Geomatics based concurrent evaluation of plantation drive in Jhansi District

Abstract

Modern tools viz., GIS, GPS and satellite remote sensing play vital role in the assessment of plantation as well as estimation and up scaling of forage production. ‘Special Plantation Drive’ (SPD) in Bundelkhand region was initiated by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. About 28.70 thousand ha land was targeted to be planted with 28.50 million trees in Jhansi Division during July to September 2008. The target for Jhansi district was fixed about 9000 ha land with approximately 10 million trees plants. The overall performance of SPD in Jhansi district was found in good condition (SCM 30.02 out of 50). It was found good at 51.79% plantation sites, average at 20.54% sites and poor at 2.68% sites. Proper basin size and pits was found good at 14.29% sites whereas it was average at 34.82% and poor at 29.46% plantation sites of the district. Selection of tree species according to land resource unit was found an important indicator of the assessment of plantation work. It was recorded good at 54.46% sites and average at 45.54% sites in the district. The plant vigour and health was observed as good in 37.5% sites and average in 60.71% sites. Finally the percent survival of plants was recorded as good in 12.5% sites, average in 82.14% sites and poor in only 5.36% sites. Forage yield from plantation sites were estimated as 1.13 tDM/ ha. It was found maximum (2.06 tDM/ha) on bunds reseeded with suitable grass and legumes species where as it was lowest (1.07 tDM/ha) in the rest part of the sites.