Casuarina junghuhniana for sustainable energy development:

Some snippets from IFGTB 'Tree Growers Mela -2012:

Part - 6

Casuarina junghuhniana for sustainable energy development:

 

A detailed report on 'Casuarina junghuhniana for sustainable energy development' is the joint work of Mr.S.K.Shanmuga sundaram, IFS, Present Chief Conservator of Forests, Tirunelveli (Former Head of the Department of Biodiversity, IFGTB) and Dr.R.Gopalan and presented as Power point by the former professionally to the audience, who are mostly farmers, on the concluding day of the Tree growers Mela - 2012.

This report analyzes in detail the issues involved in "Energy management, Growth Vs Energy, Types of energy, Energy Resources, Energy efficiency, Current Energy Demand, Energy consumption, Energy scenario in India and Biomass power".

From the above presentation, I would like to bring to our readers the main subject of 'Utilizing Casuarina for Biomass power production' only. 

This report is generated from the PowerPoint presentation of Mr.S.K.Shanmuga Sundaram,IFS and the contents in its entirety and  the projections / assessment made here are his personal views only.

Those readers who may differ on the issues of yield, profit from Casuarina junghuhniana, matters relating to energy conversion and the quantum of power production are requested to express their views here to upgrade this article for the benefit of the fellow readers.

CASUARINA – A BIO RESOURCE :

•  A tree species belonging to Casuarinacea. 

•  Fast growing species, having multi utility value. 

•  Calorific value = 5000 k.cal.  (Approx.)

• Wood density is 698 kg/m³ (irrigated), 703 kg/m³ (rainfed). 

• Preferred by farmers for Agro forestry and Farm land afforestation.

 CURRENT UTILITY OF CASUARINA :

•         HOUSEHOLD FUEL, PULP WOOD,  

•         SCAFFOLDING, CHARCOAL MAKING,   

•         BIO SHIELD (SHELTER  BELT, WIND BREAK)  

•         PRODUCTION OF POWER

EXTENT OF CULTIVATION :

•  Casuarina is cultivated through out South India. 

• 80% of plantations are in the coastal areas in AP, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

• Area planted – 5 lac ha. Inland cultivation data deficient.

• Rotation 4 years.

• Inter cropping practiced in Ist year of planting. 

• Preferable species Casuarina junghuhniana, a drought tolerant and high yielding variety. 

• Espacement 1x1m (4000 trees per acre).

YIELDING PATTERN :

—Yield varies by

   1. Locations

   2. cultivation techniques adopted

   3. Period of rotation

   4. Irrigation facilities

   5. Fertilizer application

   6. Soil fertility

   7. Rainfall pattern

   8. 40 to 80 tonnes per acre in 4 years and 30 to 40 tonnes per acre  under rainfed conditions is reported.

 

ECONOMICS OF CASUARINA CULTIVATION :

Usage of high yield clones, 4 year rotation, 1x1m espacement, Coastal

belt, Irrigated land, yearly farm yard manure application, yearly twice

weeding and manual pruning of branches gives the following revenue:
      
      
     Total income (sale of pruned materials & poles) = 2,50,000 /-*      (Average yield 80 Tons x Rs.3000 + 10000)

     
      Total expenditure (including watch and ward) = 75,000 /-
 

       Net Income = 1,75,000 /- 

* Data for high yielding variety with the specified field conditions.

CASUARINA vs ELECTRICITY:

      CALORIFIC VALUE = 5000 Kcalories

One kilowatt per hour = 859.845kilo calories.

Energy conversion efficiency of casuarina = o.25.

The power production by using One ton of casuarina =

5000x1000x1/4x/859.845 = 1453.75 kwh

— 

      5MW Power Mill (Plant Load Factor=0.9)

      Per day production =1000X5X24X0.9 =108000kwh

      Per year production =108000x365 =39420000kwh

      Casuarina wood required per year

      =39420000/1453.75=27116.07911m.ton.

      Per day requirement =74.29 rounded to75m.tons.

      Area required@productivity of 60m.tons per acre

      with 4 year rotation period =452acres

      For continuous operation =452x4=1808acres

      Per day area required =1.23acres(0.5ha)

—

      Total no. of blocks in Tamil nadu=397

      Area required for cutivation of casuarina for operation of

5M.W.power mill in all the blocks=397x1808=717776 acres

      Power production capacity=397x5=1985mw. 

BIOMASS POWER PLANTS:

 

VIABILITY OF POWER PLANTS:

—Cost of electricity per unit=4.65

—Revenue to be realized per year=39420000x4.65= Rs 183303000

—Cost of wood =27116x3000= 81348000

—Profit margin=183303000-81348000=Rs 101955000

—Viability is facilitated by many other factors.

INCENTIVES TO THE MILLS: 

     1. Capital subsidy @Rs 20/lakhs/MW subject to Maximum of 5 MW.


2. Fiscal incentives in terms of excise duty concession, reduced

customs duty.


3. 80% accelerated depreciation for IT purpose in I year of

installation.


