilizing Bacteria like

phosphobacteria, root rot preventing bacteria Pseudomonas and fungus

Trichoderma viridi are being continuously produced and supplied.

The optimum Bionutrient and Bio fertilizer dosages were standardized

by conducting various experiments in more than 30 tree species. The

recommendations of these research findings were implemented in practice by

Tamilnadu Forest Department by annually treating more than 2 crores of

seedlings utilized for planting. It is a proud privilege to mention that once

again Tamilnadu Forest Department is the only organization in INDIA, which

not only conceived the idea, standardized the dosage but also produced

enough to inoculate millions of seedlings raised annually.

The adoptation of this technique as an Action Research Programme

had not only enhanced the biomass of the seedlings planted but also enriched

the productive potential of the forest soils depleted of rhizosphere microfloa

and rhizosphere microfauna.

MANIPULATING THE ENVIRONMENT:

To attain maximum biomass it was necessary to amend the soil with

appropriate remedial and growth promoting materials. Various experiments

were conducted to arrive at most cost-effective but high biomass yielding pit

sizes and Bio-nutrient and Bio-fertilizer inputs for the major forest tree species

utilized for planting.

Experiments on Evolving appropriate package of practice by converging all

the parameters contributing to higher yield like high yielding plant propagules,

various pit sizes, water harvesting structures, organic and inorganic inputs

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were taken up and location specific, cost effective techniques for each

species were arrived at. Tall seedling raising Technology was standardized.

Sandal plantations trials on farmland conditions demonstrated. Best hosts

were identified.

ENERGY PLANTATIONS

Renewable energy is the theme of the Department of Non-conventional

Energy, of the govt. of India, which promotes the ‘gassifier technology’. In

this process, wood pieces are heated under controlled oxygen level, emitting

‘producer gas’ which is used to run an engine. Though this electricity is

produced. Through this type of decentralized electricity production system,

loss of electricity in transmission is eliminated. To cater to the need of

sustainable supply of Bio-mass, it was felt essential to identify appropriate

species, its espacement and work out the yield of utilizable bio-mass.

Therefore, fast growing tree species like Eucalyptus clones, Casuarina

clones, Kaya senegalensis, Hibiscus filiaeceous, Albizzia richardiana, Cassia

siamea, Bamboo, etc., were grown at different espacement. Based on their

performance, they were ranked.

VENEER TREES

To arrive at most appropriate, cost effective package of practice for

obtaining maximum utilizable Bio-mass of Veneer yielding trees, species like

Melia dubia, Anthocephalus cadamba, Alstonia scholaris, gmelina arborea

and grewillea robusta, etc., were grown under varying treatments.

SAUCER PLANTING TECHNIQUE

To assess the advantage of growing trees around the perimeter of the

Saucer of 3 meter dia with 15 cm mid-depth, which can hold 1000 litre per 1”

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rainfall, experiments were undertaken with Eucalyptus, Casuarina and

Bamboo species. About 1 lakh litres of water is harnessed per acre per good

rain and this has resulted in increase of yield to more than 50% when

compared to the yield obtained from the conventional planting pattern.

THORNLESS BAMBOOS

Though the Bamboo species found in the world are around 1400, India

has about 135 species. Tamil Nadu has only 2 species. About 45 Bamboo

species, which are thornless and were expected to be of economic value were

introduced in all the research centres and were grown under different

treatment models. The performances of all these species were evaluated.

CASUARINA JUNGHUNIANA - Provenance trials.

Casuarina equisetifolia is susceptible to moisture stress but Casuarina

junghuniana is capable of withstanding drought. Since water potential of

Tamil Nadu is gradually decreasing, there was a felt need to identify most

suitable provenances of Casuarina junghuniana. Therefore, seeds were

imported from Australia and the Indonesian provenances were tested in river

Cauvery Padugai, at Kodumudi, during 1997, under rain fed conditions. The

best performing provenances were identified that have the capability to yield

more even under moisture stress conditions. These provenances were Timur,

Kapongupan, etc. Seeds were collected from these best performing

individuals and their population was increased. Clonal propagation was

carried out from the sprigs and Clonal Banks were established.

