BIOSAFOR - BIOSALINE (AGRO) FORESTRY - Central Soil Salinity ...

Technical Bulletin : CSSRI/Karnal/2010/4
BIOSAFOR - BIOSALINE (AGRO) FORESTRY :
REMEDIATION OF SALINE WASTELANDS THROUGH
PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY,
BIOMATERIALS AND FODDER
Relative yield
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
y = -0.012x + 0.864
R² = 0.834
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0
-1
Root-zone salinity (dSm )
S. K. Sharma
J. C. Dagar
Gurbachan Singh
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute
Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
sksharma@cssri.ernet.in
1969

Technical Bulletin : CSSRI/Karnal/2010/4
BIOSAFOR - BIOSALINE (AGRO) FORESTRY :
REMEDIATION OF SALINE WASTELANDS THROUGH
PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY,
BIOMATERIALS AND FODDER
S. K. Sharma
J. C. Dagar
Gurbachan Singh
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute
Karnal- 132001, Haryana, India
sksharma@cssri.ernet.in
C
S
1969
S
R
I

Citation :
Sharma, S.K., Dagar, J.C. and Singh, Gurbachan. 2010. Biosafor - Biosaline (Agro) Forestry :
Remediation of Saline Wastelands through Production of Renewable Energy, Biomaterials and
Fodder. Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001 (Haryana), India. Technical
Bulletin : CSSRI/Karnal/2010/4, pp 26.
Published by :
Director, Central Soil Salinity Research Institute,
Zarifa Farm, Kachwa Road, Karnal - 132 001 (Haryana), India
Telephone : +91-184-2290501; Fax : +91-184-2290480, 2292489
E-mail : director@cssri.ernet.in
Website : www.cssri.org
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Tel.: +91-172-2704511-514; Telefax : +91-172-2704513
E-mail : ahsprinters@gmail.com

BIOSAFOR - BIOSALINE (AGRO) FORESTRY : REMEDIATION OF
SALINE WASTELANDS THROUGH PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY,
BIOMATERIALS AND FODDER
S. K. Sharma, J. C. Dagar and Gurbachan Singh
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal- 132001,
Haryana, India
sksharma@cssri.ernet.in
Biosaline agriculture (agro-forestry) seeks to change the problem of salinity into an opportunity. It uses the
productivity of plants capable to grow under saline conditions that surpass the ranges of the classical crops
and halophytes in combination with unconventional saline water resources and improved soil and water
management. The main focus of the project is the remediation of saline wastelands through cultivation of
biomass for energy production, bio-materials and fodder and focussing on the tree component of
agroforestry systems. For example, in saline areas trees and salt-tolerant plants can be an alternative to
conventional agriculture. Trees on saline wastelands produce timber for construction or for energy i.e.
charcoal for cooking or electricity production through gassifires. They also function as windscreens, protect
the soil against erosion, add organic matter and nitrogen in soil, help in breaking hard pans in alkali soils and
above all sequester carbon helping in mitigating climate change.
Background & Status
BIOSAFOR research project is one of the first projects where knowledge from different disciplines in
agricultural research from Agroforestry, Soil Science, Plant Sciences via GIS and policy making are combined
in a research project on biosaline agriculture funded by European Union. The research focuses on tree
species, largely from arid and semi-arid areas. Although for some species like Eucalyptus tereticornis or
Prosopis juliflora information is available on eco-climatic conditions, for most species considered not much is
known besides anecdotic knowledge. Main thrust of the project was to select a number of salt-tolerant species
with good production characteristics for saline environments and to produce relevant salinity data about
these species through pot trials and field surveys. As no information or very little information is available on
systematic evaluation of seedlings at juvenile stage for their salt tolerance hence pot studies were included in
this project. For the first time extensive knowledge is generated regarding many forest tree species and
salinity thresholds and curves are defined.
While traditional fresh water agriculture mainly focuses on preventing salinity in the soil and considers
salinity levels of 8 dS/m (the classical USDA salinity classification ends at 16 dS/m), this research also
considers extremely saline and sodic soil and water conditions. Some of the pot trials therefore include high
salinity ranges up to 42 dS/m. Innovative approaches for the economic reuse of saline wastelands offering
agronomic opportunities, which are not competing with the traditional agriculture for food, are in the main
focus of the project.
Current debate around bio energy and their relation to food security shows that there is a tremendous need
for sustainable bio-fuels, which are not competing with traditional agricultural food crops. The production of
woody biomass from land which is not suitable for any traditional agricultural production would therefore
be a unique opportunity especially for countries like India and others. India being a fast growing economy
with large import of crude oil makes it more important to develop such indigenous resources.
The overall objective of the BIOSAFOR project is twofold:
1) To contribute to the development of biosaline agro-forestry systems for various saline environments
(local/regional approach) and parallel to that
1

2) To explore the potentials and options for biomass production in saline environments (globally)
The specific objectives are:
• to indicate the special role of biosaline agro-forestry for degraded areas with saline soils and/or areas
with brackish water resources
• contribute to the regeneration of saline wastelands
• to select and screen tree species for the production of biomass in specific saline environments
• to develop agro-forestry systems for biomass production in different kinds of saline environments
• to assess the economic and environmental performance of selected biosaline agroforestry production
systems
• to estimate the amount of biomass that can globally be produced in saline environments
• to assess the potential contribution of biomass from saline environments to a sustainable biomass
respectively biofuel and biomaterial supply in developing countries and the European Union
• to disseminate the results to relevant gremia (decision makers, politicians) in the EU and to organizations
dealing with salinity globally, especially biosaline networks
Various objectives of the consortium project were targeted to be achieved by working in different work
packages 1 to 6 involving specific partners having specializations and track record. Table 1 shows
involvement and participation of different partners in various work packages. CSSRI Karnal contributed to
maximum number of packages and made significant contributions leading to success of this consortium
project. Most significant achievements were in the pot trials and field studies on saline and sodic areas
focusing on long-term plantations involving important multipurpose tree species.
Table 1 : Involvement and participation of CSSRI and other partners in various work packages.
WP 1 (Pot Trials)
WP 2 (Field Case Studies)
WP 3 (GIS, Soil, Water)
WP 4 (Cropping Potential)
WP 5 (Supply Chain)
WP 6 (Policy)
ICBA, BARI, PARC, CSSRI, CITA
ICBA, BARI, PARC, CSSRI, CAZRI
ACACIA, UHOH, BARI, PARC, CSSRI, CAZRI
UU, OASE, BARI, PARC, CSSRI
UU, OASE, BARI, PARC, CSSRI
UU, OASE, BARI, PARC, CSSRI
2