4. Tax holidays for 10 years for profit from the project.

5. Power purchase @Rs4.65/unit as per tariff order of TNERC.


6. Concessional wheeling charges of 3% for distance upto 25 km and


6% for distance beyond 25 km for captive use.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO THE MILLS:

•       Bio char.
•       Activated charcoaL
•       CDM.
•       Prevent migration.
•       Additional employment.
•       Land improvement.
•       Theft, Prevention of transmission loss.
•       Protection of environment.

SCOPE FOR MAXIMISING ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION: 

- BLOCK WAR POWER MILL IN TAMIL NADU. 

- REDUCTION IN TRANSPORTATION COST. 

—TRANSMISSION LOSS REDUCED. 

—PARTICIPATION BY LOCAL COMMUNITY. 

—COST EFFECTIVE PRODUCTION. 

—BETTER LAND USE STRATEGY. 

—ENABLES ENERGY SECURITY OF THE BLOCK. 

—ENSURES GREEN AND CLEAN ENERGY. 

—ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO FARMING COMMUNITY.

STRATEGY TO BE ADOPTED:

1. START PRODUCER COMPANIES IN EACH BLOCK. 

2. ALL FARMERS AND CONSUMERS ARE TO BE MADE AS

-MEMBERS,WITH SHARE PARTICIPATION. 

3. GOVT. IS ALSO A MEMBER WITH MAXIMUM SHARE VALUE OF 

RS.25-CRORES. 

4. ROLE TO BE ASSIGNED TO BLOCK LEVEL TREE  GROWERS. 

5. EFFORTS TO MAKE IT AS A ‘CDM ‘ PROJECT. 

6. TIE UP WITH TREE GROWERS TO PROCURE WOOD SIMILAR TO

-CANE PROCUREMENT BY SUGAR MILLS. 

7. VENTURE CAPITAL  FOR ERECTION AND RAISE PLANTATIONS 

8. CAUTION FOR DIVERSION OF LAND  FROM AGRICULTURE AT THE 

-COST OF FOOD SECURITY. 

9. SUBSIDY AND SOFT LOAN ARRANGEMENT THROUGH NEW AND 

-RENEWABLE ENERGY DEPARTMENT.  

 

BENEFITS TO MEMBERS (Farmers): 

   

1.Members (read as farmers) will initially receive only such value for the

 produce or products pooled and supplied as the directors may determine.

 
2. The withheld amount may be disbursed later either in cash or in kind 

or by allotment of equity shares.

 
3. Members will be eligible to receive bonus shares and patronage bonus

(akin to dividend).  

(Concluded). 

    Some points to discuss: 
 

1. Readers are requested to send their opinion and corrections required in 

 

the given report to my email. 

 

2. Clarifications regarding some contentious issues like yield and profit from 

 

Casuarina junghuhniana and matters relating to energy conversion and power 

 

production will be sent to the above authors on your behalf and their replies 

 

will be published in this blog.

Links for some of my older posts regarding Biomass:

  

1. Melia dubia for Biomass Power production

2. Sustainable energy development should not at the cost of Agriculture.  

Regards,

A.Vishnu Sankar.

Anthocephalus cadamba, Neolamarckia cadamba (Vellai Kadambu in Tamil)

Some snippets from IFGTB: Tree Growers Mela -2012 

Part-5:   Anthocephalus cadamba:

At the 'Tree Growers mela' a very informative presentation on Anthocephalus cadamba (Kadambam, Vellai kadambu  in Tamil) was made by Dr.Vijayaragavan, Scientist, IFGTB, Coimbatore. His speech dealt with special features of Cadamba, + tree selection, propagation methods, nursery raising, cultivation technology, uses, economics of cultivation, yield and profit.

Anthocephalus cadamba is native to the following areas:
Southern China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The pictures of Cadamba plantations published here were taken by the scientists of IFGTB at the farm of 'Hindustan Pencils Ltd., owners of very popular "Nataraj pencils' and 'Apsara' brands, near Coimbatore. This company is producing a mind boggling quantity of 5.6 million pencils, 1.2 million sharpeners, 2.3 million erasers, 0.16 million scales and 0.30 million pens daily (read once again 'DAILY'!). 

Instead of thoughtlessly plundering trees for pencil manufacture, and relying on forest grown timber, the company encourage renewable sources of timber by procuring their requirement from those who grow trees on their own farms.

The company has also ventured into developing their own timberland for raising short rotation tree crops. Since there is a wide gap between demand and supply, there is scope for the Indian farmers to go in for the cultivation of Cadamba under contract farming.

Trees can be grown up to MSL 1300m.

Rainfall : 500 - 1600 mm

Tree selecton:

A good + tree selection in natural forests and in private plantations by IFGTB, Coimbatore has resulted in the availability superior plants of 'Kadamba' to the tree growers of India. 

 

Fruit collection, processing and handling:

Readers are requested to Click the link: 'Nursery technique' for more information.

1 Kg will contain 9 Lakh seeds.

Flowering : May - June (Bisexual flowers)
Fruits : June - Feb
Germination - 90% (Germinate in 2 weeks).
Nursery:

Transplantation from mother-bed to poly-bags can be done when the seedling attain the height of 5 cm. 

