Shisham die-back in Punjab, Pakistan
Shisham die-back in Punjab, Pakistan
Akhlaq Ahmad Khan
ABSTRACT
Introductory: People connected with forest resources in Pakistan, and the agriculturists at large, have been extremely concerned about the excessive mortality in Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo, Roxb.), the principal tree species of the Irrigated Forest Plantations of Punjab, caused by a mysterious malady that is generally known as Sisham Die-back. This tree is the main species in the irrigated agriculture fields of Punjab as well. The problem is serious enough to have caused deliberations in three Seminars arranged by the Punjab Forestry Research Institute of the Punjab Forest Department at national level during the years 2001, 2004 and 2006. Various views have been extended about the cause of such high and abnormal mortality by experts of different disciplines. This paper deals with an aspect of the malady not touched at all so far and establishes that substitute suggested for replacement of this very important and extremely valuable tree of the plains of Pakistan is not feasible.
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June 2008
Vol. 58, Iss. 2
