Abstract
This paper highlights the very useful information on shoot-cuttings plantation of Willow as well as operational mechanism, approaches and framework developed by the farmers for early establishment and maximum biomass production in cold desert of the Lahaul valley. The highest shoot-cuttings survival of Willow was at middle altitude (Hinsa; 80.3±10.53%) followed by Jahlma (73.75±12.11%), lower altitude (Kuthar; 68.6±11.45%) and lowest at high altitude (Khoksar; 52.4±10.38%) villages. The emergence of the number of sprouts from newly planted shoot-cuttings were highest (P<0.05, F=3.87) at middle altitude (Hinsa; 23.03±2.61) followed by Jahlma (19.83±1.14), lower altitude (Kuthar; 17.58±1.07) and lowest at highest altitude (Khoksar; 14.57±1.99) villages. To generate the new shoot-cuttings plantations from the healthy parental material, genetic improvement and selection of new clones suitable for the cold desert environment have been suggested.
Keywords
Emergence, Gregariously, Adventituous, Electric conductivity, Sprouts, Rehabilitation