Introductory Agroforestry

REGENERATION

Natural –

• With favourable conditions germination takes place after early showers.
• Germination takes place in June to July after receiving of first showers.
• Germination may take in heavy or moderate shade but seeds fail to germinate in places expose to direct sun.
• Drought is the most adverse factor causing seedling mortality.
• The growth of seedling under natural condition is slow and they attain height of 10cm in first season and about 25cm in four years.
• Seedling develops a long tap root and the growth of root is generally more than that of shoot during the first few years

Artificial –

• It can be raised easily through direct sowing and planting out of nursery raised seedlings.
• Air layering is also possible and with application of auxins encourages rooting.
• On dry slope transplanting ensures more survival.

Seed collection and storage

• Good seed years are frequent
• Acorns are collected in December to January preferably from tress
• Acorns are dried under shade only and stored in cool place protected against insect-pest
• The seeds can be stored for one year
• About 400-800 acorns weigh one Kg
• Storage of acorns at low temperature and high humidity is advocated

Direct sowing

• Ban oak can be successfully raised by direct sowing either dibbling the seed in cultivated line or patches
• The seeds are sown about 2cm deep during December to January or before the onset of the rains
• About 5 Kg of acorns are sufficient for one hectare area
• Fresh seed registered 60-70% germination
• Sown area should be protected against grazing and fire

Nursery technique

• Seeds are sown in February-March in well manured and raised beds.
• Seeds are sown in lines about 20cm and seeds are spaced at 5cm in the lines at a depth of 2cm.
• Deep sowing delays the germination and also reduces germination percentage.
• Beds should be prepared under light shade, not under direct sunlight.
• Germination starts in about 10-12 days and takes to 4-5 days to complete.
• Regular weeding also required.
• Seedlings are spaced at 10cm in lines in the second rainy season after pruning the roots
• The growth of seedlings is fast and they attains a height of 50-60cm in two year

Planting technique

• Seedlings of about 15-20cm height are suitable for planting out as taller seedlings are difficult to handle due to their massive roots.
• Rainy season gives better results than winter planting.
• Planting is preferably completed by July as later planting brings out poor survival.

Tending

• Species is slow growing and it needs weeding and cleaning for several years.
• Planting should be guarded against cattle browsing and forest fires.
• Improvement fellings and thinning in natural seedlings is to be done at 10years intervals.

Economic importance

• The major use of ban oak is for fuelwood and charcoal making, for which it is in great demand.
• Calorific value of fuelwood is 4600 k cal/Kg.
• Charcoal conversion factor is about 16-20%.
• Tree is lopped for fodder and a mature tree can yield 20-25Kg leaves annually.