Site Selection, Survey and Treatment Plan - Afforestation, Reforestation and Forest Restoration in Arid and Semi-arid Tropics - page 73

field can outgrow nursery-raised seedlings planted at the same time. For this reason,
the appropriate age at outplanting for each species should be ascertained after a
thorough study of data based on past experience. A note must be made of the fact
that age at outplanting is also affected by the size of the containers used in nursery.
Choice of species for sowing and planting is a major factor deciding success of
a plantation. Species should be selected in view of the aims and objectives of the
programme and their suitability with respect to the soil, the terrain, the amount of
rainfall and such other factors including the risk of damage by animals.
The soil and the climatic conditions of a site primarily decide the feasible species.
Preferences of the local people, relative performance of a species known from ex-
perience, ease of its maintenance and protection, the basic aims and objectives of
the afforestation programme, and the costs involved in raising plants in nursery, are
some of the factors that can be used to decide what species should be selected for a
given site.
It is a sound practice to prefer local species to exotics, except in cases where
commercial production is being considered. The opinions of the local people should
always be given due importance in public-funded afforestation programmes being
implemented on commons.
Having decided upon the species to be used for sowing and planting, the number
of nursery-raised plants and the quantity of seeds required of each species should be
determined. A layout indicating which species should be planted or sown in which
part of the site should be marked on the treatment map.
Treatment of a plantation site is not a one-time operation. After plantation has been
created, it has to be maintained. Activities such as maintenance of fence, watering
and hoeing of plants, removal of weeds, application of pesticides, and training and
pruning of plants, are important in making a plantation successful. Therefore, apart
from the main treatment practices involved in creating a plantation, a treatment plan
should also include a year-wise list of activities to be carried out, along with the
specifications of such activities.
Weeding (removal of weeds) and hoeing (loosening of soil to prevent loss of sub-
surface soil moisture) are important maintenance operations. First weeding should
follow the rains—when weeds have appeared. A final weeding should be combined
with a deep hoeing after the last rain of the season. Hoeing should also be carried
out after every irrigation if it is provided for. The plants that germinate on the bunds
of a contour trench should also be weeded and hoed as if they were planted. If found
growing too close to each other (too dense sowing), these should be spaced away
by pricking out alternate seedlings. In general, however, no watering is required in
these plants if the species have been chosen carefully.
In an ideal afforestation plan where all the measures for in-situ water harvesting
have been taken and where appropriate species have been chosen, it should not be
necessary to water the plants artificially. Water in arid areas is scarce, available at
large distances and is needed for other purposes such as drinking and irrigation of
crop fields. However, it may become necessary to water the plants in times of crisis.
In such cases provision for occasional watering should be made in the treatment plan.
Number of waterings and interval between these is determined from past experience.