Eucalyptus is one of the species, which produces quality pulpwood for paper and newsprint making. Therefore, Eucalyptus has been planted in an area of 45,032 ha. in the Corporation.  Two species namely Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis were planted extensively depending upon the soil, rainfall and temperature prevailing in Corporation.  These two species are highly suitable to semi-aired conditions like Tamilnadu State.

The mean yield of Eucalyptus plantation per ha. in a rotation of seven years is about 20 tonnes.  Annually the Corporation used to supply between 75,000 and 1,00,000 MT. of pulpwood to wood based industries mainly M/s. Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited and M/s. Seshasayee Paper and Boards Limited.  The production of pulpwood per annum is in the order from the paper mills of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka States due to acute scarcity of raw materials over there. The surplus pulpwood is being disposed to the other paper companies in the present premises at the rate of 1,100 per M.T  plus 5% administration charges.

Until 1999, the Eucalyptus plantations were raised mainly through seedlings of Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis and as the plantations were raised through seeds. The variability was high resulting in low yield over the years. In order to increase the yield per unit area, the Corporation launched clonal forestry in Eucalyptus through shoot cutting methods (macro propagation technique). Superior clones identified after series of trials tested in different fields which would yield 3 to 4 times more than the present yield.  Therefore, the Corporation has launched clonal forestry from the new millennium 2000 – 01.  Superior tested clones of Eucalyptus brought from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu are being utilized in this programme.  Annually, the Corporation is tackling about 1,500 ha., under Eucalyptus clonal plantation from the year 2000 onwards.  So far the Corporation has raised 5,000 ha., under Eucalyptus clonal plantations and is taking up 3,000 ha., every year.  The clonal plantations planted in various tract in the Corporation are excepted to yield between 40 MT per ha., in the poor sites  and 100 MT per ha., quality clones in the productivity high potential sites.  The Corporation has programmed to harvest clonal plantation at the end of 7^th year. Depending on their performance, the rotation will also be reduced  in drien areas to overcome the moiture stress. The growth parameter taken in various field in respect of different clones in Eucalyptus are furnished with photographs of 1999 and 2000 plantations.

CLONAL MULTIPLICATION AREA

LABOURERS PLACED THE DRESSED SHOOT CUTTINGS INTO THE POLY BAGS FILLED WITH PROPER ROOTING MEDIUM

AN AERIAL VIEW OF MIST CHAMBERS AND HARDENING SHED FOR PROPAGATION OF EUCALYPTUS CLONAL PLANTS

ROOTED SHOOT CUTTING SEEN IN THE MIST CHAMBER AT ARIMALAM

This work is started in the Corporation since 1997 onwards.  This Intensive Cultural Operation work which is being undertaken in the 3^rd year plantation after the completion of 1^st or 2^nd rotations involves thinning of unwanted, small coppice shoots from each stem retaining three to  four promising stems from each stump for better growth and development and clearing and uprootal  of weeds, ploughing to conserve moistures and to decompose organics litters.  This method helps in water conservation and promotes growth of trees vigorously and increases yield by 5 to 10 tonnes per ha., depending upon of the soil and rainfall.

1993 ARIMALAM RANGE UNIT- V  (155.68 Ha)

In order to increase the productivity of the land, series of research works are being undertaken from the matured Eucalyptus plantations in the Corporation  and in private plantations with the help of Junior Technical Assistant.  Genetic combing is one of the methods  to select the best phenotypes among the populations under the tree improvement work.  About 85 lakhs Eucalyptus in the last 3 years have been screened and 120 plus trees have been selected. From these, clones have been produced. All these clones are subjected to multi Location Trials in all the 6 Regions along with the ruling clonal proven varieties. Many  clones of the recent selections are exhibiting superiority over the best existing clones. Clones that are most suitable for problem soils like saline-alkaline and drought prone sites are being identified and multiplied.

Besides, the Corporation has also launched a programme to introduce Eucalyptus grandis, a South Africa clone known for tolerant towards extreme heat. The clone 283 Eucalyptus grandis from South Africa has been put on trial  at 2 places over last 2 years at Arimalam and Vridhachalam.  The growth of the Eucalyptus grandis is more or less equal to one of the best clones of  I.T.C Badhrachalam, although they have survived very well during the adverse conditions. Series of  trial in another 2 to 3 localities is being undertaken during the year 2003-04.The trials on Eucalyptus urophylla X Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus alba X Eucalyptus tereticornis Hybrid exhibiting heterotic vigour  are also under way in Vridhachalam and Pudukottai Regions in order to increase the productivity per unit area.  

The provenance trial Experiments laid out during 1981 of Eucalyptus  tereticornis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis by Dr.G. Kumaravelu, the present Managing Director of TAFCORN have brought to focus the superiority of provenances of Kennedy River, Laura and Mt Garbine of Australia when compared to all the other provenances including the local variety cultivated for many years.  Scientific article was published on this. (Provenances of Eucalyptus camaldulensis DEHNH and Eucalyptus tereticornis SM suitable to South Indian conditions - Results of an IUFRO Trial, G. Kumaravelu et al.Ann For. 3(2) : 129-133, 1995)

Based on this, Kennedy River and Laura provenance seeds were imported from Australia and during 1994-95, 10 ha. of area in all the 6 Regions were planted with these seedlings.  After 7 years, they were harvested and have shown 300% more yield than the normal variety in terms of pulpwood. It is interesting to find that in a pure lateritic soil with a mean annual rainfall of around 900 m.m, in rain fed conditions, Kennedy River provenance has yielded 80 Tonnes/ ha at 7th  year. During the current year, 2004, efforts are undertaken to import these seeds from CSIRO, Australia to plant about 500 ha.