India Scenario
India has 6.73 million hectare area affected by salinity and sodicity in different states (Fig. 1 and Table 2) and
the salinity affected areas are increasing due to secondary salinization and other factors. A sizeable portion of
these salt affected soils are highly deteriorated making relabilitation of such lands difficult due to lack of
resources, such lands being community lands and being owned by resource poor farmers using costly
chemical amendments. Revegetation of such lands through different land uses viz. plantation of multipurpose
tree species including energy plantation are some of the options to meet the fuel, fodder, timber and
energy needs is promising in view of fuelwood, energy, fodder shortages and environmental benefits. This
approach is known to have the potential to reclaim wastelands and provide livelihood security through
regular employment generation. Due to large population, India can not afford any diversion of agriculture
land to meet its fast rising energy demands which have to be met from such marginal areas only. Therefore,
primary requirements are:
• Use marginal soil & water resources
• Not compete with food production and conventional forestry products
• Improve or balance biodiversity
• Proper GHG accounting and land-use management.
• Not disrupt tropical rainforests etc
This has additional advantage of strengthening local communities without any disruption. Woody biomass
has the highest carbon values, trees perform many other useful environmental services and biomass for
energy has the potential to be a key lever for rural development.
3

Fig. 1 : Map and Table 2 : showing the extent and distribution of salt affected soils in India (these figures are
based on the data and reconciled figures on the salt-affected areas in different states by CSSRI, NRSA
and NBSS & LUP, 2006)
Sr.
No.
State
Saline
soils
(ha)
Alkali
soils
(ha)
Coastal
saline soil
(ha)
1 Andhra Pradesh 0 196609 77598
2 A & N islands 0 0 77000
3 Bihar 47301 105852 0
4 Gujarat 1218255 541430 462315
5 Haryana 49157 183399 0
6 Jammu & Kashmir 0 17500 0
7 Karnataka 1307 148136 586
8 Kerala 0 0 20000
9 Maharashtra 177093 422670 6996
10 Madhya Pradesh 0 139720 0
11 Orissa 0 0 147138
12 Punjab 0 151717 0
13 Rajasthan 195571 179371 0
14 Tamil Nadu 0 354784 13231
15 Uttar Pradesh 21989 1346971 0
16 West Bengal 0 0 441272
Total 1710673 3788159 1246136
Total
(ha)
274207
77000
153153
2222000
232556
17500
150029
20000
606759
139720
147138
151717
374942
368015
1368960
441272
6744968
4

WORK PACKAGE 1
The objective of WP 1 at CSSRI was to select a number of tree species/ accessions/varieties with good
production characteristics for saline environments and to produce relevant salinity data about these species.
Methods
Nurseries of ten species namely, Prosopis alba (0465), Prosopis alba, Prosopis juliflora, Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus
tereticornis, Tamarix articulata, Pongamia pinnata, Jatropha curcas, Terminalia arjuna and Cassia siamea were
planted in 20 kg capacity porcelain pots filled with thoroughly washed coarse river sand. Six months old
uniform seedlings were planted. All the pots were supplied with half-strength Hoagland's nutrient solution
(Annexure I) for the first week and subsequently supplemented with mixture of salts as per the composition.
-1
EC level of non-saline control pots was 0.40 dS m . A salt mixture of NaCl, CaCl 2 and MgSO 4 was used to
impose salinities (Annexure I). In most of the pot and solution culture studies reported in literature, single salt
namely NaCl is used to impose salt stress. In natural saline conditions, saline conditions normally occur due
to the presence of mixture of salts namely NaCl, Na2SO 4, CaCl 2, CaSO 4, MgSO 4 etc. with predominance of
NaCl. More over, single salts are normally more toxic in nature having more detrimental effects on plants.
Therefore, we used salt mixture to impose salinity treatments to simulate natural conditions so that more
realistic results are obtained. Therefore, the four levels of salinity treatments were created by using salts
mixture and by increasing salt concentration in step-wise increments. Four salinity levels of 7.5, 12.0, 15.5 and
-1
19.0 dS m were achieved in two, three, four and five increments, respectively in the subsequent three weeks.
This approach using slow and step-wise increments of salinity helps the plants to adjust and avoid shocks due
to sudden imposition of salinity.
-1
For the second year, the salinity levels were further stepped up with the maximum level up to 42 dS m .
Mixture of NaCl and CaCl 2 salts was used to create salinities during the second year as per the decision taken
in the Technical Review Meeting of the project held in ICBA, Dubai during July 2008 (Fig. 2). Eight
replications per treatment were maintained out of which four replicates per treatment were harvested,
washed and sampled after fourteen months of salinity treatment and the remaining after two years of
salinization and separated in to roots, stem and leaves and processed for chemical analysis. Data on shoot
biomass (stem, branches and leaves) and total plant biomass (all plant parts i.e. roots, stem, branches and
leaves) were used to generate salinity response curves for these tree species.
Fig. 2 : Participants of the Technical Review Meeting of Biosafor project from July 20 to 22, 2008
at International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Dubai, UAE
for discussions on methodologies and programmes.
5

