In Pambar sub basin, Casuarina is being cultivated by the farmers under conventional method (2m x 2m spacing). The water requirement of casuarina is mainly met out through rainfall supplemented with irrigation based on the availability of irrigation water. The trees of 5 years old were fell down / removed and sold to local traders for lower price. The yield obtained from conventional method planting varied from 50-75 t ha-1. But a yield to the tune of 100 t ha-1 could also be achieved with a provision for more water supply. Hence under TN-IAMWARM project, thrust was given to improve the yield potential of Casuarina through saucer method of planting which could serve as a rain water harvesting structure. Each saucer can harvest around 1200 litres of rain water during rainy season. This harvested rain water could be effectively utilized by the seedlings for better growth and establishment as well as for dry matter production. Hence this improved method of saucer planting can be effectively deployed in Pambar sub basin for Maximizing biomass production.

In saucer method of planting in casuarina, seedlings were planted on the edges of saucer which measures 30 cm depth at the centre with 3 m dia. The distance between the mid points of 2 adjacent saucers is 6 m thus 275 saucers can be accommodated per hectare. Around each saucer 9 seedlings were planted at equidistance. Around 2475 number of seedlings can be planted per hectare. The main purpose of adopting this improved saucer planting method is to harvest rain water which is becoming scarce nowadays.

Sub Basin	-	Pambar
Implementing Unit	-	National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban
Physical area covered	-	63 ha
Number of beneficiaries	-	49

At the beginning of the project the farmers are reluctant to adopt saucer planting method due to lesser population. Later awareness was created among the farmers by various IEC activities. Three trainings and two exposure visits with 80 farmers to Kothakottai were enough to satisfy 49 beneficiaries of the sub basin. The yield expected on an average from this improved method of planting will be around 100-120 tonnes per hectare after 5-6 years of planting. MOU was also signed with TNPL for fetching better price to the farmers.