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Page 1-11 © MAT Journals 2023. All Rights Reserved
Journal of
Environmental Engineering and Studies
www.matjournals.com
e-ISSN: 2582-3132
Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
Seed Ball Campaign: An Effective Implementation Tool against Global
Warming and Deforestation
Samirsinh P Parmar*
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Dharmasinh Desai University, Nadiad, Gujarat,
India
*Corresponding Author: spp.cl@ddu.ac.in
ABSTRACT
The present world faces extreme weather
conditions and global warming is one of its
effects. Deforestation, or more accurately, a
decline in the number of trees on earth, is one
of the causes of global warming. There are
many strategies to enhance the amount of
green cover. A tried-and-true method for
increasing plantation on bare ground is the
seed ball technique. The making of seed balls,
methods of distribution, success rates to
develop the full plant, and types of seeds that
can be employed are all covered in the
current work. It also outlines the initiatives
taken over the past ten years to promote the
seed ball campaigns in India.
Keywords- Effective implementation, Flood
water, Global warming, Local solution against
global problem, Seed ball
INTRODUCTION
The planet earth observed changing
weather patterns for the last two decades. The
typical extreme weather conditions such as
hotter heat waves, too dried droughts, intensified
cyclones, cloud bursting, and intense snowfall.
Scientists across the world are detecting a
stronger link between climate change and
reducing forests. Less number of trees increases
evaporation further leading to an increase in
moisture in the atmosphere, which intensifies
rainfall. The absence of trees creates sudden
runoff and hence flesh flood develops,
increasing the velocity of flood water causing
erosion of soil and uprooting small trees. It is
evident that once the forest cover is removed
from a place results in serious consequences
related to climate change.
According to FAOSTAT (2019), forest
cover is 31% of the global land area, but the
distribution of forests is uneven. More than 50%
of the forests are found in only Russia, Brazil,
Canada, the US, and China. The rest 66% of
forests are found in 10 countries. Agriculture
expansion, infrastructure projects,
and industrialization are the main driver of
deforestation and forest degradation. Natural
causes such as forest fires, pests, diseases, and
adverse weather events also contribute to
deforestation. According to the UN report “The
state of the world’s forests (SOFO),” the global
forest area decreased by 178 million hectares
between 1990 and 2020.
Large-scale restoration of forests is one
of the aids to reducing extreme weather events
across the world. Large-scale restoration of
forests requires seeds, saplings, or plants from
nurseries, etc. in huge quantities which results in
costly affairs. The seed ball campaign had been
started in the last decade to increase forestation
by various agencies, NGOs, academic
organizations, student groups, private sectors,
and individuals and gaining more and more
attention from a large population. A seed ball is
a Spear-shaped ball that consists of seed or seeds
(one type or different types) in the core, along
with a combination of fertilizer (natural-dry cow
dung) and locally available soil. The success
ratio (germination to full-scale plant
development) of seed balls is also under study
and improvements and innovations are also
adopted in the making of seed balls.
PROCEDURE- FROM MAKING TO
GROW-UP OF TREES
Mixing clay, compost, and seeds create
seed balls. They must be treated, the clay and
compost must have a fairly fine texture, and the
seeds must be winnowed to remove hulls and
casings. Fig. 1 shows the tools and materials
required to prepare seed balls.
2
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Journal of
Environmental Engineering and Studies
www.matjournals.com
e-ISSN: 2582-3132
Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
Materials and Tools to Make Seed balls
Selected/collected seeds
Select good quality agricultural soil
Dry cow dung
Wet cow dung
Glass/ Stone sheet or smooth surface
Mixing Vassals
Water
Hand Gloves (if anyone requires)
Figure 1: Material and tools required.
Step 1: Collect the Seeds
Collect a good quantity of seeds that
have the quality to grow and result in trees after
full growth. Select locally available seeds so that
their procurement of them is easier and cheaper.
Another aspect of locally available seeds is that
the local environment will be suitable for easy
growth. Seeds such as neem, Cordia sinensis and
Cordia dichotoma (gundi), Cassia fistula
(Garmado), Delonix regia (Gulmohar), Aegle
marmelos (Bili), Annona squamosa (Sitaphal,
Custard Apple) rayan, gulmohar, khajur, goras
aambli, khati aaambali, etc. can be collected in
sufficient quantity to make seed balls. Table 1
(Appendix) shows various trees' regional names,
scientific names, and typical photos and images
of the respective seeds.
