Aerial Seeding for Environmental Conservation

1980 onwards experimental aerial seeding was done in M.P., U.P. RaJasthan, Western Ghats of Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh. Species tried were Prosopis juliflora. Acacia nilotica. Dalbergia sissao, Holloptelea integrifolia, Acacia catechu and Bamboo. Survey in Chambal area where average number of seedling was found to be 1034 and 1538 in Agra and Dholpur areas respectively reveals that the technique can be considered fairly satisfactory. However, only Prosopis juliflora has responded favourably to this technique. In Western Ghat of Maharashtra 30% germination of Bamboo is reported. The advantages of the technique are that it can quickly cover remote, difficult and extensive area and is less expensive. Extension of the technique to other parts with few more suitable species, strict quality control of seeds is snggested.