Namaste and Welcome

By: Shambhu Prasad Tiwari

M.Sc.Forestry

1st year

Roll no:43

SEED ORCHARD ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Out line of PresentationINTRODUCTION

GLOBAL CONTEXT

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

Introduction

•Seed orchards are stands planted especially for the production of abundant superior seeds. •A seed orchard is defined as an area where seeds are mass-produced to increase the genetic quality as quickly and inexpensively as possible (Zobel et al., 1958).

Global context

In 1949, first pine seed orchard was planted in Sweden although this concept was applied before 1940 to rubber trees

Seed orchards of P. radiata (Australia and New Zealand), Teak (Thailand, Nigeria, India, Papua New Guinea), Eucalyptus (Australia, S. Africa, Morocco, Portugal), Amla, Harro, Barro etc (Nepal)

Type of Seed Orchard

Seedling Seed Orchard(SSO): Seed orchard raised from seedlings produced from selected parents through natural or controlled pollination.

Clonal Seed Orchard(CSO): Seed orchard raised from selected clones propagated by grafting, cutting, air-layering or tissue culture.

Breeding seedling orchard (BSO): Seedling orchard used to preserve and test large no. of genotypes, not to produce masssive quantities of seed for operational planting.

Reproductive age of trees

The age at which trees produce their first fruit crop varies according to species, varieties, environmental conditions, management, etc. Some species reproduce after few years while others await several decades before they set flowers and fruits.

Some physiological and environmental conditions that promote seed production

Optimal soil conditions (pH, fertility, structure, drainage, etc.)

Optimal climate (water, light, temperature, etc.)

Optimal conditions for pollination (pollination agent, synchronized flowering, etc.)

Reduced root competition (for water and nutrients).

Reduced crown competition (for light).

Size and longevity of seed orchard

The size of the seed orchard is determined by the seed demand and the expected seed production from the orchard. Both figures are subject to estimates. Planting targets may be altered in the future and the seed production from individual trees is often only subject to qualified guesses. A minimum of 15–25 clones or families to assure a sufficient genetic base and limit selfing should be used.

Location of the seed orchard

1. Species specific requirements:Climate: temperature, precipitation,

photoperiod, wind exposure.Soil: texture, nutrients, pH, drainageTopography: flat/hilly/mountainous,

exposure.Altitude: meter above sea level.

Location of the seed orchard (Contd……)

2. Management requirements:

Accessibility

Labour availability

Close to administration

Close to nursery

Gentle topography

3. Protection:

Strong winds, typhoons, etc.

Fire

Illegal logging/fuelwood collection

Destroying animals

Location of the seed orchard (Contd……)

4. Specific orchard requirements:Isolation from pollen contamination

(distance and time)

5.Other side requirements:Land tenurePossible future land requirement

Site preparation and establishment of orchards

ClearingSoil PreparationEstablishment of pollen dilution zonesPromotion of pollinationDemarcation of plots and rowsDemarcation of pits and pittingPlantingBeating upCover crops

Orchard design

The general requirement in the orchard design is:

Minimize selfingMaximize out crossing and mating of all

genotypes.Simple and easy establishment and

management.Allowing any number of clones or

families to fit into the design.

Orchard design(contd……)

Complete randomized design: All available ramets of all clones or all families are distributed randomly all over the site.

Randomized complete blocks: The area is divided into equally sized blocks which include one ramet of each clone or one member of each family. The ramets or families are located randomized within each block.

Randomized complete block design is the most frequently used if the design initially serves as a progeny test.

Controlled pollination in seed orchard

Controlled pollination can be conducted in which case pollen is collected from the desired male parent(s) and is applied to the flowers of the female parent(s). Controlled pollination may involve emasculation and isolation of the flowers of the female parents. If the orchard is designed entirely for hybridization, planting of each clone in rows in preferred.

Silvicultural management of seed orchards

WeedingRouging: Once the result of the progeny test is

available, the undesired families or ramets are cut and removed.

Thinning and pruningFertilization and wateringFlower induction:-Imposing stress 1. Full or partial

girdling2. Root pruning by sub soiling3. Strangulation

Hormone application:1Spraying branchlets2. syringe into the cambium.

Conclusion Seed orchards are plantations of genetically superior

trees, isolated to reduce pollination from genetically inferior outside sources, and intensively managed.

Orchard seeds yield good forests and give additional protection because they contain the offspring of carefully selected superior parents. Plantations from seed orchard crops can also provide more protection against disease or insect catastrophe, adapt well to varying site and soil conditions, and enhance biological diversity.

Conclusion (Contd…….)The plants (either vegetative propagated or seedlings)

are vulnerable to competition from weeds, to fire, diseases, browsing, termites, etc. during the first year of establishment. The seed orchard establishment steps are Clearing, Soil Preparation, Establishment of pollen dilution zones, Promotion of pollination, Demarcation of plots and rows, Demarcation of pits and pitting, Planting, Beating up, Cover crops and orchard design.

Management options such as selective harvesting, partial silvicultural thinning, genetic rouging, flower induction etc activities are available for orchard managers to promote better reproductive balance .

Thank you for your attentionAny Queries Comments and Suggestions ???

Are welcomed