COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING GUIDELINE - SPGS

LAWLOG PRODUCTION GRANT SCHEME
3.5 Where do I get the seed/
seedlings for planting?
One of the determinants of your plantation success is
the use of high quality tree seed or seedlings. Quality
here mainly refers to whether the seed is an improved
variety (i.e. has superior growth & timber characteristics
and good health).
3.5.1 Where do I get high quality
seed?
At the moment SPGS and NFA’s Namanve Tree Seed
Centre are involved in importing improved seed from
Australia, Brazil and South Africa for sale to private
planters in Uganda. These are the current approved
sources for seed orchard seed of Pinus caribaea var
hondurensis (PCH) and Eucalyptus grandis. Trees from
these improved seed sources will generally grow faster
and straighter than locally collected seed. That is why
you have to pay for their price!
The impressive 3-year old demonstration planting of Pinus caribaea (Australian
seed) at Kasagala Forest Reserve, Nakasongola. This is the result of careful planning,
using only high quality seed, good land preparation and intensive weeding.
Tree nurseries require much skill in establishment
and management. You need properly trained and
experienced nursery workers and constant supervision.
Often many people have wasted money buying an
expensive improved seed and they fail to raise seedlings.
Therefore, unless operating on a large scale (say planting
100ha/year) you are advised not to get involved in
another complicated business of starting your own tree
nursery. Small growers are thereby recommended to
buy their seedlings from a recommended nursery near
your area.
3.5.2 Where do I get high quality
seedlings?
You can get good seedlings from the recommended
3.5.2 Where do I get high quality seedlings?
nurseries as shown on table 4:
You can get good seedlings from the recommended nurseries as shown on table 4
below:
Table 4: Seedling nursery location and contact
NO Name of nursery District Contact person Phone
National Forestry Authority
1 Namanve NTC Kampala Stephen 0772-561227
2 Mubende Mubende Joseph 0772-468691
3 Mbarara Mbarara David 0772-466498
4 Masindi Masindi Robert 0782-241870
5 Kityerera Mayuge Stephen 0772-966218
6 Katugo Nakasongola Stephen 0772-966218
7 Gulu Gulu Jimmy 0772-645040
8 Arua Arua Stephen 0772-925762
Private Tree Nurseries
9 Busoga Forest Co. Mayuge Jossy 0772-471164
10 Global Woods Kiboga Shedrack 0772-384024
11 Kamusiime Memorial Bushenyi Brenda 0772-452680
12 Ankole Woods & Mbarara Robert 0772-420197
Timber Co.
14 Norwegian A.G Lira Macapili 0772-615132
13 Banda Kampala Fred Ahimbisibwe 0772-392175
14 Nakasongola Nakasongola Fred Ahimbisibwe 0772-392175
15 Uganda Media Trust Mbarara Pathius 0772-457546
16 for Environment Ntungamo Pathius 0772-457546
3.5.3 What are the characteristics of a good seedling?
A seedling of good quality should have the following characteristics:
i. Healthy (of normal green colour without signs of pests and disease attack).
3.5.3 What are the
ii. Best height is from 15cm to 25cm tall measured from root collar.
iii. Not characteristics those that have stayed in the nursery of from a the previous good season.
PHOTO seedling?
5
A seedling
3.5.4 What
of
are
good
the characteristics
quality should
of a poor
have
seedling?
the following
A poor seedling unfit for planting has the following characteristics:
characteristics:
i. Generally not healthy; leaves are not dark green but yellowish or brown or dry
spots on leaves or needles.
ii. Abnormally taller shoot (stem) compared with its root length (2:1 shoot: root
i. Healthy ratio acceptable). (of normal green colour without signs of
pests and disease attack).
iii. Its main stem is branched into two equal branches in form of letter ‘Y’.
iv. If you lift and over turn to see the bottom of the seedling you find its roots are
protruding out side and the side roots grow while coiling around the pot.
ii. Best height is from 15cm to 25cm tall measured
from root collar.
iii. Not those that have stayed in the nursery from the
previous season.
13
Local P. oocarpa; You get trees with poor stem form, non
uniformity and of low growth rates which may catch lower
market value 10
Community Tree Planting Guideline