Special Public Works Programmes - SPWP - Planting Trees - An Illustrated Technical Guide and Training Manual (ILO - UNDP, 1993, 190 p.): 6. Maintaining plantations: 6.1 Weed control

Special Public Works Programmes - SPWP - Planting Trees - An Illustrated Technical Guide and Training Manual (ILO - UNDP, 1993, 190 p.)

(introduction...)

Preface

Introduction

1. Planning a plantation

(introduction...)

1.1 What regeneration method to use?

1.2 What species to establish?

1.3 Whether to plant a single tree species or a mixture of several?

1.4 What type of planting stock to use?

1.5 What planting pattern to use and how many seedlings to plant?

1.6 When to plant?

1.7 How to protect the seedlings?

1.8 The plantation plan

2. Preparing the planting site

(introduction...)

2.1 Clearing vegetation

2.2 Ground preparation

2.3 Marking where to dig the holes

2.4 Digging holes

2.5 Soil and water conservation measures

3. Handling seedlings

(introduction...)

3.1 Packing and transport of seedlings

3.2 Storing seedlings

3.3 Quality of seedlings and grading

3.4 Stripping and trimming

3.5 Transporting seedlings from the road to the planting site

4. Planting techniques

(introduction...)

4.1 Digging the holes

4.2 On-site distribution of the seedlings

4.3 Planting

4.4 Use of fertilizers

5. Adapting planting techniques to different site conditions

(introduction...)

5.1 Favourable sites

5.2 Sites with high grass

5.3 Waterlogged sites

5.4 Dry sites

5.5 Eroding slopes and rocky sites

5.6 Steep slopes

5.7 Sand dunes

5.8 High altitudes with snow

6. Maintaining plantations

(introduction...)

6.1 Weed control

6.2 Protection from grazing

6.3 Fire prevention

6.4 Protection from insects, diseases and rodents

6.5 Fertilizers

6.6 Replacement planting

7. Planting trees outside woodlots and forests

(introduction...)

7.1 Trees in crop and grazing land

7.2 Alley cropping

7.3 Intercropping in rotation

7.4 Intercropping for tree planting

7.5 Shelterbelts

7.6 Road-sides and river-sides

7.7 Homesteads and public places

8. Organizing the work

(introduction...)

8.1 Planning

8.2 Workforce

8.3 Labour requirements over the year

8.4 Worknorms

8.5 Coordinating the work

8.6 Tools and equipment

8.7 Supervision and control

8.8 Records to keep

9. Working conditions

(introduction...)

9.1 Hours of work and rest

9.2 Nutrition and amenities

9.3 Wage systems

9.4 Training, job content and labour-management relations

9.5 Safety

Appendices - Technical sheets

Appendix 1 - Surveying and mapping of large planting sites

Appendix 2 - Laying out and preparing soil and water conservation structures

Appendix 3 - Survival count

Some useful guides/handbooks

Titles in the series of training elements and technical guides for SPWP workers

6.1 Weed control

Grasses, herbs and other vegetation on the planting site compete with the seedlings for light, water and nutrients. Cutting or removing the vegetation from around the seedlings reduces the competition. If weeding is neglected, the seedlings will die. How often and in which way the weeding is carried out depends on the climate, the soil, the species planted and the size and quality of the seedlings used.

The more hot and humid the climate, the more weeding operations are needed. Depending on weed competition in some places it will be enough to weed once during the first year. In other places three or more weedings per year might be needed. If small and poor quality seedlings are used, the number of weeding operations needed will increase. As a general rule of thumb there should be:

2-3 weedings during the first year after planting;
1-2 weedings during the second year after planting;
0-1 weeding during the third year after planting.

Weeding must be carried out early, before the seedlings suffer from being smothered by weeds. Since the growth of grasses is fastest during the rainy season, the first weeding should begin immediately after the planting is finished at the end of the rainy season. If the weeding is carried out too late, the seedling will not be able to survive the sudden exposure to light after the weeding and it will die.

Cutting grass and other vegetation is a less effective form of weeding, since the grass roots remain in the soil and keep competing with the roots of the trees. On sites where competing vegetation is less vigorous and where more weed-tolerant tree species have been planted, however, cutting weeds in a 1m-wide circle around each tree seedling is sufficient.

Weed control

2-3 weedings during the 1st year

1-2 weedings during the 2nd year

0-1 weeding during the 3rd year

If weeding is too late, the seedling will die because of the sudden exposure

Grass-cutting on the entire site is also a way of harvesting the grass. It is recommended in areas where the grasses grow high and are hard-stemmed, and also when seedlings are small, because the light competition and physical damage of the tall grass can suppress seedling growth. It also helps to reduce the risk of bush fires. If grass is cut for fodder the nutritive value will be highest when the grass is young and green immediately after the rains, before flowering. If the grass is not carried away from the plantation and used it should be mulched around the seedling. If thick enough the mulching layer will suppress the further growth of weeds, reduce water loss and provide the seedling with nutrients. Mulching may, however, attract termites and rodents and should be avoided in areas where such damage is common.

Cutting the vegetation alone is not adequate on sites with heavy grass competition, when the seedlings are small and for some weed-sensitive species (teak, some eucalyptus species). Hoeing should also be done, preferably in dry weather. At least one square metre around the plant should be hoed.

A very effective way to ensure that the weeding is carried out well and that the seedlings are protected is to intercrop trees and agricultural crops for the first 1-2 years after planting. For a description see section 7.4. Tools required for grass-cutting are the same as for clearing. They are described in section 2. 1.

A sickle is an additional tool, useful for cutting soft stem grasses. It should be used if the seedlings are small and difficult to locate, because the cut is easy to control. The scythe is otherwise preferable since it permits work in an upright position. A sickle weighs about 0.3 kg and the length of the sickle blade is about 0.3 m. It is used with one hand and the cutting swing is made away from the seedling.

It might be necessary to remove climbing vines in moist and humid regions. The best method is to use a Y-shaped stick to push the vine up. The vines thus removed from the tree should not be cut, as they would sprout again, but curled up and deposited at the base of the tree.

Grass-cutting

Grass-cutting decreases competition and provides fodder

Figure

Mulching:

- suppresses weedgrowth
- reduces waterloss
- provides nutrition

Often both grass-cutting and hoeing is needed

Sickle

Removal of climbers