(a) One part - dry mixed seeds.
(b) Three parts - dry compost with fungi and soil
microbes (compost, not animal manure).
(c) Five parts - dry red or brown clay, finely
powdered and sifted.
Figure 2: Ingredient and its proportion to make
seed ball.
Step 2: Procure and Prepare Soil to Make
Seed Balls
Although creating seed balls is a very
easy craft to master, it does take some practice.
From Fukuoka's recommendation, the following
ingredient ratios (in volume) are taken:
5 components dry clay powder (Fig. 2c).
Finely sifted compost in three parts (Fig.
2b).
Part seed mixture (Fig. 2a).
There are two typical manual methods for
creating seed balls. One method calls for rolling
each ball by hand, while the other calls for
rolling the ingredients in a pan with a flat bottom
until them "cake up" and start to resemble small
clods.
While the materials are the same, the speed and
accuracy of the processes vary. I'll go over the
second technique using the flat tray.
Select fertile soil, add rice husk, and dry
fibers of vegetation, and then add cow dung
(relatively dry). Mix the mixture of the above
materials thoroughly. Take one or more seeds in
hand and then wrap the seeds through this semi-
3
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Journal of
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www.matjournals.com
e-ISSN: 2582-3132
Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
plastic (optimized water content) mixture of clay
around the seeds. Rolling it between two hands
makes it a sphere.
(a) Seeds mixed with dry compost spherical
(b) Seeds mixed with wet Mixture
(c) After rolling between hands, seed balls are in
shape.
Figure 3: Final steps to make seed ball.
Step 3: Drying
Put the manufactured seed balls on a
terrace or open ground. Allow it to dry under
natural sunlight for at least 24 hours (Fig. 4a).
Before removal from sunlight, ensure that the
seed ball is completely dry. Then store the dried
seed ball in the basket in which circulation of air
is possible.
(a) Drying the seed balls for 24 hours in
sunlight.
(b) Scattering on the ground.
(c)Scattering or throwing by gun.
Figure 4: Drying, scattering, and throwing a
seed ball.
Step 4: Planting Seed Ball
Seed balls are purposefully made in such
a way that it does not require excavating a pit
into the ground to sow a seed. It can be scattered
on the ground on which vegetation growth is
required (Fig. 4b). The spherical shape of the
4
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Journal of
Environmental Engineering and Studies
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e-ISSN: 2582-3132
Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
seed ball is made to throw it to a large distance
where accessibility is practically difficult. An
individual can prepare a device to throw the seed
ball to the farthest distance (Fig. 4c). After
landing on the ground the seed ball rolls on the
ground to achieve a stable point and gets
stopped. When the rain comes, the seed ball's
outer core absorbs the moisture and swells; the
moisture reaches the central core where there are
seeds. Seeds start germination in presence of
moisture and nutrition which is indirectly an
outer core. (Fig. 5) The cover of the outer core
helps to provide initial phase nutrition for the
growth of the plant for some time. As the plant
becomes mature and after laying its root
somewhat deeper in the ground, it can now self-
sustain its existence and further growth.
Figure 5: Germination of seed balls.
Here grazing animals and disturbance
from human activities can affect the success
ratio of growing trees from the seed balls. The
success ratio is higher for closed premises where
entry of animals and human beings is restricted.
The next level of success ratio is observed for
steep slopes and then the plain grounds. To
increase the success ratio one can increase the
number of seed balls dropped per unit area.
ADVANTAGES OF SEED BALLS
Seed balls promote the growth of the green
area. They can operate effectively
anywhere, regardless of the season, but the
wet season is the most fruitful. Comparing
seedlings to seed balls, the success rate of
growth is 80%.
They make seed-digging and plowing less
labour-intensive.
They can assist restore abandoned land by
being placed in inaccessible locations such
as hills, steep slopes, barren plains,
watersheds, rural areas, etc.
They don't need to be properly planted; they
can just be sprinkled on the ground.
They are shielded from the wind, birds,
squirrels, and other animals for years,
preserving their health.
Seed balls are handy for planting in thin,
dry, and compacted soils.
They can quickly and easily cover large,
inaccessible regions, and they are simple to
use.
