ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATION FOR CHOICE OF SPECIES (1) Climate and micro-climate The general climate of the region as well

l as the micro-climate of the plantation site are very important factors governing the choice of species. Only those species which can grow in the regional climate as well as the micro-climate of the plantation site should be selected. As far as the indigenous species are concerned, the species growing in the locality give a good indication of the species that can grow. But for exotics, a comparison between the climatic (particularly bioclimatic) conditions prevailing under their homeland and those in the proposed plantation areas, should be carefully made and only those species should be selected which have, in their original home, conditions similar to those in the proposed plantation site. (2) Soil conditions Suitability of the species to the soil and moisture conditions of the proposed plantation area is the most important factor governing the success or failure of plantation. Only the species which are suited to soil and moisture conditions should be elected to avoid failure. As the species growing on the site give a good indication of species that can be successfully raised, a stock map of the area prepared before felling is very helpful. Occasional presence of a species, however, should not be taken to be a guarantee for its suitability. For example, even though scattered teak of good quality is found in parts of Malabar, these areas have not been found suitable for teak plantations. In a large plantation, as the soil may vary in different parts, it is advisable to examine soil of the different parts of the plantation, before allotting species to them. Guidance may, however, be taken from indicator plants or indicators. Indicator plant (syn. Soil indicator) is any plant which by its presence, increase or decrease, indicates the quality of the site. Indicators are species or communities which, with reference to site, indicate generally the presence in it of certain conditions, processes and uses and sometimes specifically the species that would grow in it. A few examples of indicator plants are given below: (i) Lime rich soil (a) in the Himalayas Cupressus torulosa (b) in peninsular India Cleistanthus collinus, Ixora parviflora. (ii) Stiff Kankar Clay (a) in the Northern India Acaia leucophloea, Prosopis spicigera, Balanites aegyptica, Capparis spp. (b) in Central India Chloroxylon swietenia, Soymida febrifuga, Acacia leucophloea. (3) Stage of succession Along with the factor of locality, the stage of succession which the soil has reached should also be noted to decide the species which can grow in it. Neglect of this important factor often leads to failure. For example, attempts to raise sal in soil in the second stage of riverain succession are bound to fail. There is, however, some retrogression in site conditions on removal of vegetation and therefore, the species found in a stage earlier to that of site should be raised. This can, however, be avoided if the retrogression of site can be prevented by leaving a shelter wood. (4) Object of management Choice of species is also affected by the object of the plantation. For example, if a plantation is being raised for pulpwood, only the species which can give required quality of pulp should be raised. In case the plantation is being raised to meet the requirement of some industry, species suitable for it should be selected and large scale plantations raised because no industry can be set up unless raw material is available in sufficient quantities on sustained basis. While studying the requirements of industry the future market conditions should also be kept in view. This is still more important for species which have to face competition from cement and steel. For example, sal is used as

building timber as well as railway sleepers. In both these uses, sal is gradually being replaced by cement and steel. Therefore, it would not be advisable to increase its area. Teak, however, does not face such a danger and, therefore, its area can be increased. (5) Consumers requirement There was a time when there was a craze for solid wood but the use of solid wood is being given up gradually for various reasons, e.g., natural growth defects, alternate swelling and shrinkage, lack of strength in compression and sheer, short supplies, high prices, etc., and the demand for light, decorative composite wood is increasing. This change in taste of consumer has to be kept in view while selecting species. (6) Growth rate The choice of species is also affected by their rate of growth. As the gap between the demand and supplies of timber is fast increasing, the present rend is to raise fast-growing species. A fast-growing species is one which has a height increment of 60 cm per annum in the earlier stages of its life and which gives a minimum yield of 10ma per hectare per annum in a short rotation of 10 to 15 years. The concept of fast growth is relative. Therefore, in order to select a fast growing species for large scale industrial plantations, it is very necessary to lay down specifications of size and quality of material required by industry and the shortest possible period in which it is to be produced. At the same time, on the basis of climatic and edaphic conditions, productivity zones should be decided and then the species which can give maximum out-turn of the required specification in various zones, should be selected. In this selection, the indigenous species should be given equal attention as the exotics, and the relative merits of the two should be carefully assessed and compared before preferring one to the other. The following are some indigenous and exotic fast-growing species: Indigenous Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Ailanthus excelsa, Albizzia spp., Anthocephalus cadamba, Bomax ceiba, Casuarina equisetifolia, Evodia meliafolia, Gmelina arborea, Kydia calycina, Michelia champaca, Populus ciliate, Sterculia alata, Sterculia companulata, Terminalia myriocarpa, Toona ciliate, etc. Exotic Broussonetia papyrifera, Eucalyptus hybrid, Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus globules; Tropical pines, e.g., Pinus patula, Pinus caribaea, Pinus pseudostrobulus, Pinus kesiya; Poplars, e.g., Populus deltodies, P. casale 488, Populus yunnanensis, Populus robusta, Populus rubrapoiret. (7) Availability of suitable exotic If indigenous species cannot meet the fast growing requirement of industrial timber, there should be no hitch in selecting an exotic which, as a result of experiment, has proved its suitability to local conditions as well as to the requirements of industry. As already explained, an exotic is a species which is not native to the area in question. In other words, it is a species which is raised outside its natural range of distribution. Exotics may be classified into two categories, viz., Indian exotic and foreign exotic. Indian exotic is a species which occurs naturally in some parts of India but is being raised outside its natural range of distribution and so is an exotic there. For example, teak is an Indian exotic for U.P. and West Bengal as it is indigenous to M.P., Maharashtra, Kerala, etc. A foreign exotic is a species which is not native to India and is yet being raised in this country. Examples of foreign exotics are Anacardium occidentale, Acacia mollisima, A. deccurrens, Acaia auriculiformis, Eucalyptus spp., Populus spp., tropical pines, and Prosopis juliflora. As already stated, similarity in the climatic and edaphic conditions of the original home of the exotic with those of the proposed plantation site is absolutely essential for raising successful plantation of an exotic. Even then,

preliminary trials should be carried out to test whether it can be raised in the new place. When these trials are successful, slightly larger scale trials should be made before finally selecting the species. (8) Ease of establishment The ease with which a species can be raised also affects the choice of species. If a species is difficult to raise, it should not be chosen (unless there is no other alternative) because most of the attempts to raise it would result in failures causing loss of public money. Therefore, only those species which are easy to raise and which meet the object of plantation should be selected. (9) Cost The cost of raising a species also affects the choice. Normally, only those species, which are inexpensive to raise, are selected. A species which can be raised easily, and which grows fast during the early period of its life, generally costs less to raise. (10) Effect on site If a species reduces productive capacity of site, it should not be selected inspite of ease with which it can be raised. LOPPING MANAGEMENT Lopping can be defined as the process of removing leaves and small twigs from the trees in the forest. Leaves and small twigs can be lopped for both fodder and fuel purpose. Leaf litter removed is used as manure for agricultural fields. This is laid as a layer in the cattle shed to warm up floor. Pine needles used for packing purpose. The extensive removal of these materials decreases the forest productivity considerably. Management: The extensive lopping can be prevented by suitable measures Lopping rules need to be clearly prescribed in the working plan. This enables clear understanding both by forest officials and local peoples Generally, four year cycle is given for lopping so as to get a sustained productivity Lopping is restricted to lower 1/3rd of the plant canopy This maintains the productivity of the trees without any decline Normally trees having diameter less than 30 cm are not allowed for lopping Creating public awareness is equally important in this concern