Propagation by 'cuttings' and Tissue culture technology:

Pit size: 1.5 ft depth. Application of F.Y.M and Vermicompost in the pit will induce root development.
Spacing: 5m x 5m for bulk planting and 4m x 4m for border planting.
Growth: Trees grow to a height of 12m to 26 m, (2.5m growth / per year)
Girth - 70 to 125 cm

 Cadamba wood :

 Cadamba is a good shade giving tree:

Uses of Cadamba:

• Pencil making, match splints, ply-woods, pulp wood for paper, leaves as fodder and they are also used to cure throat infection. 
• Fruits also have medicinal properties. Seeds have 'Anti-poison' medical properties. Crush the seeds, dissolve them in water and drink it as medicine for "Anti-poison'.
• Natural yellow dye can be extracted from the root bark.  
• Due to its heavy leaf shedding nature, O.C content of the soil can be increased. 
• As there is no distinct heart wood, tree can be easily sawed.

Wood demand for the manufacture of pencils:
India requires 30 crores pencil / month.
'Nataraj pencils' alone produces 20 crores.
'Nataraj pencils' has manufacturing facility in J and K, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamilnadu.

Economics:

An 8 years old tree with a Ht of 10m and a girth of 100cm will give 11 Cu Ft of wood.
! Cu Ft = Rs.250
Rs.250 x 11 Cu Ft = Rs.2750 per Tree.
For 400 Trees per Ha x Rs.2750= Rs.11.00L ( Approx. 9000 / Month).
Additional Income is possible from inter cropping also. 

In Bund planting:
If the spacing is 3 to 4m - 130 trees.
130 x Rs.2750 = Rs.3.58 L ( Approx. Rs.3300 / Month).

Harvest cycle is 8 years in India and 4 - 5 years in other countries.

To achieve this economic gain:
Select good seedlings from nursery, cultivate in fertile soil that have good soil depth, give proper irrigation and opt for 'Contract farming',

Content and pictures courtesy:

 Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore.
Dr.Vijayaragavan, Scientist, IFGTB, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.

For those readers who want more specific information on Cadamba:

• Name of the plant - Anthocephalus cadamba (or) 

        Neolamarckia cadamba   (Vellai Kadambu, Kadamba maram in Tamil).

• N’ fixing capacity                - No.

•  Fodder Tree                        - Yes. 

•  Deciduous                           - Yes. 

•  Drought tolerance              - Can’t tolerate long drought period. 

•  Soil type / pH range - Deep, moist, well-drained loamy soils of alluvial origin. (Not suitable for clay soil). 

• Tolerance to water logging - After sapling stage, the tree is quite tolerant of water-logged areas where the water inundates for 2-3 months. 

•  Seeds    - Tiny seeds. About 6 kg of dry fruits yield 1 kg of seed. Each fruit on an average yields 456 mg of pure seeds. Approx. 9 – 11 lakhs seeds / kg.

• Germination  - Sowing of pulped seed gives poor germination (4.85%) as compared to sieved and winnowed seed (52%). 

•  Vegetative propagation    - Possible. Not recommended.   This species is best raised by planting out entire seedlings or polythene bag raised seedlings during June – July at start of monsoon when they are about 4-5 months old. 

•  Spacing for border planting- 4 m x 4 m,   
•  Spacing for bulk planting   - 5 m x 5 m 

•   Maturity  -  8 years 

•  Growth :  Height  - 20 m Ht in its favorable habitat.

                       Girth     - 1.5 m – 2 m

                       Yield     - 10 to 11 Cu ft of wood in 8 years.

• Timber -  The wood is white to creamy white, odourless, light in weight , straight-grained and medium and even textured. It is moderately strong, can be seasoned easily; but susceptible to sap- stain quickly after conversion, non durable; can be easily and completely treated with preservatives. Treated timber is quite durable. It saws and works easily under tools. Peels readily on a rotary lathe.

• Weight -  545 kg/cum at 12% moisture content.

• Uses -  The wood is extensively used for ceiling boards, light construction work, packing cases, planking, carving and turnery. The wood makes good veneers and plywood suitable for the manufacture of grade IV commercial plywood and tea chest plywood. It is also suitable for both match boxed and splints. Tests indicate its suitability for writing and printing paper giving 48.6% yield and over 6000 m breaking length. Brown wrapping paper can also be prepared by sulphate process. Fruits are edible. Bark and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. 

•  Ratoon / Coppice capability - Yes, vigorous. 

•  Special features if any  - The species is fast growing especially in the initial years. Rate of growh is very rapid in the earlier years; on an average it gives a maximum girth increment of 15 cm per annum upto the 9th year, the height increment averages 3 m per annum for the first six or eight years after which the growth becomes slower. Tends to grow vertically in the initial years without branches and then branched to form a big canopy. A beautiful majestic looking tree. Performs well in irrigated conditions. For the first 2 – 3 years irrigation is essential. Requires more sunlight and will not grow well in shades. It can regenerate well even if the branches are pruned annually for fodder. A good windbreaker. 

 Courtesy of the above content:  FCRI, Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. 

Regards,

A.Vishnu Sankar