Achievement:
G. arborea (Gamhar) is an economically important tree species of northeast India, and used for timber, pulp and fodder. Most important features of the species are; it’s rapid growth to form clear bole and branches. Four demonstration plantations cum performance trials of G. arborea had been established at Puruwala (Ponta Sahib) & Kot (Hamirpur) in Himachal Pradesh and Nudh & Basanterbella (Sambha) in Jammu & Kashmir for ultimate benefit of the farmers, state forest departments and other end users. Since these trials had survived and exhibited good growth in the initial two to four years, it is reasonable to conclude that the species can be easily grown in the lower hills of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir through proper site selection. However the specific conclusions are as follows:
• The G. arborea may be propagated from various methods i.e., stumps, polybag seedling, stumps in polybag and direct seed sowing etc. If seed is to be used for growing the planting stock, the yellow and yellow greenish fruits should be collected from comparatively superior source and the altitude of the seed source vis-a-viz planting site should not differ invariably (> 350 m).
• Seeds should be shocked in water for about 24-48 hours before sowing for about 50 percent germination. For achieving higher germination (> 75) per cent seeds may be treated for 40 hours in 100 ppm solution of GA3.
• Seeds may be sown 1.0 cm deep in raised nursery beds. After seed germination and emergence of 3-5 leaves, the seedlings may be transplanted in the polythene bags etc., filled with the mixture of Soil, Sand and FYM in the ratio of 3:1:1. Irrigation may be done on as and when required basis.
• For raising plantations at an altitude of around 423 m (alike Paonta area in HP), the seed may preferably be collected from Netaipur and Amjharia seed sources.
• For raising plantations at an altitude of around 842 m (alike Hamirpur area in HP), the seed may preferably be collected from Katsira and Amjharia seed sources.
• For raising plantations at an altitude of around 536 m (alike Nud area in Samba, J&K), the seed may preferably be collected from Chiro and Amjharia seed sources.
• For raising plantations at an altitude of around 347 m (alike Basanterbella area in Samba, J&K), the seed may preferably be collected from Netaipur and Amjharia seed sources.
• No serious insect-pest attack was observed which pose really threat to the G. arborea species in Himachal Pradesh as well as Jammu & Kashmir.
Seeds with all its geo-referenced details were collected and nurseries at Puruwala and Bir Plasi, Nalagarh were established for raising planting stock for field plantations. Field plantations were carried out in four sites viz. Kot and Puruwala in Himachal Pradesh and Nud and Basentarbela in J&K. Growth data was collected and analyzed. Also trainings cum demonstration programmes were organized to disseminate the research findings to the stakeholders.