In Uttara Kannada’s Sirsi, Forest Dept Finds A Way To Protect Plants From Summer Heat

The Forest Research Department of Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district planted Calamus Nagbettai plants in the Mundgod-Sirsi forest sections. They planted 2,780 saplings in an area of 10 hectares in the forest between Mundgod and Sirsi last year. Nagbettai is a special breed that can be used to make expensive furniture. Now, to protect the plants from the scorching sun, the forest officials have placed a green net above the plants. The arrangement has been done for all 2780 plants. The department of Sirsi leaves no stone unturned in protecting the Nagbettai plants. Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis, but too much of the same can damage the plant leaves by dehydrating them and causing them to turn pale, brown or burn. Some plants grow best in partial shade.

Calamus Nagbettai is a spiny, evergreen, climbing palm producing a cluster of vigorous, unbranched stems that can be 25 metres or more long. The stems are harvested from the wild for use in things like making baskets and cane furniture. The plant has been cultivated on an experimental basis.

Leaves of young Nagbettai plants are normally damaged if it is exposed to too much light, though leaves of older plants will usually tolerate full sun. These plants grow best in humus-rich soil. In general, plants are likely to grow best with their roots in the shade but with enough gaps in the canopy to encourage their stems to grow up towards the light. According to experts, about 40-50 percent of light penetration is generally considered to be ideal for promoting stem growth.

The Forest Department of Sirsi covers the total forest area of the division including Betta lands (protected forest) is 1,71,828.17 hectares, which constitutes 79.04 of the total geographical area of the division (2,173.90 Km²). The major rivers draining the division are Aghanashini, Sharavathi, Varada, Sonda, Dharma and Bedti.

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