• Growth parameters (shoot height, number of branches and roots) and biomass (weight of stem, leaves and
root) data of the plants were recorded periodically (Fig. 3).
• At harvest, biomass of root, shoot and leaf components were recorded for fresh and dry weight Table 3, 4).
• Soil and irrigation/drainage water were also recorded for maintaining salinity levels.
• A similar database was used by all partners for recording all the data.
• Salinity curves were prepared for all the test species, based on USDA 'Salt' model for determining C t, C 50
and C 0 values. Since the USDA model deals with crop species having low to moderate tolerance to salinity
-1
and deals with salinity levels below 20 dS m , the salinity curves were not properly representative,
therefore we modified the earlier methodology for tree saplings using other methods like the best fit line
and equation (Fig. 4).
Results
— Salinity tolerance of the locally available species : Eucalyptus tereticornis, Prosopis juliflora, P. alba, and P.
glandulosa, Acacia nilotica, Terminalia arjuna, Tamarix articulata, Pongamia pinnata, Jatropha curcas and
Cassia siamea; and exotic germplasm (germplasm brought from other countries): Acacia salicina, A. ampliceps and
Casuarina glauca were worked out in pot trials and field studies. Mechanisms of tolerance and growth
were studied and salt tolerance curves were developed
— Among local species /accessions (s/a), Tamarix articulata, Prosopis alba, P. juilfora and P. glandulosa showed
higher biomass from trials in India. They also showed higher C 50 and C 0 (22-36 dS/m) values, indicating
that local s/a have high potential for bioforestry projects.
— Species that showed higher biomass and salinity tolerance include Acacia ampliceps accessions, with C 0
values varying from 21-41 dS/m.
— Acacia, Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Prosopis and Tamarix species/accessions (s/a) occupy the top positions
among tree species that are salt tolerant and provide higher biomass.
Table 3 : Effect of five levels of salinity on different plant growth parameters of plants harvested after two
years of salinization.
Treatment
(dS/m)
1.4
15
20
30
40
1.4
15
20
30
40
1.4
15
20
30
40
Pl. ht
( cm)
No. of
brs/pl
Stem
wt
(g)
Leaf wt
(g)
Root
wt
(g)
Total
plant wt
(g)
No.of
roots
Root
length
(cm)
Eucalyptus terticornis
188.8 12 204.7 66.7 183.4 454.8 21 131.3
171.3 9 118.8 30.4 67.0 216.2 13 96.0
123.0 6 40.6 23.5 68.7 132.8 10 50.1
115.3 5 28.7 - 21.2 49.9 8 29.0
98.0 5 16.5 - 15.7 32.2 6 27.7
Tamarix articulata
177.5 9 127.4 32.9 80.8 241.1 25 128.0
176.0 11 119.1 46.5 116.1 281.7 25 113.8
173.8 9 93.8 39.4 76.2 209.4 23 103.8
168.8 9 90.2 43.8 100.0 234.0 21 89.8
155.0 7 73.6 35.5 61.4 170.4 14 66.3
Acacia nilotica
190.8 28 274.4 12.9 89.8 377.1 25 84.8
145.0 20 125.3 5.2 54.9 185.4 20 62.0
120.0 11 98.3 3.8 27.8 129.9 16 46.0
103.8 7 24.3 12.7 37.0 8 32.0
93.0 6 21.8 17.8 39.6 6 32.3
6

Treatment
(dS/m)
1.4
15
20
30
40
1.4
15
20
30
40
1.4
15
20
30
40
1.4
12
18
24
30
1.4
12
18
24
30
1.4
12
18
24
30
Pl. ht.
( cm)
Prosopis glandulosa
176.3 20 238.9 26.5 226.6 492.0 36 246.8
165.3 15 189.5 41.1 192.0 422.6 28 192.5
157.8 10 154.9 47.2 143.2 345.3 22 153.5
157.3 6 99.3 26.2 78.6 204.1 15 116.5
127.7 5 92.0 26.1 63.2 181.3 14 100.3
Prosopis alba (0465)
189.0 17 212.4 9.1 118.3 339.7 27 148.0
170.8 11 141.8 54.0 112.2 308.0 21 144.7
152.7 13 140.1 20.1 101.2 261.4 19 131.0
150.8 7 141.3 32.5 80.0 253.8 16 115.9
145.5 5 125.2 15.8 72.7 213.7 15 103.8
Prosopis juliflora
205.0 17 257.0 26.5 115.0 398.4 27 135.3
170.0 13 195.4 24.0 97.1 316.5 22 115.5
164.5 13 171.1 20.8 93.4 285.4 21 98.3
151.0 10 153.9 18.6 59.7 232.2 14 94.0
137.5 6 104.2 17.1 51.3 172.6 13 83.7
Pongamia pinnata
120.0 4 65.7 34.0 121.8 221.5 21 118.8
90.5 4 28.8 18.7 62.9 110.3 14 84.5
85.8 3 32.4 16.3 35.9 84.6 12 64.5
78.0 2 28.3 42.7 71.0 10 52.3
62.3 2 21.5 10.0 24.8 56.3 8 41.3
Terminalia arjuna
132.0
117.0
110.8
105.0
89.6
63.2
61.8
54.0
45.6
32.8
No. of
brs/pl
18
13
13
8
7
10
3
3
2
Stem
wt.
(g)
113.4 58.9
90.3 38.3
60.5 19.9
26.4
28.3 21.3
Jatropha curcas
300.2
130.0
131.5
52.1
13.0
Leaf wt.
(g)
150.0
38.1
23.4
13.5
0 0.0
Root
wt.
(g)
123.3
78.6
61.2
34.9
28.7
204.6
45.0
43.6
19.2
16.1
Total
plant wt.
(g)
295.6
207.1
141.6
61.4
78.3
654.8
213.2
198.5
84.8
29.1
No. of
roots
20
15
10
7
6
22
14
13
10
7
Root
length
(cm)
81.8
78.6
72.0
62.4
59.2
65.0
50.0
46.8
46.3
43.3
Table 4 : Effect of five levels of salinity on different plant growth parameters of exotic species imported from
Australia in plants harvested after one and half year of salinization.
Treatment
(dS/m)
1.4
15
20
30
40
Pl. ht.
(cm)
189.3
154.8
125.8
96.0
70.3
No. of
branches
15
12
12
4
4
Acacia ampliceps
Stem Leaf
wt. (g) wt. (g)
128.0 164.0
111.7 130.5
45.4 91.3
31.4 65.5
23.7 56.6
Root
wt. (g)
105.0
66.4
60.2
36.7
28.6
Total
Pl. wt. (g)
397.0
308.7
196.9
133.6
108.9
No. of
Roots
23
19
15
12
9
Root
length
85
74
58
42
35
7

Treatment
(dS/m)
1.4
15
20
30
40
1.4
15
20
30
40
Pl. ht.
(cm)
216.0
164.8
160.8
107.5
70.0
152.0
131.7
131.7
119.7
101.7
No. of
branches
22
15
14
8
3
20
16
14
6
5
Stem
wt. (g)
Acacia saliciana
71.7 30.9
53.8 21.3
52.7 21.7
39.4 18.5
12.7 12.7
Casuarina glauca
64.5
38.1
15.0
12.7
5.8
Abbreviations- Ht.- height, wt.- weight, Brs.- branches
Leaf
wt. (g)
77.8
55.1
32.2
28.2
7.1
Root
wt. (g)
121.8
56.3
50.7
9.3
6.3
64.8
51.6
31.5
29.5
13.0
Total
Pl. wt. (g)
224.3
131.5
125.1
67.3
31.6
207.1
144.7
78.8
70.3
25.8
No. of
Roots
28
22
16
11
8
25
18
16
9
7
Root
length
92
85
78
62
41
78
66
51
39
31
Fig. 3 : Photographs of forest tree species grown in pots and continuously exposed to different levels of salinity
(1.4, 7.5, 12.0, 15.5 & 19.0 dS/ m for photographs on left side and 1.4, 18, 28, 36 & 40 dS/ m on right side).
Tamarix articulata
Prosopis juliflora
8

