The Haryana government has taken an innovative approach to boost the green cover in the Aravalli region of the state. They have adopted a pilot project which employs aerial seeding techniques to enhance vegetation in areas that are hard to access or have minimal plant life.
Aerial Seeding Technique: An Overview
Aerial seeding is a unique plantation method that involves the use of seed balls for dispersal. These seed balls are seeds enveloped in a mixture of clay, compost, char, and other substances. The distribution of these seeds is carried out through aerial devices such as drones, planes, or helicopters.
One significant advantage of this technique is its ability to deploy seeds precisely onto predetermined locations. This precision is achieved by making the seed balls heavy enough to resist wind force. The seed balls start sprouting when they get sufficient rainfall, utilizing the nutrients within them for initial growth.
Key Benefits of Aerial Seeding
This technique offers several advantages, especially in locations with steep slopes, no forest routes, or where physical accessibility is challenging. Known as the “fire and forget” way of plantation, the process requires minimal human intervention post-dispersal. Moreover, the seeds do not require ploughing since they are already encased in a mix of soil, nutrients, and microorganisms, providing protection against birds, ants, and rats.
Choice of Species for Aerial Seeding
The selection of plant species for aerial seeding primarily depends on native plants that are robust and have seeds of a suitable size for making seedballs. Typical choices include ones with higher survival percentages in the given conditions.
Seeding Drone Utilization
The aerial seeding process uses seeding drones equipped with accurate delivery mechanisms, enabling the dispersion of varying sizes of seeds from a height of 25 to 50 metres. An individual drone can plant between 20,000-30,000 seeds in a single day.
Implementation of the Aerial Seeding Method
Haryana government is implementing this method on 100 acres of land to evaluate the efficiency of the seed dispersal mechanism and examine the success rate. The chosen species for the aerial seeding include Acacia senegal (Khairi), Ziziphus mauritiana (Beri), and Holarrhena spp (Inderjo), all of which have a high survival rate in these areas. Additionally, grass seeds are added to the mix as they serve as excellent soil binders.
Significance of the Aerial Seeding Technique
This method presents promising prospects for local communities, particularly women, by offering them work opportunities in seed ball preparation. It proves especially useful in areas that are challenging to access or entirely out of reach, making traditional plantation methods impractical.
Last Modified: February 8, 2024