Energy Plantations: Introduction, Features and Significance, Concept of social forestry, List of social forestry and petro crops
Posted on : 02-01-2019 Posted by : Admin

Introduction

Energy is the key factor for the economic growth of any nation and India is no exception. In spite of increasing availability of energy, there is always need for more. This is the reason which has prompted the world countries to develop alternative sources of energy like geothermal, solar nd wind. Moreover we must use the available coal reserves sustainably.

In this context, crops producing hydrocarbons are very important. Petroplants accumulate photosynthetic products like hydrocarbons of high molecular weight. In 1979, M. Calvin of the University of California reported the collection and use of photosynthetically produced hydrocarbons. He suggested them as a substitute for conventional petroleum sources.

Most of the plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Anacardiaceae, Asteraceae, Caprofoliaceae and Lamiaceae are promising petroplants. Euphorbia lathyris of family Euphorbiaceae is considered as most suitable petrocrop containing more than 5% oil and polymeric hydrocarbons.

List of Petro Crops

The following is the list of petrocrops

Technically, energy plantation means growing selected species of trees and shrubs which are harvestable in a comparably shorter time and are specifically meant for fuel. These plantations help provide wood either for domestic or industrial purposes.

The energy plantations provide almost inexhaustible renewable sources of energy which are local and independent of unreliable and finite sources of fuel. The total time constant for each cycle is 3-8 years only. 

Features of Energy Plantations

The attractive features of energy plantations are: 

• Good amount of heat content of wood
• Wood low in sulphur and  non-polluting
• Ash from burnt wood is a valuable  fertiliser
• Raising plantations in erosion-prone lands helps to reduce soil  erosion
• Help in rural employment generation

Significance of Energy Plantations

Energy plantations are the plants planted only for use as fuel. The woody plants have been used since ancient times to generate fire for domestic and industrial purpose. In recent years, to meet the ever growing demand of energy, plantation of energy plants is been encouraged. We are all aware that trees are cut in many of the forest belts of India like Gangetic plains, Siwalik region and foot-hills of Himalayas.

In terms of fuel wood production, India is the biggest, but the per capita fuel wood production is very low. In India, people of hill area hardly get fire-wood plants and they have to go to interior of forest to collect wood-falls. Also introduction of technologies developed for plains is not achievable in these areas.

For example, they cannot be motivated to use solar cooker, because of being solely traditional and religious. Even gobar gas plant cannot be useful in hills, due to low temperatures. Therefore, renewable source of energy is highly desirable for survival of population in hills and for reducing the pressure on forests. And thus, energy plantation has got great support in our country.

For obtaining good amount of biomass, afforestation and forest management government has started many plans like social forestry, silviculture and agro-horticulture practices in waste and barren lands. These programmes include growing of drought resistant, salt resistant, pollutant resistant and high density energy plantations (HDEP) in waste and barren

The technique used in high density energy plantations, HDEP is the practice of planting trees at close spacing. Here the trees grow rapidly due to struggle for survival. It provides fast and high returns with many opportunities of permanent income and employment.

Social Forestry: Energy plantation and power programme

Plantation through social forestry has been highlighted by the Government of India to meet the demand of fuel and fodder in the rural areas. Social forestry will definitely decrease the ever increasing pressure on the forests. Through social forestry, trees are planted along road sides, canals, railway lines and waste lands in villages.

The following must be considered while selecting plant species for energy plantations:

• The species should be local. This helps for better climatic and soil adaptation.
• Species should show rapid growth and high coppicing ability.
• The species should also produce additional products like fruits, seeds, fodder and green manure apart from fuel wood.
• The species must have hard wood.
• The species must have low requirement of water and fertilizer.
• The species must have ability to increase the soil quality.
• The species also should have high calorific value of wood.

List of Social forestry plants

The following is the list of plants included in social forestry,

• ← Previous
• Next →

Hope you have liked this post.

Please share it with your friends through below links.

All the very best from Team Studyandscore

“Study well, Score more…”