INTRODUCTION

 Fast expansion of the road network.

 Negative environmental effects from roads: dust, pollution, erosion and others

 Erosion threatening road integrity

 Roadside planting as a solution

BENEFITS OF ROAD SIDE PLANTATION

1. Reduced soil erosion: holds soils in place

2. Remove dust and other pollutants from the air, protecting crops and road-side
communities

3. Wind break

4. Flood control: slow and absorb road run-off

 Carbon dioxide sequestration

 Provide important pollinator habitat

 Provide shade and keep the road

cool for road users

 Beautification

The trees are grown on road side to serve the following objectives.

 To provide attractive landscape of road side.

 To provide shape and comfort to road users and

make journey more comfortable.

PATTERN OF TREE PLANTATION

 Trees are generally grown along both sides of the road. The spacing of the trees rows the centre
line of carriage way should be at least 12 m, in case trees of wide crown type.

 No tress or shrubs on the inside of cut-slopes around curves

 No trees or shrubs on the inside curve of an embanked road construction

Criteria for selection of trees and shrubs

Tree species shall preferably be:

 Unpalatable or fenced

 evergreen or remain green over most of the year

 tolerant of seasonal drought and insect and pest harms

 deep rooted to resist wind power and don’t damage road

 fast growing

 not invasive

 shall have one or more of social and economic values such as medicinal (antimalarial
trees), food, fuel wood, feed, shade, etc

Assessing biophysical factors

 Water resources available

 Soil physical and chemical properties

 Major stress factors with respect to survival of planted seedlings: drought, salinity,
herbivores (domestic, wild animals), wind, fire, insect and diseases, human physical
damage (theft)

 Local knowledge on improving planted seedlings survival and tree management

CARE OF TREES

Protection of Trees:

After planting, the trees have to be looked after from the attack of stray animals.
Following measures can be adopted for the protection of trees.

 Trenches :

A round trench about 2.5 m in diameter in plan is dug around the plant pit.
Section of the trench is Trapezoidal having about 40 cm bed and about 50 cm depth..

 Open brick work guards :

Open brick, tree may be constructed around the trees. Tree guards may be
circular or square in plan. Thickness of tree guard is kept one brick laid as heading.

 Iron guards :

Iron enclosure are made around the trees to protect them.

  Bitumen drum guards :

P.W.D. has lot of used bitumen drums in its possession.

 Barbed wire fencing:

In this system four wooden bullies are driven at four corners around the tree pit
an bardbed wire wrapped around them.

 Thorning trees:

A protection around the planted tree can be developed by using thorny cut tree
branches. But this measure is sort of temporary arrangement of tree protection.

MAINTENANCE OF TREES

 Watering :

Watering is an essential feature of tree maintenance. Method of watering and

interval of watering depends on type of tree, the land, climatic conditions, water availability etc.

 Hoeing :

Soil around the tree stem should be kept loose. This helps in fast growth of the
tree.

 Protection from frost:

Plants which are likely to be affected by cold should be provided protection by

covering them by thatching

 Keeping trees straight:

If plants get inclined they should be given support with the help of bullies
against the slope. This helps keep the tree up right.

 Pruning and deforking:

Pruning is the process which is useful for making tree to grow straight and in
compact form.

 Lopping:

It is process of train the trees in proper shape during its growth. Branches
interfering the traffic and other adjoining trees are cut.

 Felling of trees:
 Matured trees if not cut in time, will start decaying. Over matured trees and
trees which are very close to each other should be felled.

Road dust problems

Dust is affecting the health of people living along the road and crop productivity.

Road dust problems - Effects of road dust in agricultural production

 Reduced photosynthesis leading to loss of plant yield

 Increased pest and disease incidence causing yield losses and reduced quality of produce

 Dust hindering the pollination of small seeded fruits by insects

Road dust problems- Effect of dust on people’s health

 Road dust is composed by coarse particles that can worsen heart or lung-related conditions
when inhaled through the nose and mouth

 Roads dust causes skin irritations and diseases, eye irritations, shortness of breath, respiratory
disorders and increased risk of lung and skin cancer (WHO, 1999)

Retaining dust with roadside vegetation: Porosity

 Roadside plantations must have some porosity to allow the wind pass through the plantation
and increase the filtering effects. Optimal porosity: 35-50%.

 above: closed element (eg dense hedge)

 SMALL FILTERING EFFECTS

 middle: porous element (eg half open hedge or row of trees with undergrowth.)

 GOOD FILTERING EFFECTS

 below: incomplete element (eg line of trees without undergrowth)

Opportunity: linking roadside planting with rural development programs

 Road side planting is a labour intensive activity

 Permanent and temporary employment generated for nursery, fencing, pitting/planting and
maintenance activities.

 Provides additional source of income for poor households.

 India: old, physically challenged, widows and women employed under Rural Employment
Guarantee Act for roadside plantation
  high success rate