Site Selection, Survey and Treatment Plan - Afforestation, Reforestation and Forest Restoration in Arid and Semi-arid Tropics - page 61

Table 3.1 Recommendations for overcoming site-specific limitations
Serial Constraint Overcoming techniques and methods

number
1 2 3

1 Lack of soil or the soil is too

rocky, shallow or skeletal

On slopes contour-dyke-cum-terraces should be built.
Soil transported from outside is filled along the dyke
to prepare a terrace. In flat land, outside soil is used to
fill the pits, or to fill raised containers made of
masonry

2 Saline soil and waterlogging The in situ soil of pits can be mixed with 10-20 %

gypsum powder or it can be replaced with outside
good soil. In case of long periods of waterlogging,
mound-planting should be practised

3 Severe frost or cold wave The plants should be covered with brushwood shelter on

top and sides. Extra irrigation should be given during
winter. Spray 1 % sulphuric acid on the foliage twice
a week, as an extra precaution

4 Extreme hot weather or heat

waves

Shade and shelter using brushwood should be provided.
Extra watering should be given during hot season.
Watering to be given only in early morning hours

5 Soil is too deficient in

nutrients, is toxic or
contains plastics and other
wastes

Soil should be cleaned of the inorganic waste and toxins,
then mixed with FYM (10-20 % w/w), and refilled in
pits. In case of extremely polluted soils, the soil must
be replaced with outside fertile topsoil

6 Climate is too arid, little

rainfall; atmospheric
humidity is always too low

Species sensitive to drought should be avoided. There is
no way the atmospheric humidity can be improved,
except in green houses. Extra watering, manuring and
shade and shelter should be considered

7 Risk of damage by livestock

or wild animals is too high

Extra-strong fence (such as fence SW-3 or BW-9)
should be considered. At the same time, regular watch
is necessary

8 Risk of people damaging the

plantation is too high

People's participation should be ensured. Extensive
PRA should proceed before starting the programme

3.8.2 Choosing a Fence

Most land areas in the developing countries in arid and semiarid tropics are likely to
be visited by foraging livestock or by wild animals. This would require the plantation
site to be fenced at least for several years till trees are tall enough to be beyond the
reach of the animals. Having decided that the area must be fenced, an appropriate
choice of fence type (Table 3.2 ) should be made. This will depend upon the type of
terrain, soil depth, and the kind of soil. Where employment generation is one of the
objectives (or a co-benefit) of the afforestation programme, a fence type with high
labour input should be preferred. Cost of fencing is another important criterion, but
normally no compromise should be made on this count, because if fencing is not
effective, all other measures, however effective, will come to a nought. Unfenced
plantations may be raised in rare cases, such as those in which only non-palatable
species—species that are not browsed or damaged by animals—are used. Unfenced
plantations of Prosopis juliflora , for example, can be successfully raised.