Technological Advances in Raising of Quality Planting Material of Tree Species in Temperate Regions

Effective forestry relies on superior planting material produced through reliable nursery practices that yield vigorous seedlings. This sustains temperate Himalayan ecosystems, supports afforestation and climate change mitigation, and meets market demands by overcoming challenges in seed production, testing, and storage. Raising of Quality planting material is important primary input for productive forestry and for any afforestation program. Mitigation of climate change and carbon credit schemes have increased the scope of this subject. Large quantities of seed are needed every year to raise the nursery stock for propagating the desired plant species. A plentiful supply of quality seed i.e., high in viability and vigour, is therefore one of the prerequisites to make such activities successful. Nursery raising of both conifers and broadleaved becomes important for sustaining life in temperate Himalayan region and to conserve and also a means to distribute the plant germplasm. QPM is essential input in forestry for maximizing revenues, improving adaptability to adverse environmental conditions and meeting quality raw material requirements of markets. Guaranteed performance in terms of higher yield and quality of crops could be achieved with reliable planting material and good management practices. The agroforestry (TOF) in the country is mostly practiced on private farmlands, community lands and on government wastelands. In view of the increasing importance of quality planting material in forestry and the numerous challenges in handling, testing and storage of forest seed, present volume is very important for the benefit of forest seed/nursery industry.