Seed balls are a cost-efficient, long-lasting,
and efficient conservation technique for
establishing plants in challenging terrain.
Seed balls are especially helpful in dry, arid
regions with irregular and infrequent
rainfall.
The Prime Minister recently emphasized the use
of drone technology at the drone festival,
emphasizing the significance of both the seed
balls and the technology used to disperse them.
WHY IT IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE FROM
AN IMPLEMENTATION POINT OF
VIEW?
Most of the persons, those who are
aware of modern problems such as, “Global
warming”, “Climate change”, and
“Afforestation”, etc wish to counter such
problems by direct actions, but because of their
daily routine and busy life they are not able to do
it. Here, in a seed ball campaign either they can
collect the seeds and give them to the institution
which is involved in manufacturing seed balls
and getting their work done indirectly. The
urban population living in densely populated
area has a scarcity of land, hence they are forced
to restrict their choice of plantation. Under these
circumstances, they can make seed balls and
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Journal of
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www.matjournals.com
e-ISSN: 2582-3132
Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
while going through roads or rails, they can
throw seed balls and let them give chance to
grow. The performance of duty towards nature
gets fulfilled by this and we can inculcate a
culture of planning trees into the coming
generations.
CASE STUDIES
In Vishakhapatnam to boost greenery in
the city, organizations such as Prayavarana
Margadarshi Vaishakhi (PMV), and Green
Climate and Green Environment Service Society
(GESS) launched a seed ball campaign in July
2019. Banas dairy started the seed ball
planting campaign on August 19, 2021, at the
Aravalli Jessore range. (Fig. 6) two lakh seed
balls were planted during the campaign, each of
which contains more than six lakh of wild tree
seeds. this seed ball is made of clay dung, which
contains the seed of wild trees such
as custard apple, bor, kher, kanja, khakhra,
kumta, goras, tamarind, garmalo, jambun, and
gunda (regional name of trees). A team of
sixteen board of directors, the team of Banas
dairy employees, local leaders, farmers, and milk
producers from 20 villages around the Jessore
range took part. Additionally, the team planted
300 kg of neem seeds around the Jessore range's
foothill area on that occasion.
Figure 6: Banas dairy, Gujarat started a seed ball campaign.
Seed ball campaigns become popular
across the country among individuals to
organizations. Bengaluru, one of the green cities
of India, one of the known NGOs planted 25000
trees with a rate of 25 %germination with the
help of one thousand volunteers. Punati
Sreedhar, the then additional Principal Chief
conservator of the forest department launched a
seed ball campaign in 2017 with the help of
Jawahar Navodaya educational institute and
prepared 28 lack seed balls and planted it on
vacant land outside the city area. Their
department even used an aircraft to distribute
seed balls in the year 1986-87.
KLE Raja Lakhamagouda Science
institute, Belagavi, Karnataka’s NSS unit
organized a seed ball campaign in October 2021.
They prepared 880 seed balls of different tree
species. Mysuru BJP made 50,000 seed balls and
distributed them in the Chamundi hill area.
Bhavyata Foundation, Mumbai planted 75000
trees on vacant land of Mumbai city. Manav
Seva Trust of Sanand, Ahmedabad district
prepared one lakh seed balls with the help of
local school students and planted them in the
deserted land of Sanand taluka. They observed a
50 % success ratio by seed ball plantation.
An individual Krishnam Raju, at the age
of 14 years, launched a seed ball campaign in
Hyderabad. He used seeds and saplings and
planted a variety of seed plants including custard
apple, black barriers, panaja, maardi, banni and
medicinal plants such as tulsi, vidhara, giloy,
alovera, kadipatta, etc into the barren land on
outskirts of the city.
The Dhanbad district administration in
Jharkhand has implemented several creative
projects to plant trees and conserve water. One
of them entails the creation and distribution of
almost 2.5 lakh seed balls by Self Help Group
members (SHGs). In open-cast coal mine
colliery sites, seed balls are dispersed to
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Journal of
Environmental Engineering and Studies
www.matjournals.com
e-ISSN: 2582-3132
Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
encourage germination, promote vegetation, and
lessen air pollution.
Under the Haritha Haram program, the
Mahbubnagar District administration in
Telangana is making every attempt to surpass its
previous record by preparing two crore seed
balls in 2021. The district administration had
prepared 1.18 crore seed balls in 2020 as a part
of the Haritha Haram program, engaging several
women SHGs.
