Forest Soil and Land Reclamation Division

Brief Description

Scientific investigations on Forest Soil were initiated in the early forties through the formation of Soil Section, which was upgraded to Forest Soils Branch in the early seventies. The branch was upgraded to Division of Ecology & Conservation covering soils and ecology including forest influences research. The division was again reorganised as Division of Forest Soil & Land Reclamation in 1990 and given the status of "Centre of Excellence" in 1999. It is now known as "Centre for Advance Studies in Forest Soil & Land Reclamation". The division has published nearly 500 research papers, 25 reports, brochures, handouts and a book entitled ‘Environmental Management, Concepts, Strategies and Legislation for Mine Areas’.

Thrust Areas

1. Monitoring and impact assessment of natural and plantation forest soils for sustainable
    productivity.
2. Soil diagnostics and developing technology for afforestation of degraded lands.
3. Geological and geomorphological studies for site improvement.
4. Evolving criteria and indicators for sustainable management of wastelands.
5. Imparting education and training in forest soils and, wasteland afforestation for future
    needs.
6. Advisory and consultancy for different forest land uses.

Highlights of Achievements

Characterization of forest soils in the Himalayan region and the soils under teak was carried out. Field surveys for investigating mortality of important forest species from soils point of view were carried out.

Impact of raising monoculture of tree species was assessed in the Doon Valley condition and the changes in the soil physical, chemical and biological properties were worked out.

Soil studies were undertaken in the north eastern region, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh to determine soil nutrient changes under the effect of shifting cultivation. Forest Soil & Vegetation Surveys were undertaken and around 1 million ha was covered to correlate the forest soil characteristics with the existing vegetation on all India basis. The nutritional aspects of forest soils and the application of fertilizers at nursery as well as main plantation conditions was also carried out for the soils of southern India.

Number of laboratory studies, glass house experiments and field experiments were conducted in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to develop and standardize the technology for afforestation of sodic lands. The technology was applied to more than 2000 ha of land in Sultanpur, Raebareilly, Allahabad and Pratapgarh districts. More than 40 lakh trees of 14 different species have been successfully planted by applying this technology.

Integrated project on ‘Sodic Soil Afforestation’ was initiated by this Division on 1.1.98 and at present, 8 projects of 5 different Divisions are being conducted in the sodic areas under this integrated project. Clonal trial of Poplar and provenance trial of Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia nilotica and Azadirachta indica were taken up to introduce the fast growing and multipurpose trees and also to increase the productivity of the sodic lands.

The field experiments on utilization of fly-ash as amendment of sodic soil and on suitable source of organic residue for reclamation of sodic soil as substitute to chemical fertilizer are being carried out.

Effect of using brackish water (quality C2S1 generally encountered in a canal irrigation system) for seed germination and survival of tree species was studied in silty clay loam soils and a good number of brackish water tolerant species have been enlisted based on their performance in the field. Several surface mulches have been tested for moisture conservation of stressed site such as eroded sites, sodic soils etc.

Soil geology and geomorphological studies were carried out in the Himalayan region such as Srinagar (J&K), Dharmsala, Chakrata and Tehri areas. The variation in the geological formation, the nutrient variability etc. associated with the distribution of natural forest stands were reported.

The Division has successfully completed the FAO sponsored FORSPA project (II/IND/2) ‘Improving Productivity of Sodic Sites" in 1997. The training programme on ‘Sodic Soil Afforestation’ is also conducted by the Division for the senior and middle level officers of Forest Department, Industries, NGO’s, Universities etc.

Future Plans

1. To evolve sustainable management strategies for sodic soil through forestry
    interventions.
2. Reclamation of Sodic areas in different agro-ecological regions.
3. Soil geological and geomorphological studies in degraded land for sustainable
    afforestation.
4. Studies on sustainability of soil fertility in natural forest ecosystems.
5. Soil and land management strategies for carbon sequestration / GHG abatement .
6. Studies on soil and forest degradation in a selected watershed.
7. Impart education in IGNFA, SFSC and FRI Deemed university.
8. To organise training course in sodic soil afforestation.
9. To explore possibilities for collaborative research projects at national and inter national
    level.
10.To continue providing consultancy and advisory services.

Research Facilities Available Equipments, Specialisation etc.

The Division is equipped with modern laboratory furnished with facilities for complete soil analysis and sophisticated instruments like Inductivity Coupled Plasma Analyser and CHN Analyser systems etc. The scientists have long experience of working on the soils of natural forest and developing technology for afforestation of wasteland, in general, and sodic soil in particular.

Service Available

1. Soil Diagnosis and characetrisation
2. Consultancy and advisory services for reclamation and afforestation of sodic soil
3. Training course in sodic soil afforestation