Windbreak Tree Varieties

Annual crop loss worth crores of Rupees is reported in the country due to windstorms. This crop loss due to heavy wind is more frequently being reported in banana plantations. To efficiently manage this recurrent problem, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) has released five superior clones of Casuarina junghuhniana for providing protection against windstorms to horticultural and agricultural crops like banana, citrus crops, red gram, etc. This Casuarina based Windbreak tree varieties planted on the periphery of farm lands can help slow down the speed of wind and minimize the damage to cash crops. These clonal windbreaks also reduce evaporation from the soil and water loss through transpiration from the crops inside. This in turn increases productivity of agriculture crops from 10 to 30%.

Superiority of IFGTB Windbreak Clone

Windbreak clones of IFGTB show high level of branch persistence with 40 to 50 thick and horizontal branches within 3 m height from the base of the tree. The other superiority of these clones are: i) greater branch thickness, ii) wider branch angle, iii) greater height growth rate (2.5 to 3 m per year) and iv) faster diametrical growth rate of main stem (1.5 to 2 cm per year).

Names of the Windbreak clones released: IFGTB-WBC-1, IFGTB-WBC-2, IFGTB-WBC-3, IFGTB-WBC-4 and IFGTB-WBC-5

Establishment of the model

After land preparation by ploughing and formation of three channels at distance of 0.5 m or 1 m all along the boundary, within each channel, superior clones of Casuarina are planted at 2 m interval within the rows in 'Quincunxs' or 'Zig-zag' pattern. Thus the tree density will be around 380 trees per acre.

Planting of two rows of windbreak trees is also suggested, where land is limited. In this model, the distance between the rows is 0.5 m and the distance between trees within the row is 2 m. The planting configuration is 'Zig-zag' pattern.

Management of Windbreaks

Windbreaks are to be irrigated during the first year at least once in a week. In the subsequent years, no separate irrigation is required for tree rows. The windbreaks will benefit from the management practices followed for the crops inside. During the fallow period and dry seasons, protective irrigation to trees may be provided. Periodic cultural operations like weeding and soil working around trees are carried out twice a year, during June (pre-monsoon) and December (post-monsoon). Moderate pruning of branches should be restricted to trees in the inner rows only. Pruning should be done using sharp pruning tools and at 30-45 cm distance from the base of the branches

Wood Yield from Windbreaks

On an average, 12 MT of wood can be harvested from four years old Windbreaks planted in field boundaries of one acre land. The Windbreak clones give about 40% more yield when compared to other clones in the market. Farmers can get an additional income of up to Rs. 60,000 per acre, besides the protection of agriculture and horticulture crops from the wind damages.

Windbreaks to increase crop productivity

Scientific study has demonstrated that Red gram variety (CO-8) suffered no crop lodging when planted inside windbreaks and recorded a 1.5 times higher yield compared to crop cultivated in open field without windbreaks. The study also shown that soil moisture built as result of irrigation was retained for more number of days inside the windbreaks compared to open field. Hence, the windbreaks not only protect the crops but also enhance its productivity substantially.

Yield of Red Gram (kg / acre)

With Windbreak	Open Field
600	400

Windbreaks for fruit orchards

It is reported that Windbreaks provide substantial benefits in the production of fruit orchard. Year-round protection is critical to the survival and proper development of fruit trees. Windbreaks enhances the orchard microclimate, thus improving conditions for pollination and fruit set which in turn result in greater yields. Reductions in wind speed within the orchard reduce the amount of mechanical damages viz. the whipping of leaves, branches, buds, flowers and fruits. This improves fruit quality and results in substantial increase in economic returns

Windbreaks minimise Dust pollution

Observation showed that the IFGTB windbreak clones help to minimise the dust loading in the air. Further, Windbreaks are observed to be more efficacious in reducing dusts from coir industries and also from poultry units. IFGTB Windbreak clones has the traits of production more number of branches and retaining of all the branches intact forever which in turn helps the clones to be efficacious in dust abatement in these sites.