1. Tree saplings Plantation and Protection
D. C. Joshi
Principal Scientist (ex.)
Natural Resources and Environment Division
Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur-342003
Email: dcjoshi66@yahoo.com

2.  Trees add Beauty to landscape,
Settlements, Schools, along Streets,
Highways and Common Property
Resources Like Park, Talab, Nadi,
Gochar.
 Shelter to birds, monkeys, animals and
human beings
 A normal tree Absorb CO2 and releases
O2 which meets need of 5 persons in a
day.
 During its life time a tree absorbs 1000
kg CO2 gas
Tree plantation improves
Landscape beauty and microclimate
Landscape and Trees are an Important part of Human life

3. • Trees absorb solar radiation which have cooling effect on
environment
• Trees planted as windbreak reduce wind speed there by
check dust movement and evaporation from water bodies
Trees Improve Quality of Environment
through Carbon Sequestration
Since ancient time, trees are planted
along highways and around water
sources like Baori, Talab, Nadi to
provide shade, shelter, and pleasant
environment to those passing through

4. Selection of Tree for Plantation as per Location
• Climate (Arid / semi arid/ humid) and
landscape: hilly, shallow soil depth,
sandy, salt affected, water eroded)
• Location landuse
• Near water bodies (Talab, nadi): broad
leaf, minimum leaf fall, religious
aesthetic value, Shelter plantation to
protect adjoining areas from effects of
wind viz. Peepal, Bargad,
• Along street/ highways: fast growing
trees provide shade and not liked by
stray animals viz, neem, saras etc.
• Residential and school: Fast growing,
shade and ornamentals trees
• Grazing land: Shade and Fodder value

5. Procurement of proper plant type
Good quality tree saplings: From
recognised nursery, disease free,
70-90 cm height
Tree Sapling hardening: Tree
saplings obtained from
nurseries need to be protected
from harsh environment and
hardened with local
environment before taking to
field.
Plantaion time: after effective
rainfall

6. Dig Pits for plantation at 5 m interval
Each pit should be dug to one metre depth
or/up to hard rock
If mud (CaCO3) layer, remove
Pit filled with good soil
Clods broken and gravels taken out
Soil mixed with compost @ 5 kg per pit
Sapling take out from polythene bag so that
roots are not damaged
Plant sapling in the centre of pit so that its
60% part is in soil.
Immediately water the sapling
Catchment compact two metre diameter around
sapling for rainwater harvesting be created
Sapling plantation method

7. Tanka
Depth 2.1m
Diameter1.8m
Cap. 5000 litre
Tanka for Irrigation of Tree Sapling
Prepare catchment around tanka to harvest rain water
compact sloping towards centre
Young seedlings need frequent watering during winter and
summer season. Rainwater collected in Tanka is used for irrigation

8. Regular watering as per matka technique

9. (1)ProvideTrench around tree sapling
In the central part of circle tree sapling is
planted
Around tree 2-3 ft wide and one ft deep
trench (Blue) is provided so that animals are
not able to attack the sapling
In most of the plantations along roads, in
different govt. programs, MNAREGA etc this
method is adopted
Success of plantation is limited
Only those plants which are thorny and non palatable can
survive the damage by animals
Protection from stray animals: Provide 150 cm high tree guard to
each sapling
Selection of tree guards as per location

10. (2)Stone/Brick wall around tree sapling
About 4-5 ft high wall around the
sapling constructed
Wall has sufficient openings for sunlight
and air
Good protection against stray animals
Easy to water and monitor growth of tree
Costly and can be applied in villages and
schools where stones/ bricks are available at
reasonable cost

11. Iron Tree guards are made of
different size rods, in cirular and
rectangular shape and about 150 cm
height
Iron tree guards provide good
protection to the saplings
These are easy to install
directly fixed into the ground
(3)Iron Tree guards

12. Once secured to the ground, they
need no maintenance
 Easy to water and allow for
regular checks on the growth of the
young trees to be carried out.
Very common for roadside
plantation in cities
(4)Iron Tree guards

13. The NGO MIRAJ has used successfully for road side plantation
from Kailashpuri via Nathdwara to Charbhuja (100 km)

14. Iron rod Tree guards: Field view

15. Tree guard made of cement
Not easy to transport,
likely to break
Once secured to the
ground, they need no
maintenance,
easy to water and allow
for regular checks on the
growth of the young trees
to be carried out.

16. Tree guard made of cement
NGO Pani Ram established thousands of Plants in and around
Udaipur city

17. Tree guard : Wire
Mesh
Thick mesh provides complete protection for young plants because it
inhibits shoots from penetrating through the mesh so that no damage by
animals and it also offers protection from the wind

18. Wooden tree guard
Easy to transport, but susceptible
to white ant
Life less than iron / cement tree
guards
easy to water and allow for
regular checks on the growth of the
young trees to be carried out

19. Cluster of trees

20. Conclusion
• Successful tree plantation depends on proper selection of
plant type, healthy seedlings, correct method of plantation,
regular watering and last but not least the protection from
biotic interferences.
• It is often thought that the cost of sapling in very nominal
and in comparison the tree guard is very costly
• To reduce cost of tree guard particularly in govt.
programmes local methods are adopted
• But this does not prove very successful
• Field observations suggest that where ever good tree
guards made of iron rods, wire and cement have been
adopted the saplings have grown as trees
• Cost of tree beats the cost of tree guard by offering
services to humanity in many-many ways