G.L. Khajuria
There is no well accepted definition of wastelands but Mr Bhumble has used the following definition for wastelands as those lands which are virtually unstable and ecologically, whose top soil is completely lost, devoid of any vegetative cover. Such lands have developed toxicity in the root zones plundering growth of plants, and for the growth of annual crops and trees. Further, this shall cover all hands affected by erosions, floods, soil salinisation and alkalinisation, water-logging and so on. On hill terrain, wastelands on snow-clad mountains, bare and denuded fragile rock which over the years are geologically unstable.
Some three decades back, the consultative committee of Parliament chaired by the then Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi on August 23rd, 1985 stated that “India has a land mass of about 329 million hectares and estimates are that approximately much of it is degraded whose productivity is far below its potential. The broad sub-divisions of degraded land resources are in Agriculture. out 143 million hact, atleast 40 million ha or so are degraded and in forest sector, out of 75 million hac; 3 million hac have barely shrubs only, apart from the pasture an grazing on other uncultivated lands which are almost largely degraded. As such, we are having only 175 million of degraded lands which are amongst the major use of Land for Agriculture, forestry and for grazing which have been the most neglected and perhaps the most degraded areas.
In such an inexplicable situation, wastelands are formed by misuse, overuse and the large livestock population far beyond the carrying capacity of pasture lands which has probably been the major factor in the formation of wastelands, Besides, impeded drainage due to the construction of embankments, roads, canals, railway tracks and other multihued development which have created new wastelands. The denudation and decimation of forest cover have ushered in large scale erosions resulting into big nallahs and ravine formation in the most degraded hills side down-below the plains. Water-logging is another glaring aspect accruing from canal seepage which, de-facto’, attribute the major part of degraded and wastelands.
Greening methodology
Greening or so to say afforestation of all such wastelands is the paramount need of the hour and covering all such lands with suitable vegetative species prevent soil, erosion, water conservation, removal of salinity from soil, restores soil microbiological activity apart from lowering soil temperature, increase in water percolation and above all increase in the agricultural productivity of adjoining lands. The methodology of afforestation is, however, site specific and some of the mostly degraded wastelands are usar lands, ravines, hill slopes, coastal areas, subject to seepage, river banks and other areas of blackish water and as such different categories of wastelands demand different ways of treatments.
User lands: Such lands which constitute a part of wastelands include saline, sodic and alkaline soils and such soils are met with on hard clay as well as on sandy tracks. However, intermediate stages can also be met.
Sandy soils with high PH Value can be found alongside major rivers and such soils are characterized by PH range from 9 to 10, severe drought during summer and heavy frost during winter with temperature going down to 0oC, unprecedented flooding, fire hazards and sand drifts. On such soils popular at 5 m interval in rows, 4 m apart is best suited. Introduction of certain species in between is of ample importance and such suited species are ‘Syzygium cumini, terminalia arjuna’ and ‘Dalbergia sisso are desirable.
Denuded hill slopes: Hill slopes in Himalayas and Shivaliks have their own sad stories to tell as in such areas, most of the top soil has been badly eroded to the extent of its total wash away which hinders planting on such barren and denuded areas. So, in treating such areas, introduction of shrubs is the first step to go ahead and every precaution is to be ensured to avert biotic pressure. The shrubs should be preferably nitrogen fixing and of the few are ‘vitex negund (Bana), Adhatoda vasica (Branker), woodfordia fruticosa etc. After the soil is reclaimed, the most suited plants needs planting (local species) supplemented and supported by soil conservation measures.
Ravines: The major problem with such areas is that these occupy vast tracks and further such areas are prone to soil erosions, scarce moisture, fast run off, low precipitation, uncontrolled grazing, high temperature during summer and severe cold/frost during winter. Here, on such areas the main thrust should be on gully-plugging and once the gullies are plugged, root cuttings are strongly recommended. After this being done, the most suited local spp. to site should be planted out to reclaim the wastelands and some of the most suitable viz Bamboos, grasses need preference at places should be for soil binding, apart from introduction of Acacias, Syzygium cumini, Dalbergia sisso and casia siamea on flat top areas. Nothing can be achieved unless their depredations are controlled and insofaras aerial seeding on such areas is concerned as a method of greening the wastelands, the operation has proved to be costly one, apart from a futile exercise.
As a corollary, therefore, all out attempts have been made over the years in greening/afforestation of wastelands, of which successful results have been achieved to varying degree. The moot point to emphasize is to protect such wastelands from grazing, lopping and above all illicit cutting. Once the area is afforested and it should form a permanent feature of the landscape. The system as such should be that the ground always remains covered.
(The author is Former Dy. Conservator of Forest, J&K).
