Clonal <I>Eucalyptus</I> Plantations in India

Abstract

Large scale Eucalyptus plantations have been raised on degraded forest and marginal farm lands and along road/rail/canal strips in India. Most of these past plantations have low productivity ranging from 4-10 m³ha^-1yr^-1 and large genetic variation because of poor genetic quality of seed used. Productivity and profitability of eucalypt plantations has been revolutionized with the development of genetically improved, fast growing and high yielding clonal planting stock of eucalypts by ITC Bhadrachalam Paperboards Limited from 1989 onwards. Average productivity of commercial Eucalyptus clones is around 20to25 m³ha^-1yr^-1 and many farmers have achieved record growth rates of 50 m³ha^-1yr^-1 making clonal farm forestry an economically attractive land use option. Significant improvements in quality of produce and reduction in per unit production costs have also been possible with the use of true to type, uniform and genetically improved clonal planting stock. A series of successful demonstration plots, high quality of technical extension services, buy back arrangements combined with bumper yields and high economic returns have been the key factors leading to the success story of technology based clonal eucalypt plantations in many states of India.