Acacia nilotica
Eucalyptus tereticornis
Prosopis glandulosa
9

Prosopis alba (0465)
Pongamia pinnata
Terminalia arjuna
Jatropha curcas
10

Cassia siamea
Acacia ampliceps and Acacia salicina (plants and roots)
Casuarina glauca plants and root
11

Fig. 4 : Salt tolerance curves and equations for different forest tree species.
Relative yield
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
y = -0.012x + 0.864
R² = 0.834
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0
-1
Root-zone salinity (dSm )
Relative yield
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
y = -0.0118x + 1.1153
R 2 = 0.6703
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0
-1
Root-zone salinity (dSm )
Salinity response curves of Prosopis juliflora and Tamarix articulata showing higher tolerance to salinity stress.
Relative yield
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
y = -0.024 x + 0.894
R² = 0.860
0 20 40
-1
Root-zone salinity (dSm )
Relative yield
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
y = -0.019 x + 0.8778
R 2 = 0.7824
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0
-1
Root-zone salinity (dSm )
Salinity response curves of Eucalyptus tereticornis and Pongamia pinnata showing moderate tolerance to salinity stress.
Relative yield
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
y = -0.024x + 0.9505
R 2 = 0.862
0.0 20.0 40.0
-1
Root-zone salinity (dSm )
Acacia nilotica -best fit line and equation
12

Relative Yield
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
Prosopis glandulosa
Salinity Curve : Shoot biomass
y = -0.0205 x + 1.053
R 2 = 0.8881
0.0 10.0 20 .0 30.0 40.0
Root-zone salinity (EC e in dSm -1 )
Prosopis glandulosa-best fit line and equation
Relative Yield
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
Jatropha curcas
Salinity Curve : Shoot biomass
y = -0.0219 x + 0.8361
R 2 = 0.7949
0.0
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0
Root-zone salinity (EC e in dSm -1 )
Jatropha curcas-best fit line and equation
Relative Yield
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
Terminalia arjuna
Salinity Curve : Shoot biomass
y = -0.0206 x + 0.8761
R 2 = 0.9054
0.0
0 10 20 30 40
Root-zone salinity (EC e in dSm -1 )
Terminalia arjuna-best fit line and equation
13

Acacia ampliceps
Threshold Slope: Shoot biomass
Acacia ampliceps : Shoot biomass
1.0
1.0
Relative yield
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
Relative yield
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
y = -0.0209x + 0.9941
R 2 = 0.9101
0.0
0 10 20 30 40
Root-zone Salinity (EC e in dS.m -1 )
Acacia ampliceps- Threshold model
0.0
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0
Root-zone Salinity (EC e in dS.m -1 )
Acacia ampliceps-best fit line
1.0
Acacia salicina
Threshold Slope: Shoot biomass
1.0
Acacia salicina :
Shoot biomass
Relative yield
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
Rel ative y ield
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
y = -0.021x + 0.8715
R 2 = 0.925
0.0
0 10 20 30 40
Root-zone Salinity (EC e in dS.m -1 )
Acacia salicina- Threshold model
0.0
0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00
Root-zone salinity (EC e in dSm -1 )
Acacia salicina-best fit line and equation
Casuarina glauca
Threshold Slope: Shoot biomass
1.0
Casuarina glauca-shoot biomass
1.0
0.8
y = -0.021x + 0.9496
R 2 = 0.914
Relative yield
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
Relative y ield
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Root-zone Salinity (EC e in dS.m -1 )
Casuarina glauca- Threshold model
0.0
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0
Root-zone salinity (EC e in dSm -1 )
Casuarina glauca best fit line and equation
Research Achievements of Work Package 1 at CSSRI Karnal
v Salinity tolerance of locally available species: Eucalyptus tereticornis, Prosopis species, (3) Acacia nilotica,
Terminalia arjuna, Tamarix articulata, Pongamia pinnata, Jatropha curcas and Cassia siamea; and exotic
germplasm : Acacia salicina, A. ampliceps & Casuarina glauca were worked out in pot trials and field studies.
Mechanisms of tolerance and growth were studied and salt tolerance curves were developed
v Tamarix articulata and Prosopis juliflora showed maximum tolerance followed by Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus
tereticornis, Prosopis alba and Prosopis glandulosa showing moderate salinity tolerance, whereas Terminalia
arjuna, Pongamia pinnata, Jatropha curcas and Cassia siamea coming at the bottom of the list
14

v Among the exotic species Acacia salicina, Acacia ampliceps and Casuarina glauca showed good salinity
tolerance and biomass production potential
Research Achievements of Wp 1 for Overall Project
§ More than 70 tree species/accessions (s/a) were tested for all countries with different soil, water and
climatic conditions.
§ Forty five (s/a) successfully survived under different salinity conditions.
§ In most cases, a given s/a have been tested at least in two different countries, whereas, local s/a have been
tested in one site (country as well).
§ Among local species/accessions, Prosopis alba, P. juilfora and P. glandulosa showed higher biomass. They
also showed higher C50 and C0 (22-36 dS/m) values, indicating that local species/accessions have high
potential for bioforestry projects.
§ Species that showed higher biomass and salinity tolerance include Acacia ampliceps accessions, with C 0
values varying from 21-41 dS/m. However, their threshold salinity ranges are very low (2.63-6.41 dS/m)
WORK PACKAGE 2
Objective of this work package was to acquire specific information on saline sites where the trees do prevail
naturally and the performance of these trees in various – saline environments thereby enabling conclusions
on best practices.
Methods
Selection of sites in partner countries was first based on broader criteria:
— The site should be classified as saline and/or sodic and/or waterlogged in its typical definition
— Plantations should be at least in a 5 ha area and of 5 years or older
— Accessibility of the plantation to the project staff
Within each sites, selection of individual trees were based on either (i) salinity/sodicity categories within the
plantation area; and (ii) growth categories of individual trees – if there was no heterogeneity on soil salinity
data.
Studies at the case study sites having plantations on saline and sodic lands - eight in India, five in Pakistan
and two in Bangladesh were conducted and /or monitored providing very useful data to establish
relationship between growth and biomass of the test species based on real long-term data on plantations on
saline and sodic lands.
Results
Studies at the case study sites having plantations on saline and sodic lands - eight in India , five in Pakistan
and two in Bangladesh were conducted and /or monitored providing very useful data to establish
relationship between growth and biomass of the test species based on real long-term data on plantations on
saline and sodic lands. CSSRI, Karnal conducted studies at five sites, namely Saraswati, Shivri (Lucknow)
and Karnal on sodic soils and Hisar and Sampla for saline soils to measure and estimate the potential of
mature salt tolerant trees in various saline environments.
Biomass Production in Sodic Soils
Biomass of trees at CSSRI, Karnal
Based on historic data available at CSSRI, Karnal, when trees were raised on alkali soil during 1980s, biomass
of ten years old Prosopis juliflora, Acacia nilotica, Casuarina equesitifolia and Eucalyptus tereticornis was
harvested and found to be 156, 129, 113 and 89 kg per tree total biomass (biomass obtained in annual loppings
in the previous years is not included) (Fig. 5).
15