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NURSERY EXPERIMENTS

Different culling intensities, Bio-nutrient – Bio-fertilizer inoculation,

juvaline – adult relationships, anti-transparent experiments were carried out in

the nursery stages that paved way for ensuring enhanced bio-mass

productivity.

POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY

Experiments were conducted by the Forest Utilization Wing to

standardize the use of under utilized, and under exploited farm trees to

furniture, Veneer, mat splints and construction purposes.

2000s

The results obtained from the experiments carried out during the

previous decades were analyzed and most fruitful ones were further fine

tuned for better performance.

POLLINATORS AND SEED DISPERSERS

The big Five, the Birds, Bats, Bees, Beetles and Butterflies were the

primary agents of Bio-diversity ensurement and enhancement in the natural

forests.

Therefore, studies were initiated to document the pollinators and seed

dispersers and also the fruit yielding trees and their phenology of fruiting.

These studies are being undertaken all over the Eastern and Western Ghats

Forest areas of Tamil Nadu. The findings will be utilized in the Working Plans

and will help in appropriate prescriptions being made for enhancing the

eco-system services of the Forests.

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RHIZOSPHERE STUDIES

Soil samples are being collected from all the forest types in Tamil Nadu

and the Rhizosphere microflora and microfauna are identified, and isolated. It

is proposed to produce effective micro-organism solutions for each forest

types, so that they could be utilized for afforesting these forests.

OFF FARM TRIAL

Before taking up the results of the experiments as on-farm trials, they

are being tested as off-farm trial in appropriate research centres. Such trials

have been taken up in most promising economically important species like

Thornless bamboos, Casuarina junghuniana, Gmelina arborea, Melia dubia,

Pterocarpus santalinus, Kaya senegalensis, Acacia mangium hybrid etc.

INNOVATION IN CLONAL FORESTRY

Trees, unlike agricultural crops, have been difficult to improve

genetically, because of their long gestation period, irregularity of flowering and

fruiting, the prevalence of out-breeding and low heritability of desirable traits

and the frequent absence of substantial germplasm collections. Although

some genetic gains have been achieved by tree-breeding including

hybridization, foresters have traditionally improved yield and form by

provenance transfer. Clonal approaches to forestry are not new, and have

been practised for hundreds / thousands of years in Europe with willows

(Salix spp.) and poplars (Populus spp.), and with Cryptomeria japonica D.Don

in Japan and China (Ohba, 1993). In the last 25 years, however, there has

been growing interest in clonal forestry with conifers, Eucalyptus Casuarinas

and a wide range of other commercially important species. This has arisen

from recognition (Leakey et al, 1982b; Leakey, 1987) of:-

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(i) the potential to exploit the considerable amount of genotypic variation

present within tree populations,

(ii) the increasing number of tree species that have been found amenable

to vegetative propagation,

(iii) the opportunity to harness and exploit genotypic variation directly

through the combination of vegetative propagation and clonal selection

(iv) the attractive investment opportunities in clonal forestry arising from:

* increasing yields and quality,

* shortening rotations,

* the alleviation of biological problems (e.g. seed storage and

poor viability) hindering reforestation with hardwood species.

With regard to the opportunities and strategies available to foresters,

Libby (1985) has listed 16 potential advantages of clonal forestry. These

include:-

(i) the ability to rapidly capture a greater proportion of the additive and

non-additive genetic variation than can be achieved by breeding;

(ii) the elimination of inbred individuals from production plantations;

(iii) the mass production of valuable but expensive genotypes by

hybridization or biotechnology;

(iv) the mass production of those rare individuals which have two or more

favourable characteristics which are usually negatively correlated;

(v) the ability to select and utilize greater genetic diversity than is normally

found in a single progeny;

(vi) the ability to use clones that are well adapted to a particular site ;

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(vii) the greater simplicity and flexibility of managing sets of stockplants

than in seed orchards;

(viii) the shorter period, compared to seed orchards, between selection and

production ;

(ix) the increasing superiority of clones passing through multiple-trait

selection programmes; and

(x) the ability to use mature tissues.

