Export of timber from Bihar will be severely hit this year as most of the seasum tree plantations have perished. Farmers and the state forest department were of the view that most of the plantations have dried up following the emergence of a new type of virus which attacks only seasum trees. However, a report submitted by the head of forest pathology division, Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh has cited water logging as the major reason for the cause of death of the trees. North Bihar has poor irrigation facilities and the land is usually marshy and water-logged throughout the year.The chief conservator of forest, Bihar, Shahdeo Jha said, "The dying of seasum (dilbergia sissoo) is a matter of concern. The trees grow in loose and aerated soil. The entire north Bihar suffers from water logging problem and it enables the fungus Fusarium solani to attack the trees. Water blocks the air from reaching the roots of the tree, threatening the survival of the trees."
Jha said each tree costs around Rs 2,500 and it grows upto 5 feet. To develop a tree takes over 25 years. Plantation is done usually in linear fashion and one hectare area of plantation can have at least 1000 trees. With the entire north Bihar affected by water logging and fungus the total loss could amount to crores of rupees. "A survey is still being conducted and we are unable to asses the loss in monetary terms," he said.
The three-member team from the forest pathology department, Dehradun, which visited places including Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga by road between March 16 and March 21 said in their report that the roots of dead and dying trees showed rotting of tap and deeply buried lateral roots to varying extent. The condition of roots was suggestive of their death due to prolonged submergence in water during the preceding humid months.
The reason for the trees' death in the area ranging from Uttar Pradesh to Punjab is attributed to either high water table or prolonged water logging conditions during the humid months. Bihar naturally isblessed by good monsoon every year. The report by MD Melhotra and JDS Negi, two scientists of the forest pathology department, said, "The primary cause of mortality in sissoo appears to be physiogenic and the fungus formed when the roots are weakened and killed due to prolonged submergence. Debarking of trees by people is another reason.
The scientists said in the areas of mixed plantation where sissoo is a dominant species, the trees remained healthy despite odd conditions. "This provides a clue to overcome the problem of sissoo mortality," the report said.
The scientists suggested that the dead and the dying trees should be felled without delay and their timber salvaged as the retention of such trees will prove unproductive as they are liable to attack healthy trees. The farmers should be advised to take up mixed cropping and not pure sissoo plantations, they said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