-1
Biomass of Ten years old plantation (kg tree ) at CSSRI, Karnal on alkali soils (Historical data)
155.8
-1
Biomass (Kg tree )
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
129.2
112.6
89.1
0
P. juliflora A.nilotica C.equisetifolia E. tereticornis
Tree Species
Fig. 5 : Biomass (kg/tree) of ten years old trees harvested from sodic soil
Biomass of trees at Saraswati Range Forest
This case study site is situated at Bichhian Reserve Forest of Saraswati Range in Kurukshetra District,
Haryana on about 30 ha severely sodic land. The climate of the area is sub-tropical, semi-arid and monsoonic
type. The mean annual rainfall is about 52 cm, of which nearly 70% is received in the months of July to
September. The pan evaporation exceeds precipitation throughout the year except during the period of
monsoon rains. The soil of the experimental farm was highly sodic having pH more than 10 up to 2 m depth.
-1
The electrical conductivity (EC 2) of the surface 15 cm layer varied from 2.2 to 5.4 dS m . There is the presence
of precipitated CaCO3 layers at various depths with CaCO 3 content varying from negligible at the surface to
about 24% up to one meter depth. The soil was very low in organic carbon and nitrogen but sufficient in
phosphorus and potash. The groundwater used for irrigation was also sodic with pH 8.3 and Residual
-1
Sodium Carbonate (RSC) ranging from 7.2 to 10.8 me 1 .
Studies were initiated in 1992 and 30 multipurpose tree species were planted using auger holes filled with a
uniform soil mixture of original soil, 3 kg gypsum, 8 kg FYM, 20 g ZnSO 4 per auger hole. The trees were
established on high pH (>10) soil using high RSC water (7.2 – 10.8 meq/l) in a space of 2 m x 4 m. Based on the
survival and harvested above-ground biomass of 7 years old trees (harvested during 1998), Tamarix articulata
produced highest biomass followed by Acacia nilotica and Prosopis juliflora (Fig. 6). Eucalyptus tereticornis,
Pithecellobium dulce, Terminalia arjuna, Dalbergia sissoo, Cordia rothii, Kigelia pinnata and Parkinsonian aculeata
16

were also found tolerant to high sodicity with more than 70% survival rate but could not produce satisfactory
biomass.
Tamarix articulata ameliorated the soil by causing maximum reduction in pH and ESP in seven years and was
followed by Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica. Organic content in 0-15 cm layer increased from 0.05 to 0.28%
under Tamarix articulata, from 0.04 to 0.30% under P. juliflora and from 0.02 to 0.14% under Acacia nilotica in 7
years. The increase in organic carbon in the lower layers was, however lower.
Air- dried aboveground biomass of different tree species estimated after 7 years
of growth on highly sodic soil
100
90
97.3
80
69.8
Total Biomass (t/ha)
70
60
50
40
30
51.3
20
14.4
10
4
2.7 1.8
1.5 1.2 1.2
0
Ta An Pj Et Pd Ta Ds Cr Kp Pa
Tree Species
Fig. 6 : Air-dried above ground biomass (t/ha) of trees at Saraswati Range Forest site
Ta= Tamarix articulata, An= Acacia nilotica, Pj=Prosopis juliflora, Et= Eucalyptus tereticornis, Pd=Pithecellobium dulce,
Ta= Terminalia arjuna, Ds= Dalbergia sissoo, Cr= Cordia rothii, Kp= Kigellia pinnata, Pa= Parkinsonia acumilata
Biomass of trees grown on a highly alkali soil at Shivri farm, Lucknow
0
These studies were carried out at Shivri farm located 20 km away from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (26 47' 58” N
0
and 80 46' 24” E) at an elevation of 100 m. The annual rainfall varies from 700 to 1000 mm (average 800 mm),
0
80% of which occurs during the months of July to September. The mean monthly temperature varies from 21
0
C in January to 40.5 C in June. The evaporation exceeds the rainfall for all the months except July and August.
The ground water table fluctuates seasonally between 5-7 m.
Examination of the profiles revealed that the soil as alkali in nature, fine loamy, mixed, hypothermic and
classified as Sodic Ustochrept. The soil contained about 40 cm thick CaCO 3 concretion layer at about 80 to 120
cm. At the time of planting, soil pH at the surface was 10.6 and ranged from 10.0 to 10.6 in different layers up
to the depth of 1 m with ESP values of 89- 92.
Six to nine months old seedlings of 10 multipurpose tree species were planted in auger holes (45 cm diameter
at the surface and 20 cm at the bottom) 120 cm deep. Row to row and plant to plant distances were 4 m x 3 m.
The auger holes were filled with a mixture of original soil, 4 kg Gypsum, 10 kg Farm Yard manure and 20 kg
silt.
Survival of Prosopis juliflora, Terminalia arjuna, Pongamia pinnata, Acacia nilotica, Casuarina equisetifolia and
Pithocellobium dulce was > 95% after 10 years of planting. Maximum plant height after 10 years of planting was
observed in Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Casuarina equisetifolia and Prosopis juliflora. However,
maximum diameter at breast height was recorded in Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Prosopis
juliflora. These studies suggested that in addition to reclaiming these sodic soils, the tree-based systems also
increased microbial biomass, microbial N and C in otherwise very low or dead mass of degraded sodic soils.
17

