Dholera drum plantation turns saline land green; 3,200 saplings thrive
Synopsis
In one of India's harshest saline zones, a low-tech fix — saplings inside perforated plastic drums — has done what conventional plantation could not. Over 3,200 trees are thriving in Dholera, some 12 feet tall in under a year, prompting a 20-hectare scale-up and plans for 50,000 more saplings alongside Gujarat's biggest greenfield industrial push.
Key Takeaways
Over 3,200 saplings have survived on saline land in Dholera SIR , with some reaching 12 feet within a year.
The drum plantation technique was developed by the Ahmedabad Social Forestry Division and deployed in August 2025 .
Saplings sit in perforated drums filled with sand, vermicompost, cocopeat and dry grass, buried a foot deep to keep roots above saline layers.
DSIRDA has approved expansion across an additional 20 hectares , with more than 50,000 saplings planned in the next phase.
The site now hosts 15+ tree species and is showing ecological revival — pollinators, birds and regenerating grass.
An experimental afforestation method using drum-based plantation has delivered strong early results in the highly saline terrain of Dholera, Gujarat, where more than 3,200 saplings planted on previously barren land have survived — with several growing up to 12 feet within a year. Following the pilot's success, the project is being scaled across an additional 20 hectares of the Dholera Activation Area.
Where the pilot was run
The intervention was carried out in Block No. 29 of the Activation Area of the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) in Ahmedabad district, with funding from the Dholera Special Investment Region Development Authority (DSIRDA). The Forest Department said the project was designed to tackle extreme soil salinity and prolonged waterlogging that had historically blocked vegetation growth.
How the drum plantation method works
The saplings were planted in August 2025 using a technique developed by the Ahmedabad Social Forestry Division. Young plants are placed inside plastic drums filled with a controlled mixture of sand, nutrient-rich soil, vermicompost, cocopeat and dry grass. The drums are perforated for air circulation and buried roughly one foot into the ground, keeping the root systems elevated above the most saline soil layers.
A drip irrigation system has been installed across the plantation, with DSIRDA supplying saline water for irrigation. Officials said the setup has enabled a high survival rate despite hostile soil chemistry.
What the Forest Department said
Dr. Meenal Jani, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Ahmedabad Social Forestry Division, said the area's soil showed very high electro-conductivity, negligible carbon content and extreme salinity, with water stagnating for up to six months at a time.
“The soil had very high electro-conductivity, negligible carbon content and extreme salinity. In addition, water remains stagnant in the area for up to six months, making plant growth almost impossible,” she said. “To address this, we adopted the drum plantation technique, where saplings are planted at a raised level inside drums filled with a specially prepared growing medium,” she added.
“Within less than a year, many saplings have grown up to 12 feet, which is a significant outcome for this kind of terrain,” Dr. Jani said, noting that some species have begun to flower and fruit, drawing pollinators and birds back to the site.
Species and ecological revival
The plantation features more than 15 tree species, including Salvadora persica, Butea monosperma, Bombax ceiba, Thespesia populnea, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Acacia nilotica, Pongamia pinnata, Terminalia arjuna, Pithecellobium dulce, Azadirachta indica, Cordia dichotoma and Tamarindus indica. Officials reported the return of insects, butterflies and naturally regenerating grass in parts of the site — early signs of ecological recovery.
Next phase and scale-up
DSIRDA has approved expansion across an additional 20 hectares, with plans for more than 50,000 saplings in the next phase using the same technique. The Forest Department said the plastic drums will be removed and recycled in future stages to ensure environmental compliance. The initiative runs alongside Dholera's broader development as a major industrial and infrastructure hub in Gujarat, signalling an attempt to pair industrialisation with ecological restoration.
Point of View
But year three, post-drum removal, is the honest benchmark. India has no shortage of pilot afforestation wins that did not survive monitoring gaps; institutionalising survival audits alongside DSIRDA's industrial timelines will decide whether this becomes a template or a press release.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the drum plantation technique used in Dholera?
It is an afforestation method developed by the Ahmedabad Social Forestry Division in which saplings are planted inside perforated plastic drums filled with sand, nutrient-rich soil, vermicompost, cocopeat and dry grass. The drums are buried about a foot into the ground, keeping the roots elevated above the most saline soil layers.
Why was this method needed in Dholera?
Dholera's terrain has extreme soil salinity, very high electro-conductivity, negligible carbon content and waterlogging that can last up to six months. Conventional plantation methods had largely failed under these conditions, prompting the Forest Department to design a raised, controlled growing environment.
How successful has the pilot been so far?
More than 3,200 saplings planted in August 2025 have survived, with several growing up to 12 feet within a year. Some species have begun to flower and fruit, drawing back pollinators, birds and naturally regenerating grass.
What happens next under the expanded plan?
DSIRDA has approved expansion across an additional 20 hectares of the Dholera Activation Area, with plans for more than 50,000 saplings in the next phase using the same technique. The plastic drums are intended to be removed and recycled in later stages.
Which tree species are part of the plantation?
The plantation includes more than 15 species, including Salvadora persica, Butea monosperma, Bombax ceiba, Thespesia populnea, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Acacia nilotica, Pongamia pinnata, Terminalia arjuna, Pithecellobium dulce, Azadirachta indica, Cordia dichotoma and Tamarindus indica.
