Wadi Best Practices

WADI PROGRAMME

BEST PRACTICES

PLOT SELECTION Well drained soil Sloppy Avoid land under

High tension electric supply Dense canopy

Proper distance should kept when plot is near to highways, big roads

Plot should belong to Family

PLOT MARKING

Preparation of measured rope Distance between two plants

10 x 10 meter for mango 7 x 7 meter for cashew, Awala,

Cusraed apple, lemon etc. Distance from Fencing Staggered layout for high slope

PIT DIGGING Size

1x1x1 meter for fruit 0.3 x 0.3 x0.3 for forestry

Marked area Keep soil separately On sloppy land

keep uppermost layer soil on top Pit should be 1 meter from down stream side

Size should maintained from top to bottom No pits should be under canopy /electric /

telephone lines

Pit filling Pit filling should be completed when the pit is dry i.e. by

end of May. Keep ready the fertilizer, pesticides ready Dust pesticides before filling Fill pit layer by layer

At bottom 15 cm of dry leaves + layer of top soil 10 cm layer of green leaves and small twigs + layer of top soil

second layer of 25 cm consisting of mixture of soil (excavated from the upper layers of the pit) and FYM or dried dung

followed by a layer of 45 cm consisting of mixture of soil. Bone Meal and Neem Cake.

A small heap of 30 cm should be made on the top Insert one wooden peg at center

Selection of Grafts

Procured from genuine source Healthy, sturdy graft At least one year old Height 2 to 2.5 ft Care should be taken during

transportation

Plantation of Grafts

Before plantation: Ensure no water stagnation in pit. Pit should be filled above ground

level. Graft should be healthy Grafts should be planted same day

when it received

Plantation of Grafts During plantation:

Dig out small pit and apply light irrigation (if possible / if needed)

Remove plastic bag carefully by using sharp blade and without disturbing soil ball.

Keep graft in pit and add soil and press it. Ensure that no air in pit Keep grafted portion one inch above

ground level

Plantation of Grafts

After plantation: ‘H’ type staking should be given

immediately. Irrigate the plant if no rains occurred (for more than 3 days)

Plantation of Forestry

Time: End of June to first week of July after monsoon settled. Planting should be done in late afternoon or evening. Planting in morning period should be avoided.

While planting teak stump / cutting care should be taken to plant it at slanting position and not vertical.

AFTERCARE:STAKING Why

To protect the graft from heavy rains and wind

To ensure proper growth of grafts

AFTERCARE:STAKING How

Collect 4 ft. long sticks Give ‘H’ type staking to each graft Use only cotton thread or local material for tying Do not use nylon rope Use ‘8’ type knot during tying Distance between two sticks should be maintained properly Strips should be straight and sound. It should not be inclined

and thin. As far as possible use dry sticks (avoid fresh cuttings). The staking should be done in the proper direction (East-

West) As the graft grows taller, height of the staking should be

increased.

WhenTechnically staking should be done immediately after plantation..

AFTERCARE: Basin Preparation Basin should be

round In month of

october Soil loosening

every 15 days Weeding regularly

Mulching After monsoon Use agriculture

waste material Straw, leaves Other material

Plastic sheet Stones

Stir material regularly

AFTERCARE: Shade for trees Benefits

Tender leaves and shoots protected Scorching avoided Protects soil moisture by preventing heavy

evaporation loss Prevent cracking in soil, which in helps to

reduce evaporation water loss Cracks near the stock are not developed

which reduces evaporation Keeps soil cool/soil temperature is

maintained.

AFTERCARE: Shade for trees

Care should be taken Height of the sticks should be more

than grafts top is thatched with Grasses or leaves

or Gunny sheet. Bottom of the sticks are to be

painted with tar paint before fixing it into the soil.

AFTERCARE: Removal of offshoots

Method With the secateur unwanted branches are

removed. Spray of Disinfectant lie Bavistin, copper oxichlosile is to be sprayed.

In first year below the joint and from second year upto 1 mt. from the ground level to develop spherical shape or

umbrella shape of the tree.

Removal of offshoots

Benefits One can develop spherical shape

canopy Strong branches can be developed More flowering More fruit setting and yield Healthy fruits can be obtained

Live hedge Fencing

The fencing should be done for whole WADI plots instead of individual tree.

Material used for dry fencing: Dry branches of Karvand, Ber, sadada, bamboo, nirgudi, karvi and other thorny material available in the area

Fencing When Dry fencing should be done after pit

digging in month of May Live hedge fencing should be done in

June to July (onset of monsoon). Species belong to cactus family and Sagargota should be planted in May.

The live hedge could be planted in two or three strips and it should be in zigzag pattern.

Inter cropping pattern Kharif (Cereals): Dwarf varieties of finger millet,

(Heavy feeder like maize should be avoided) Legumes kharif: Green gram, Black gram, Matki, Kulthi Rabi: Chickpea, Peas, Masur, Bitter beans Oil seeds kharif: Soybean, Groundnut Rabi: Safflower Vegetable kharif: Tomato, Brinjal, Chilies, Onion,

Spinach Rabi: Fenugreek, Spinach, tomato, Brinjal, Chilies,

Onion shade loving plants (carrot, turmeric, sweet potato,

medicinal plants) should be planted after 7 to 8 years

Inter crops in horticulture plantation

Due considerations Proper combinations of fruit trees and improved dwarf varieties of

cereals. Proper combination of fruit trees and improved varieties of

Legumes. Proper combination of fruit trees and imp-varieties of vegetables. Application of diversity (more species) and complexity (multiple

functions) Manage cropping patterns diversified in root structure, which will

explore different soil strata. It should fulfill nutritional needs of the family throughout the year

and manage crops accordingly. High yielding improved varieties should be used. Cropping pattern should be useful to protect soil from erosion (by

wind or water), heat and toxic substances and supply of organic matter to soil life.

Combination should have symbiotic activity.

Aftercare for Forestry Weeding whenever weeds are they, must be

removed. Earthing up and basin preparation is essential. Plantation on trench-cum-bunds will have fast growth. 15 to 20 Gram DAP applications in the month of

August. In second year weeding in August and October is

essential due to which maximum nutrition supply will be provided to the forest plants.

Pruning of unwanted branches is beneficial, so that plant nutrients will be diverted to plants, will receive sunlight and growth will be fast .

Watering at early stage is equally important to enhance the Growth.

Protection from trace passers and animals.

Watering

Development stage (Growth stage) which is of 2-3 years, watering should be given as indicated below

Year Rainy Season

Winter Season Summer Season

First year If required One time in a week Two times in a week

Second year

If required One time fortnightly Two times fortnightly

Third year If required One time in a month Two times in a month

Every time two buckets of water (30 liters) should be given, proper size of basin is essential for this. It should be in proportion with canopy of the plant

Watering

Benefits of watering Nutrients are supplied to all part of

the plants. Reduced fruit drops Fruit in size and weight increases. Fruits become healthy and weight of

fruits increased.

SOIL CONSERVATION WADI

Presently 2 activities of soil conservation have been identified Trench cum bund for slopes less than

10% Trench and platform for slopes more

tan 10% Other conservation activities may be

done area specific.

Pest Control

Integrated Pest Management Use of organic pesticides Minimum use of chemicals