Out of the ten species planted and harvested after 14 years growth on these highly deteriorated sodic soils
maximum biomass production was achieved in the Eucalyptus tereticornis, Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora and
Casuarina equisetifolia giving 231, 217, 208 and 197 kg bole weight per plant respectively, whereas Prosopis alba,
Pithocelbium dulce, Terminalia arjuna, Pongamia pinnata, Azhadirachta indica and Cassia siamea species provided
relatively lower bole weight of 133, 100, 97, 84, 83 and 52 kg per plant, respectively (Fig. 7). Thus these four
species, namely Eucalyptus tereticornis, Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora and Casuarina equisetifolia can be
helpful in reclamation and productive utilisation of these soils. The harvested boles are shown in Fig. 8.
Bolebiomass (kg/tree)
250
200
150
100
50
231
217
208
197
133
100 97
84 83
52
0
E. tereticornis
P. juliflora
A. nilotica
C. equisatifolia
P. alba
P. dulce
T. arjuna
Pongamia
A. indica
C.siamea
Fig. 7 : Biomass production (kg/tree) by 14 years old trees on a highly sodic soil in
Lucknow (Biomass figures represent biomass at the final harvest and
does not include lopped biomass over the previous years)
Fig. 8 : The boles of trees harvested after 14 years of growth in highly sodic soils
18

Table 5 : Regression equations of tolerant trees raised in highly alkaline soil at Shivri farm of CSSRI, RRS
Lucknow harvested after 15 years of planting (n=4).
Acacia nilotica Y = -1511.605 + 2.749 * X 1
+ 150.949 * X 2
Casuarina equisetifolia Y = -1236.578 + 2.012 * X 1
+ 124.334 * X 2
P. juliflora Y = -688.080 + 13.256 * X 1
+ 9.378 * X 2
E. tereticornis Y = -699.671 - 2.285 * X 1
+ 76.398 * X 2
Terminalia arjuna Y = -272.162 + 1.677 * X 1
+ 31.073 * X 2
Azadirachta indica Y = -20.296 + 2.242 * X 1
- 3.314 * X 2
Pongamia pinnata Y = -233.254 + 4.514 * X 1
+ 16.333 * X 2
P. alba Y = 203.152 + 5.820 * X 1
- 53.071 * X 2
R 2 = 0.999
St. E.of Estimate = 13.3
R 2 = 0.998
St. E. of Estimate = 11.9
R 2 = 0.987
St. E of Estimate = 29.4
R 2 = 0.974
St. E. of Estimate = 20.0
R 2 = 0.967
St. E. of Estimate = 10.2
R 2 = 0.916
St. E. of Estimate = 19.0
R 2 = 0.987
St. E. of Estimate = 4.5
A perfect fit
Pithocelubium dulce Y = -44.039 + 1.889 * X 1 + 5.565 * X 2
Cassia siamea Y = -88.602 + 1.683 * X 1 + 10.019 * X 2
R 2 = 0.960
St. E. of Estimate = 12.5
R 2 = 0.847
St. E. of Estimate = 8.1
Y is the estimated biomass (Kg / tree); X is the girth (cm) and X is height (m) of the tree. Measured values for biomass
1 2
from plants harvested have been used.
Biomass Production in Saline Soils
Biomass at Sampla : At Sampla study site, plantation was raised on saline soils by sub-surface planting and
irrigated initially with saline water in furrows. The initial ECe of soil ranged from 20 to 36 dS/m. The plants
100
98
96
90
80
70
67
-1
Biomass (t ha )
60
50
40
41
28
28
38
30
30
20
10
0
A.nilotica A. tortilis E.
camaldulensis
P. juliflora C.equisetifolia C. glauca C. obesa L. leucocephala
Fig. 9 : Biomass (t/ha) of trees grown in saline soil at Sampla
19

were raised in 4 m x 4 m spacing. After nine years of growth it was found that Prosopis juliflora was the most
successful species yielding highest biomass (harvested in 1998) followed by Casuarina glauca and Acacia
nilotica (Fig. 9).
Biomass of trees at Bir Reserve Forest Hisar
0 0
These studies were carried out at Bir Reserve Forest, Hisar (29 10'N and 75 44'E with altitude of 220 m above
mean sea level. The climate is semi-arid monsoon type with annual rainfall of around 471 mm with most of
the rainfall occurring during July to September. Open pan evaporation is around 1950 mm which exceeds the
rainfall throughout the year. The lowest temperatures are observed during the months of December and
January and frost also do occur. The maximum temperatures are observed in the months of May and June
0
with temperature rising to 47 C with an
0
average of 42 C during June. Saplings of 31
tree species were raised on highly degraded
calcareous soil and were planted in furrows
(15 cm deep and 60 cm wide) in auger holes
having plant to plant distance of 2.0 m and row
to row distance of 2.5 m. Plants were provided
irrigation using saline water (ECiw 8.5-10.5
dS/m) by applying water only to furrows in
the initial three years only. After eight years of
growth it was found that Tamarix articulata
produced the maximum biomass (harvested
in 2000-2001) followed by Acacia nilotica,
Prosopis juliflora and Eucalyptus tereticornis
(Fig. 10).
250
Biomass of trees at 8 & 16 years of age
200
After 8 Years
After 16 Years
-1
Biomass (t ha )
150
100
50
0
Ta An Pj At Cs Et Ai Af Pd Ma
Tree species
Fig. 10 : Biomass (t/ha) of trees grown at at Hisar
Af- Acacia farnesiana, An- Acacia nilotica, At - Acacia tortilis, Ai- Azadirachta indica, Cs – Cassia siamea, Et - Eucalyptus
tereticornis, Gu- Guazuma ulmifolia, Ma - Melia azedarach, Pd - Pithecelubium dulce, Pj - Prosopis juliflora, Ta- Tamarix
articulata
20

Tamarix articulata
Prosopis juliflora
Acacia nilotica
Acacia tortilis
Research Highlights of Work Package 2
Studies at the case study sites having plantations on saline and sodic lands - eight in India, five by CSSRI and
three by CAZRI were conducted and /or monitored providing very useful data to establish relationship
between growth and biomass of the test species based on real long-term data on plantations on saline and
sodic lands.
v
v
v
v
v
Actual data on biomass production potential of 5, 10 and 15 years old field plantations grown on severely
affected saline and sodic soils at five study areas were generated. These plantations were also monitored
in terms of plant growth parameters and their contribution towards soil physical, chemical properties
and environmental amelioration
Regression equations for biomass calculation of trees based on actual harvested total biomass (kg/tree),
girth at breast height (cm) and total height (m) were developed to predict biomass in similar situations
and age of the plants without harvesting the trees
These equations and data have been used to make non-destructive projections on biomass production at
regional and global levels for similar species in saline and sodic lands
These 7, 10 and14 years old plantations resulted in significant reclamation of highly deteriorated soils
and improvement in physical and chemical properties. Upper surface soils (0-30 cm) pH was reduced
from initial 10.6 to ~8.0
Regression curves relating harvested biomass, girth and plant height were developed and validated.
These curves have been used in estimation of biomass production potential of these species on saline and
21

