Extent of shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) decline in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Lahoreand Sargodha district [Pakistan]

A thorough survey of four districts of Punjab viz. Sialkot, Gujranwala, Lahoreand Sargodha was carried out during May-June 2003 to study the present scenarioof shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) decline in these areas and to find outrelationship, if any, between disease severity and edaphic conditions. From each ofthe four districts, canal banks, highways and roadsides, and agricultural lands weresurveyed. In Lahore surveyed areas also included University of the Punjab,Aitcheson College and roadside along the canal bank of BRB Lahore Branch. Fromeach district 700-1200 plants were observed. Shisham trees were found to beattacked with two types of diseases viz. wilting and dieback, the latter being themore prevalent than the former. Maximum mortality of 75-80 % was observed alongthe canal banks except BRB Lahore branch. Along the highways and roadsides 20-40% plants were found dead. In the Punjab University about 10 plants were founddead while 17 % were affected with dieback and wilting ranging from mild infectionto highly diseased. The least disease incidence and mortality rate was observed onplants growing on agricultural lands, along the roadside of BRB Lahore branch andin Aitcheson College. Disease incidence and severity seemed to have no relation withsoil pH. Generally older plants were found to be more susceptible to the diseaseattack than the younger ones. It was concluded that plant resistance to diseaseattack was associated with proper irrigation management. Apparently stressedconditions especially high soil moisture content is responsible for the attack andseverity of the disease. It is recommended that along the canal bank shisham shouldbe replaced with Eucalyptus spp. Furthermore, seeds from the resistant shishamplants, standing healthy among the hundreds of dead ones along the canal banks,should be used to raise nurseries for shisham plantation on suitable places awayfrom the canals.