WHEN TO USE VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION AND CLONAL


APPROACHES TO PRODUCTION

The decision to use vegetative propagation will be appropriate when a

number of the following situations are evident (Leakey and Simons, 2000):

(i) a few individual trees are present in a wild population, which have a

rare combination of desirable traits;

(ii) a tree improvement programme has identified opportunities for

combining multiple traits for simultaneous selection and improvement.

For example, in Eucalyptus hybrids, the combination of: stem volume,

natural resistance to canker, stem form, natural pruning, thin branches,

dense, well formed crowns to shade out weeds, smooth bark, good

coppicing ability, good rooting ability (over 70%), high wood density,

and high yields of unbleached pulp (Campinhos and Ikemori, 1983);

(iii) high product uniformity is needed to ensure profitability and to meet

market specifications,

(iv) the products of the tree species to be grown have a high-value that can

justify the extra expense clonal propagation. This is particularly

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important if the market for the products is sufficiently large to minimize

the risk of market saturation;

(v) the tree species to be propagated is a shy seeder, either not flowering

and fruiting every year, or when producing only a very small seed crop

- such as the product of a specific controlled pollination programme,

hybridization or a biotechnological manipulation;

(vi) the trees to be propagated are sterile, as in some hybrid progenies;

(vii) the timescale in which results are required is insufficient to allow

progress through the slower process of breeding. This is particularly

relevant in trees with a long juvenile period prior to the attainment of

identifiable superiority and sexual maturity;

(viii) the seed produced through sexual propagation has a short period of

viability (i.e. recalcitrant) and hence cannot be stored for later use. The

same is true for seeds with a very low viability;

(ix) the knowledge on which selections are to be based is obtained either

through the indigenous knowledge of farmers or a long-term

experiment.

Conversely, sexual propagation via seed production is preferable when

the requirements are for: large quantities of genetically diverse, low-value

plants, and non-limited seed supplies.

Casuarina junghuniana hybrids were found to be most droughts

tolerant and since they are sterile and have to be propagated only by

Vegetative propagation, their cost of production was as high as Rs.4 per

clone. The farmers prefer to plant 4000 seedlings / acre and harvest at 4 th

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year. Therefore, the initial cost of raising this plantation is very high, which is a

deterrent in large-scale cultivation.

To reduce the cost of raising, a novel method of macro propagation

using ‘straw as container’ was conceived and experimented upon. The cost of

raising was thus reduced to less than 25 paise per seedling. Also this

technique enables production of lakhs of clonal seedling within short period of

time with low cost.

Tamil Nadu Forest Department has executed a path breaking low cost

technology in large scale multiplication of these very high yielding propagules

of phenotypically superior candidate plus trees.

Realizing the fact that only where the macro propagation (Vegetative

propagation) becomes a cost effective cottage industry, capable of being

executed by rural population, large scale ‘Profitable Tree Cultivation’ will

become a reality in India, Tamil Nadu Forest Department has ventured in this

field and have achieved a great success.

During 2007-2008, more than 30 lakhs Casuarina junghuniana,

Thailand Male sterile hybrids rooted ramets have been produced using the

innovative ‘Straw Container’ Technique. This techniques enables production

of millions of rooted ramets / clones at very low cost, in a very short period of

Time, so as to enable completing the entire planting activities during the

monsoon months. Biodegradable micro containers are being experimented

upon.

Similar experiments were conducted to arrive at a low cost technology

for clonal production of Melia dubia, Eucalyptus, Jatropa, Sandal and Teak by

Tamil Nadu Forest Department.

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Similarly, low cost technology of production of Bamboo rooted

propagules using the empty water bottles was successfully completed.

Yet another innovation has been invented during 2007-2008. This is

the technique of successful mass multiplication of Thornless Bamboos like

Bambusa vulgaris, B.nutans, B. tulda and B.balcoova. Not only propagules of

these are not available for planting, as the flowering period is around 30 to 40

years, but also due to the fact that adequate germplasm and technology wee

not available. The cost of propagules produced through Tissue culture is sold

for around Rs.30 to 35 per plant. Tamil Nadu Forest Department Research

wing has standardized vegetative propagation using waste water bottles for a

cost of less than Rs.10 per plantable Bamboo plants.