sodic soils thus enabling non-destructive estimates at regional and global levels for similar saline and
sodic lands
v
v
Regression curves relating harvested biomass, girth and plant height were developed and validated. A
database was established in MS Access to link the different subsets of field data and be able to assess and
evaluate case study data.
The work carried out by CSSRI was highly appreciated as it provided very useful data to establish
relationship between growth and biomass of the test species based on real long-term data on plantations
on saline and sodic lands.
WORK PACKAGE 3
The objective of WP 3 is to assess and provide the data and information that are needed to characterize and
describe the eco-physiological conditions for the production of biomass in agro forestry systems in saline
areas.
Generally the conditions for biomass production and the biomass yields strongly depend on the ecophysiological
site conditions such as soil properties and water supply. Thus, information on soil
characteristics and water resources are prerequisite for the characterization of saline areas with respect to the
conditions they provide for agro forestry.
Therefore the objective of this work package was to assess and provide the data and information that are
needed to characterize and describe the eco-physiological conditions for the production of biomass in agro
forestry systems in saline areas with the following conditions:
n
n
n
n
Easy reclaimable saline wastelands suitable for agricultural crops excluded
Only moderately to strongly salt affected soils considered (>8dS/m)
Only irrigation for establishment stage; use of groundwater permitted
Brackish water potential suitable, providing good drainage and leaching
Potential areas and biomass production based on models were mapped. Collected spatial data was
integrated with pot trial - and case study area data using SASOTER – land suitability modeling and GIS
spatial database.
Deliverables
Database on qualities and quantities of water & soil resources in the different saline environments in the case
study areas
Characterization of water resources for the irrigation of biomass plantations in saline areas
GIS-based maps of salinity (water and soil) and cropping potentials for saline areas in the participating
countries
Accordingly, hydrological data available at regional and local scale in case study areas were collected and
reviewed. A GIS analysis was performed to find potential areas requiring irrigation in Haryana, India based
on climate related factors. Also using Haryana as a sample, cost per unit for groundwater irrigation was
estimated district-wise based on a sample field survey. A water resources overview for India, Pakistan and
Bangladesh was delivered to University of Hohenheim.
All available Salt affected soil (SAS) maps for the 12 Indian states were updated by University of Hohenheim
with additional information from the paper “Soil Resource Maps” provided by CSSRI. Some 300 soil profiles
were put into the SOTER database. In addition, the digital SAS maps were overlaid with the groundwater
depth maps for the further development of the SOTER structure. After that the new terrain components were
manually defined in MS Excel and imported into the IBM DBII database developed for BIOSAFOR called
SASOTER.
22

A test simulation for the suitability of Acacia, Prosopis and Eucalyptus based on the collected tree
requirements from literature was carried out for the Pilot area Haryana state. The number of limiting factors
for the tree growth at the regional scale were discussed and the thresholds refined according to the expert
knowledge in the BIOSAFOR consortium.
• A regional biomass production model was developed. All available Salt affected soil (SAS) maps were
updated by University of Hohenheim with additional information provided by CSSRI. The SOTER
database for BIOSAFOR was further developed and finalised with the input of some 500 soil profiles. For
the further development of the SOTER structure digital SAS maps were overlaid with the groundwater
depth maps. From the growth parameters biomass accumulation was calculated. Furthermore a mean
annual increase (MAI) of the biomass accumulation was calculated for each tree species. Linear
regressions of the relation between soil ECe and MAI for the most prominent tree species at the Case
Study Areas were established.
For WP 3 a regional biomass production model was developed. All available Salt affected soil (SAS) maps
were updated by University of Hohenheim with additional information provided by CSSRI.
The SOTER database for BIOSAFOR was further developed and finalised with the input of some 500 soil
profiles. For the further development of the SOTER structure digital SAS maps were overlaid with the
groundwater depth maps.
The required hydrological data was collected and harmonised at case study scale and at regional scale and a
water resources overview for India, Bangladesh and Pakistan was performed. A GIS was developed with
hydrological and salinity data received from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. GIS analysis have been carried
out on the locations affected by waterlogging in India pre and post monsoon. GIS analysis was carried out to
find potential areas requiring irrigation in Haryana, India based on climate related factors. For the same area
per unit for groundwater irrigation was estimated.
Recent data on salt affected areas in India has been converted in GIS format, harmonized at the same scale
and projection, and imported into the database. For Bangladesh groundwater salinity data was digitized and
interpolated. Finally Indian state boundaries were updated in the current geo-database of BIOSAFOR.
From the growth parameters biomass accumulation was calculated. Furthermore a mean annual increase
(MAI) of the biomass accumulation was calculated for each tree species. The sensitivity of parameters like
soil ECe, pH groundwater depth etc. was tested. Linear regressions of the relation between soil ECe and MAI
for the most prominent tree species at the CSA's were established.
WORK PACKAGE 4
Salinity mainly occurs in areas with high evaporation, little precipitation level, high oceanic water tables
and/or irrigated agriculture. Typical areas with salinity problems are river deltas in arid or semi-arid areas,
inland areas with shallow watertables or coastal deserts. Already today salinity is affecting an area
responsible for as much as 10% of all agricultural output and every year the area of salt affected land increases
by 10 million hectares.
Objective of this work package is to characterize and quantify the arid and semi-arid areas affected by salinity
and to assess their (global) biomass production potential.
Conclusions
• Large potentials from slightly and moderately salt-affected areas: 40 and 17 EJ per year
• Small potentials from highly and extremely salt-affected areas: 2 and 3 EJ per year
• Current land use is a limiting factor, but potentials are significant
• Further research: reliability of the yield estimates, accuracy of spatial data, current use of shrub and
herbaceous covered areas, more detailed cost assessments, more species.
23

