TIST
July 2005
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now. Plan and Plant for a Better Tomorrow.
Tree – The Treasure
A tree that lives for 50 years, generates Rs. 5.3 lakh worth of oxygen, recycles Rs. 6.4 lakh worth of fertility and soil erosion control, creates Rs. 10.5 lakh worth of air pollution control and Rs. 5.3 lakh worth of shelter for birds and animals, besides providing flowers and fruits. Hence, if one tree falls or is felled the country loses something worth more than Rs.32 lakh. Stop cutting down the trees, start growing further more trees, save the fiscal status of our country develop a healthy environment. (For further details refer www.ammmcrc.org).
Subabul, a easy growing tree
Subabul is one of the fast growing hardy evergreen species. It has deep and strong taproot and even the seedlings are deep rooted. Subabul is best suited for warm regions, and it is highly drought resistant. It withstands variations in rainfall, sunlight, windstorm, slight frost and drought. The tree grows very well under alkaline soils and also performs under dry clayey soils.
It cannot withstand water logging. It can tolerate saline and acid soil. It can also be grown in steep slopes, hilly terrains, gravelly areas and sandy loams. It can grow under a wide range of conditions as a range plant, roadside plant, in pastures, etc. The land should, however, be cleared of bushes, ploughed and leveled before sowing.
Planting of seedlings can be done with the onset of rains in May-June or Sept-October. For speedy germination, seeds are to be dipped in concentrated sulfuric acid for four minutes and then washed or put in hot water at 80ºC for four minutes. The seeds should be sun dried afterwards for about one hour before sowing.
A seed rate of 3-4 kg/ha is recommended. Sowing is preferably done during FebruaryMarch in a nursery or in polythene bags. Transplanting of the seedlings should be done between 1.5 months to 3 months with 6-8 leaves. The most common spacing adopted while transplanting the seedlings in the main field is 1.27m x 1.27m. Two weedings / soil working are required per year for the first 3 years of sowing / planting and intercropping can also be carried out in between these trees. Cotton (Paruthi) will be an idle species for intercropping in between Subabul.
Chittoor
Chittoor Village, which is located at 70 km from south-west of Chennai has more than 1.5 lakh trees in an area of 32 acres, which are 1 to 2 years old. These trees are grown by the efforts of Small Groups of Chittoor and TIST to reduce the carbon from the atmosphere. At Chittoor, couple of years back, one can see the end of the village, i.e, the fields of the other neighboring village can be seen, now a days, it not possible due to the newly grown trees.
There are few members, like the members of Chamandhi and Sampangi Small Groups, who are residing deep in the fields for more than a decade. Now, these members are planning to shift their dwelling in side the village from the field, because the newly planted trees are giving a jungle look, the children and women are finding it difficult in the night. The Small Group Members of Chittoor have more than 91,000 seedlings, which will be transplanted very soon and with this, the count of trees planted at Chittoor Village by TIST SGs will increase to 2.5 lakhs. TIST congratulates all the 12 active small groups of Chittoor.
Two years old trees of Sokandi
Sakthi Small Group
The members of these small groups attend to the Node Meeting regularly and submit their SGMR with four of theirgroup member’s signature. By June 2005, this Small Group completes its 2 years of tree planting activity with TIST and recently, they have joined one more non-relative family to their group.
During July 2005, they had 758 trees of multiple species like Drum Stick, Neem, Teak, Mango, Guava and Orange in a single grove. Now after one year, they have 1,200 trees in the same grove and out of which 700 trees are two year old. The two-year-old Teak trees have grown more than 7 feet in height. The other two-year-old trees like Neem, Coconut, and Guava are little slow in growth, but still they are healthy and green.
Along with the newly joined members, this Small Group has started yet another grove with full of Mango trees, all planted with 30 m spacing. They are planning to plant some different species of trees all around this mango grove. They are looking for suggestions from the other Small Groups, that which tree will grow easily in their Village and at the same time the tree should not affect the growth of the mango trees.
TIST India
1. Mr. Prabakar Srinivasan, Project Manager
2. Mr. A. Joseph, TIST Coordinator and Correspondent
Schedule for Node Meeting
Node Villages Covered Group Center Day Session From To Chamundi Chamundi, El Endathur, Agili Mel Kodungalur 1st Sunday 03.07.2005 07.08.2005 Morning 11:00 AM 1:00 PM Vaasi and Mel Kodungalur Singapalli, Ulundhai, Mel Kodungalur, Kattukolli Vandhavasi Mel Kodungalur Kunnavakkam 1st Tuesday 05.07.2005 02.08.2005 Evening 5:30 PM 7:30 PM Peruvalayam Peruvalayam, Melapulam, Mottur Melapulam 2nd Saturday 09.07.2005 13.08.2005 Morning 9:00 AM 11:00 AM Kattiampandal Kattiampandal, Vellaputur Kattiampandal 2nd Sunday 09.07.2005 14.08.2005 Morning 9:00 AM 12:00 AM Chitoor KeeraNallur, Chittoor, Molachur, Nandhimedu, Attuputtur, Singadivakkam, Marutham, Jambhodi Molachur, Marutham, Jambhodi 3rd Sunday 17.07.2005 21.08.2005 Afternoon 3:00 PM 5:00 PM Kandoor Sokandhi, Kandoor Molachur 3rd Sunday 17.07.2005 21.08.2005 Evening 6:00 PM 8:00 PM Aandiseruvallur Vedal, Aandiseruvallur, Kottavakkam, Melpadavur, Seruvallur, SeruvallurMettucolony Vedal 4th Saturday 23.07.2005 27.08.2005 Afternoon 3:00 PM 5:00 PM
