High-yield Eucalyptus Clonal Plantations of A.P. Forest Development Corporation Ltd. - a Success Story?

APFDC had been raising Industrial Plantations of Eucalyptus and Bamboo so far covering an area of 48,000 ha and 10,000 ha respectively. The plantations raised through seed in the past have given an average yield of only 10 MT/ha at the rotation age of 8/9 years as against projected yields of 40 MT/ha. The yield from subsequent rotations is only ⅓rd to ¼th of first rotation. The reasons attributed are inadequate soil preparation, low inputs, incidence of diseases and non-segregation/culling of seedlings at nursery stage. Pioneering efforts made by M/s Bhadrachalam Paper Boards Ltd. Have resulted in evolving Eucalyptus clones suitable for different Agro-climatic situations of the State. APFDC has not only become self-sufficient with regard to its clonal plant requirements, but also is in a position to sell/supply seedlings to individuals and institutions. 55 lakh such plants are produced through 38 mist chambers and 400 polypropagators.1t has a target of raising 8,000 ha of clonal Eucalyptus Plantations through World Bank funded A.P. Forestry Project. Package of practices through watershed approach (ploughing along contours, SMC measures), upischolar_mainal of misc. growth, introduction of nitrogen fixing annuals and ploughing them back into soil, raising NTFP species on the boundaries have helped in achieving encouraging results. Percentage of survivals in these plantations are 96% and above, Growth statistics so far collected have indicated a yield of not less than 50 MT/ha at the end of7 years. The net revenue yields from second rotation onwards will be substantiaIIy higher than first rotation owing to lesser financial inputs. The efforts of APFDC in raising Eucalyptus clonal plantations has reached unprecedented levels in public sector plantation quality as observed by the Supervisory Mission of World Bank during their field visits in December, 1998.