All the above-mentioned experiments have contributed to the

Bio-diversity conservation and Bio-productivity enhancement. All these

research findings are translated into reality through Action Research adoption

in the field conditions.

FUTURE

The following aspects may be the focal points for future Research by

Tamil Nadu Forest Department.

• Eco-system studies – food web – food chains of each forest types

to understand the intrinsic, intimate interrelationships between their

biotic and abiotic components.

• Eco-system services evaluation.

• Carbon sequestration studies on natural forest types and

plantations.

• Enhanced ‘carbon credit’ earning tree cultivation models.

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• Hydrological auditing of cultivated tree-farming systems.

• Study of root architecture of tree species to evolve the most

effective polyculture tree husbandry models that enables maximum

utilization of every drop of water, every grain of soil and every ray of

sun.

• Screening, identifying and multiplying agricultural crops that could

offer economic yield under different shade levels of specific tree

varieties cultivated by farmers.

• Identifying, isolating and multiplying the Rhizospherre micro flora

and micro fauna of each of the forest types soils of Tamil Nadu.

These will be used as ‘Effective micro-organism’ solutions for

raising seedlings for afforesting the specific forest types.

• Further in depth study of the pollinators and seed dispers will have

to be carried out along with the documentation of the frugivorous

trees and their fruiting phenology. This should help in formulating

appropriate fruiting tree planting models that could ensure

sustainable supply of food for the Birds, Bats, Bees, Beetles and

Butterflies and keep them happy.

• Inducing earlier heartwood formation in Sandal.

• Clonal propagation technology for short rotation tree cultivation of

economically important tree species.

• Irrigated sandal plantation / cultivation technology using ramets of

selected plus tree propagules with appropriate host systems.

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• Bioremediation of polluted soils (Tannery, Dye, Hospital waste,

Sewage water and other chemical and industrial wastes) through

the microbes and plant systems.

• Models for conversion of monoculture, monolithic, single species

plantation raised so far, into polyculture, as natural as possible,

hosting maximum number of pollinators and seed dispersers.

• Identification of native fodder species found in the various forest

types like Thorn forest, Dry deciduous forest, semi evergreen

forests, moist deciduous forests, etc., that are the fodder source for

the ungulates in the wild. Evaluating their nutrition value and

palatability. Standardizing the vegetative propagation or

propagation through seeds techniques for these under exploited,

under utilized native fodder species.

With the combination of these herbs, shrubs and trees, most

profitable ‘goat pennining models’ have to be evolved that could

help in containing the goats in the villages itself than entering into

Reserved Forest.

• Multitier agro-forestry models that could ensure and assure a

minimum of Rs.30,000/ acre / year from the rain fed or only

protective irrigated lands will have to be found out.

• ‘Shelterbelt models’ have to be concentrated upon to innovate a

healthy combination of compatible, effective Bio-shield species.

• Transgenic tree propagules that could impart drought, stress and

disease tolerance for the most economically useful species have to

be developed through micro propagation.

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• Endemic, endangered species recovery strategies have to be

worked out. Research support is needed for this aspect.

In short, Tamil Nadu Forest Department research wing will ensure the

backing up of the Natural Resource Management Programmes implemented

by the Department with the aim of utilizing every drop of water, every grain of

soil and every ray of sun to create a ‘synergy’.

Research findings will suggest package of practice that are location

specific, cost effective, adoptable and acceptable.

They will have to be economically viable, environmentally ameliorating,

ecologically sustainable and aesthetically appealing. The Tamil Nadu Forest

Department research will strive to make this happen.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

To make these happen, it is imperative that a separate cadre of

recruitment of ‘Forest Range Officer’ have to be modeled in which the

minimum qualification may be B.Sc.,(Forestry). After a period of service, these

cadre of Range Officers selected for Research may join the main stream after

their promotion as Assistant Conservator of Forests.

JRF – Junior Research Fellows and SRF – Senior Research Fellows may be

absorbed on ‘contract basis’ to do the research based on their domain

speciality.

‘Nature is our Future’ and therefore we have to ensure prosperity

to posterity only by effective Natural Resource Managements, for which

Research support is a must.

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