WORK PACKAGE 5
The objective of this work package is to identify promising agro-systems for biosaline biomass systems, to
describe biomass supply and export chains and to analyse these chains under economic and environmental
aspects.
The attractiveness of biomass production systems on saline areas (biosaline biomass systems) depends on
their economic performance and whether other services, like for example the regeneration of degraded land,
can be combined with these systems. The objective of this work package is to identify promising agrosystems
for biosaline biomass systems, to describe biomass supply and export chains and to analyse these chains
under economic and environmental aspects.
Optimized biosaline biomass systems, including multiple land use options, will in discussion with the
project partner and with stakeholder in the case study areas, be chosen for those saline areas that have been
identified as being promising in terms of biomass production potentials. The choice will consider tree
specific information on the biomass properties for energetic and material (pulp and paper) use as analysed in
WP2. Biomass supply chains, including the production, harvest, storage, transport (also international trade)
and use of the biomass will be described in detail. An economic analysis of these biosaline biomass chains
will be performed to show the biomass supply costs and to compare the competitiveness of different biomass
supply chains. Ecological (e.g. water use, demand for agrochemicals, GHG emissions, energy consumption)
and social criteria (e.g. employment effects, additional income for farmers) with relevance for the
performance of biosaline biomass systems will be identified and the supply chains will be evaluated by these
criteria. Tools like LCA and environmental impact analysis will be used to perform the chain analysis.
Deliverables
Economic potentials of biomass production on saline areas
Socio-economic and environmental performance of promising biosaline biomass supply chains and
identification of sustainable biosaline biomass supply chains.
To estimate economic potentials of saline biomass production based on cropping potentials and on
production costs. Cost calculations were carried out based on a generalised crop production system for forest
plantations. Data were taken from the literature.
• Fertilisation: The costs of fertilizers were estimated using the nutrient balance methodology.
Nutrients taken up by the crop during its growth must be replenished by fertilizers in order to maintain
the soil's nutrient composition.
• Harvesting: Two levels of mechanisation were defined, traditional (manual harvesting, using chainsaws
and limited use of other machines) and fully mechanised. Which harvesting system is applied depends
on the labour costs in each country, so for each country the harvest system with the lowest costs was
determined.
• Maintenance: A manual system in developing countries is assumed and a mechanized system in
economies of transition and developed countries.
Activities carried out
Collection of data on costs of biosaline agroforestry in the case study areas through questionnaires developed
and distributed by the University of Utrecht.
WORK PACKAGE 6
The objective of this work package was to elaborate recommendations for the implementation and
sustainable performance of biosaline biomass systems and to show how policy measures could support a
sustainable biomass supply from biosaline biomass production.
24

Biosaline biomass could contribute to a sustainable biofuel supply of developing countries and of the
European Union (EU). For the EU this is true as well for biomass produced on European sites (e.g. in Spain) as
for biomass that will be imported from other than EU countries. Objective of this work package is to elaborate
recommendations for the implementation and sustainable performance of biosaline biomass systems and to
show how policy measures can support a sustainable biomass supply from biosaline biomass production.
Description of work
Based on the information gained mainly from WP2, WP4 and WP5 and in joint discussion with the whole
project group recommendations will be elaborated on:
• the optimal choice of saline areas for biomass production
• the optimal performance of biosaline agrosystems in terms of choice of species and varieties and
production technology
• the optimal biosaline biomass systems with regard to economic and environmental performance
• implementation of sustainable biosaline biofuel supply and trade chains
• policy measures that can support the implementation of sustainable biomass supply from biosaline
biomass production workshops to inform the local stakeholders of biosaline biomass chains and EU
politicians will be performed by the DEV participants. A final workshop to present project results was
held in New Delhi in April 2010.
Deliverables
Identification of the overall constraints for the implementation and sustainable performance of biosaline
biomass systems
Analysis of - and recommendations on - policy measures to support a sustainable biomass supply from
biosaline biomass production
Background documents to be presented at the workshops on biosaline biomass in DEV countries
Policy briefs and dissemination materials for the workshop on biosaline biomass in Brussels
Research Achievements Overall
Regression curves relating harvested biomass, girth and plant height were developed and validated. A
database was established in MS Access to link the different subsets of field data and be able to assess and
evaluate case study data. The work carried out by CSSRI was highly appreciated. They were able to provide
very useful data to establish relationship between growth and biomass of the test species based on real longterm
data on plantations on saline and sodic lands.
Studies at the case study sites having plantations on saline and sodic lands - eight in India, five in Pakistan
and two in Bangladesh were conducted and /or monitored providing very useful data to establish
relationship between growth and biomass of the test species based on real long-term data on plantations on
saline and sodic lands.
— Regression equations for biomass calculation of trees based on actual harvested total biomass (kg/tree),
girth at breast height (cm) and total height (m) were developed to predict biomass in similar situations
and age of the plants
— These equations and data have been used to make non-destructive projections at regional and global
levels for similar saline and sodic lands
Hydrological data available at regional and local scale in case study areas including India, Pakistan and
Bangladesh were collected and reviewed. A GIS analysis was performed to find potential areas requiring
25

irrigation in Haryana, India based on climate related factors. Also using Haryana as a sample, cost per unit
for groundwater irrigation was estimated district-wise based on a sample field survey. A water resources
overview for India, Pakistan and Bangladesh was delivered to University of Hohenheim.
All available Salt affected soil (SAS) maps for the 12 Indian states were updated by University of Hohenheim
with additional information from the paper “Soil Resource Maps” provided by CSSRI. Some 300 soil profiles
were put into the SOTER database. In addition, the digital SAS maps were overlaid with the groundwater
depth maps for the further development of the SOTER structure. After that the new terrain components were
manually defined in MS Excel and imported into the IBM DBII database developed for BIOSAFOR called
SASOTER.
A test simulation for the suitability of Acacia, Prosopis and Eucalyptus based on the collected tree
requirements from literature was carried out for the Pilot area Haryana state. Number of limiting factors for
the tree growth at the regional scale were discussed and the thresholds refined according to the expert
knowledge in the BIOSAFOR consortium.
Economic potentials of saline biomass production based on cropping potentials and on production costs
were estimated. Cost calculations were carried out based on a generalised crop production system for forest
plantations with data are taken from the literature.
Third Annual Meeting of the Project, "BIOSALINE (AGRO)
FORESTRY: Remediation of Saline Wastelands through
Production of Renewable Energy, Biomaterials and Fodder"
at University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany from 12 to 15
June, 2009.
Scientists from Biosafor project Review meeting being
shown the bioenergy and biodiesel experiments on alkali
fields at CSSRI Karnal farms.
Acknowledgements
Authors express their sincere thanks to the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), New Delhi and
to Dr. S. Ayappan, Director General, ICAR and Dr. A. K. Singh, Deputy Director General (NRM), ICAR, Dr.
Jeannette Hoek, Director, OASE, Amsterdam and Co-ordinator, Biosafor Project for approvals and
guidance. Thanks are due to the European Union, Brussels for financing the consortium project. We also
acknowledge the contributions made by Mr. R. K. Prasad, Technical Assistant, Dr. Manoj K. Singh, Research
Associate, Dr. Y. P. Singh, Principal Scientist, CSSRI, RRS, Lucknow and other colleagues. Thanks are due to
Mr. Randhir Singh for help in its publication.
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