Afforestation and Soil Conservation in South Bihar

Afforestation on a considerable scale had to be undertaken in Bihar to improve the protective and productive capacities of the vast areas of degraded forests whose management was taken over by the State from private owners in 1947. The unfavourable distribution of rainfall, poor soil and high summer temperature make the task difficult. Soil moisture is the limiting factor and makes special techniques for afforestation necessary. Vigorous anti-erosion measures are taken. Fencing by barbed-wire or trenches is essential. The sites are classified into various 'Site-classes', based on the slope and depth of soil. Different treatments are prescribed for different 'Site-classes'. Greater reliance is now on the nursery raised stock as it has given up to 90% success in the first year. Inorganic fertilisers are used in the afforestation areas with good results. The average cost of all the operations comes to Rs. 200.00 per acre. A beginning has also been made in planned land use. During the Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61), 31,000 acres were afforested while in the Third Five-Year Plan (1961-66), the target is 81,000 acres.