Grassland afforestation at Monnageri : At Monnageri in Kodagu district three trial plots of 2.75 ha each were laid out with Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Cryptomeria japonica, Dalbergia sissoo , Elaeodendron paniculata , Syzygium cumini , Swietenia mahagoni, Samanea saman, Terminalia bellerica and Terminalia tomentosa. Observation shows that only Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Elaeodendron paniculata and Emblica officinalis have come up well in grassy blanks .

Miscellaneous species trial plot at Monnangeri: In another trial at Monnangeri, afforestation of exposed lateritic grassy blanks of 6.5 ha was under taken with indigenous and exotic species viz; Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Acacia auriculiformis, Dalbergia sissoo, Emblica officinalis, Syzygium cumini, Ceiba pentandra, Spathodea campanulata and Elaeodendron paniculata. Initially, during 1986 all plants established except Ceiba pentandra and Acrocarpus fraxinifolius as these two species were found to die back. Subsequently in 1992, only two species were found to be surviving in this area viz; Spathodea campanulata and Emblica officinalis .

Acacia mearnsii, Calliandra calothyrsus, Acacia mangium , and Pinus kesia were tried at Monnangeri (Madikeri) in 2.1 ha of grassland. It was observed that Acacia mearnsii and Acacia mangium failed to establish. Whereas Calliandra calothyrsus and Pinus kesia have survived with average growth.

Bambusa vulgaris and Acrocarpus fraxinifolius were tried in grassy blanks in an area of 2 ha . It was observed that both Bambusa vulgaris and Acrocarpus fraxinifolius have failed to establish either due to animal damage or due to die back.

Afforestation of 2 ha of area with indigenous and exotic species at Aiengeri (Madikeri) was taken-up. The species planted were Acacia mearnsii, Casuarina equisetifolia Calliandra calothyrsus and Elaeodendron paniculata. It was observed that all the species had put on good height growth except Elaeodendron paniculata.

Introduction of Bambusa vulgaris and Dendrocalamus strictus in grassy blanks was done in an area of 2.0 ha at Ummathur in 1985. Both the bamboo species are performing well with 85-90 per cent survival. It was observed that new culms were produced during 1992.

Introduction of Bambusa vulgaris in grassy blanks was done in 1986 ( 2 ha .) in high rainfall area at Ummathur. It was observed that Bambusa vulgaris responded well to the environment in the grassy blanks. Vigorous new culms were produced. During 1992, 59 per cent survival was noticed with an average of 3 culms per clump.

To study the efficacy of planting in terraces for afforestation of grassy blanks, a plantation in an area of 8 ha was taken-up in 1985 at Ummathur. Species tried were Acacia auriculiformis, Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Casuarina equisetifolia, Calliandra species, Dalbergia latifolia, Emblica officinalis, Grevillea robusta, Swietenia mahogany and Parkinsonia aculeata. All the species tried have performed well except Parkinsonia aculeata and Dalbergia latifolia . Acrocarpus fraxinifolius is also struggling to establish. Calliandra calothyrsus has shown good performance.

To introduce Pinus caribeae in Phoenix infested grassy blanks, a trial plot was established in an area of 0.27 ha in 1985 at Hanbal Achardi. The plants have established well with 90 per cent survival.

To introduce wattles (Acacia mearnsii) in grassy blanks, a trial plot of 8.0 ha in high rainfall zone at Ummathur was established. Initially seedlings responded well but later the entire plantation failed.

Introduction of Pinus oocarpa in Phoenix infested grassy blanks was done over an area of 0.25 ha in high rainfall area to assess its performance at Hanbal Achardi. Seedlings have showed good performance in the local environment, with 84 per cent survival in 1987. During 1992, 40 per cent survival was noticed with an average height of 4.0m and average girth of 0.15m.

A Trial plot of MFP in grassy patches at Vallalhalli, Madikeri over an area of 5.0 ha was established in 1988. Species tried were Emblica officinalis, Artocarpus integrifolia, Azadirachta indica, Madhuca indica, Sapindus emarginatus, Tamarindus indica, Syzygium cumini, and Mangifera indica. All the plants are growing well.

To find the suitability of fruit yielding species in grasslands, a trial plot of 2.5 ha was established at Watehalla with Syzygium cumini and Mangifera indica in 1993. All the plants are coming up well with an average height of 1.5m.

At Ullal, in the year 1984, coastal area afforestation experiments were taken up with Acacia auriculiformis, Bauhinia racemosa, Cassia fistula, Casuarina equisetifolia, Calliandra calothyrsus and Dalbergia latifolia. Only Casuarina equisetifolia was found to be suitable for coastal areas.

An experiment in swampy areas of Thithimathi and Nagerhole Ranges of Hunsur Division was taken-up with Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Albizzia lebbek, Artocarpus hirsuta, Bombax ceiba, Chickrassia tabularis, Syzygium cumini, Swietenia mahagoni, Kydia calycina, Spondias mangifera etc . Except Syzygium cumini , all other species have failed in these waterlogged areas.

There are extensive grassy blanks in the evergreen belt of Western Ghats . With a view to raise some tree species, various afforestation techniques involving a large number of exotics as well as indigenous species have been taken up since 1975. They are:

At Hosur near Agumbe, twenty-five species belonging to evergreen, deciduous and exotic categories were tried in the year 1976. Both naked seedlings and seedlings raised in polybags were tried. It was observed that only Acacia auriculiformis and Casuarina equisetifolia were doing well in grassy blanks. Acacia auriculiformis is the most suited species for afforestation of grassy blanks in the humid tropics of the Western Ghats .

At Mense forty different species of evergreen, deciduous and exotics were tried in the year 1979 for assessing their suitability to the grasslands. Only Acacia auriculiformis and Casuarina equisetifolia were found to be successful.

At Neeluvagilu an experiment of six different species namely, Acacia auriculiformis, Syzygium cumini, Grevillea robusta, Casuarina equisetifolia, Anacardium occidentale and Bambusa vulgaris at different spacing of 2m x 2m, 2.5m x 2.5m, 3m x 3m and 4m x 4m in different blocks were taken up in the year 1982. Acacia auriculiformis , Casuarina equisetifolia and Bambusa vulgaris are doing well with an average height of 5.8m, 5.0m, 3.5m and girth of 15.5cm, 18.8cm, and 14.1cm respectively.

At Nagatirtha an experiment with Acacia auriculiformis and Casuarina equisetifolia with three different soil preparations was laid out. The three different soil preparations were advance pitting, advance trenching and monsoon pitting. The best average height and average girth were obtained in the monsoon-pitting block. Acacia auriculiformis did better than Casuarina equisetifolia.

At Heggarakudiga 10 different exotics and some evergreen species were planted in the year 1982. The species were: Syzygium cumini, Acacia auriculiformis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Anthocephalus cadamba, Gmelina arborea, Swietenia mahagoni, Dalbergia latifolia, Grevillea robusta and Bambusa vulgaris. The growth of Acacia auriculiformis and Casuarina equisetifolia is outstanding.