PROTECTION VIS- A VIS PRODUCTION FROM BUNDS IN DEGRADED BOULDERY LANDS, DOON VALLEY

Abstract

A 210 m LONG BUND ( CROSS SECTION 150CM , BASE 60 CM HEIGHT 30 CM TOP 85CM EACH OF THE SIDES) WAS CONSTRUCTED IN VERY BOULDERY RIVERBED LANDS IN THE EAST WEST DIRECTION DURING 1980 AT SELAKUI ( DEHRADUN) TO SERVE BOTH AS A PROTECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE MEASURE, EULALIOPSIS BINATA ( BHABAR GRASS) AND EUCALYPTUS HYBRID WERE PLANTED ON THE BUND ALONG ( OUTSIDE) THE BUND RESPECTIVELY. THEAVAILABLE PLANTING AREA ON THE BUND IS INCREASED BY 33.3% COMPARED TO SAME GROUND AREA, WHICH HAS GIVEN MORE PLANT POPULATION OF 55.555 PLANTS/HA OF E . BINATA 60 X 40 CM ESPACEMENT AGAINST 41, 667 PLANTS/HA FOR THE SAME FLAT LAND USED FOR BUNDING. OBSERVATIONS RECORDED FROM 1980-84 INDICATE THAT E BINATA RAISED ON BUND GAVE 22% MORE DRY FORAGE( 73 Q/HA/YR) COMPARED TO THE SAME ASPECT OF THE BUND WERE 205% MORE ( 102 Q/HA/YEAR) COMPARED TO THE NORTHERN ASPECT. THE EUCALYPTUS PLANTS RAISED AT 2M ESPACEMENT N LINE ESTABLISHED WELL AND WILL BE READY FOR HARVEST AFTER 9-10 YEARS