CEAT tires celebrated world
environment day 2022 with the “seed ball
making” activity. The activity of seed ball
making was conducted across all CEAT plants.
More than a thousand employees of the company
from Nashik, Bhandup, Nagpur, Ambernath,
Halol, and Chennai plants actively participated
in it. SGS institute of technology, Indore
launched a seed ball campaign to prepare 10,000
seed balls and distributed them on Independence
Day, 2021.
In Uttarakhand, various agencies such as
the village head (‘Sarpanch’), NGO- reliance
foundation, Himalayan Paryavaran Jadi Booti
Agro Sansthan, Uttarkashi, and administration
and students of Garhwal University made a
combined effort to restore the environment in
hilly region by seed ball campaign. The seeds
were selected by villagers and most of the
vegetables and fruits survive their crops on
farms from wild grazing animals. By seed ball
campaign they protected soil erosion and topple
down individual boulders. Because of the slope
of hills, the survivability or success rate of
germination and growth of plants increases.
Parvatiya Vikas Sodh Kendra (Centre for
Mountain Development) HNB Garhwal
University claims success rate of up to 80% by
the year 2017. Later on, a divisional forest
officer promoted this campaign and it was
endorsed by the then Chief Minister of
Uttarakhand. Man – Animal conflict was
reduced and crop production, as well as forest
cover, increased considerably after the seed ball
campaign.
DISCUSSION
Seedballs are manufactured in plenty as
the success ratio is not regular or it is affected by
so many factors. Tamilarasan C, 2021 [10]
observed 93 % and 56 % germination of seed
balls at the roadside, with and without irrigation
respectively. Similarly, maximum germination
variation was observed at 40-89% and 43 – 90%
for forest and riverbank planting germination.
Due to biotic and abiotic constraints, direct
sowing of tree seeds for afforestation is not
feasible. Most species have low natural
establishment rates because seeds become over-
dried, resulting in seed death. Other factors
include natural enemy predation and seedling
root penetration [11, 12]. It has been
demonstrated that the seed ball technique
improves seedling quality parameters.
WAYS TO INCREASE GREEN COVER BY
SEED BALL CAMPAIGN
To increase green cover with immediate
effect it needs to adopt various measures
involving a diversified field of experts across the
country. The students in academic institutions
are the biggest force that can accelerate the rate
of forestation in a deserted area. The reason to
educate and involvement of students of every
age is, they come from every corner of the
country.
Incorporate academic institutions to make
seed banks and educate students to make
seed balls.
The land which remains undeveloped, un
attended but has boundaries that can protect
baby plants should make available to parties
involved in the seed ball campaign.
On world environment day (5th June), a
seed ball-making workshop should be
organized.
“Seed posts” and “Seed banks” must be
established at various locations to increase
the availability of seeds needed for making
seed balls.
Trible people should be educated to collect
seeds that convert into trees and that can be
planted in the same forest to increase the
density of green cover.
The seeds can be used alone for plantation
in case of the rainy season.
The tourist must be encouraged to carry
seeds which can convert into trees after
germination, to remote areas or deserted
lands.
Seed ball campaigns can be a part of
National Service Scheme (NSS) activities.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that the
seed ball technique, a low-cost, locally
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Journal of
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e-ISSN: 2582-3132
Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
developed method, can be utilized to regenerate
vegetation in previously deforested areas. The
seedlings' establishment and survival were aided
by the added nutrients and growth-promoting
elements in the seed ball mix. The vast array of
species found in India can be used to obtain the
seeds needed to manufacture seed balls. Many
trusts, educational institutions (colleges, dairies,
etc.), political groups, groups of people, and
individuals are participating in the production
and distribution of seed balls, demonstrating the
value of the method.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The images of trees and seeds included
in the paper are derived from Google Images.
REFERENCES
1. V L Atkinson (2003), “Mine and industrial
site revegetation in the semi-arid zone,
North-Eastern Eyre Peninsula, South
Australia”, [Online] Available at:
http://www.secheresse.info/spip.php?article
9981.
2. A Balkrishna, V Arya and A K Kushwaha
(2020). Population structure, regeneration
status and conservation measures of
threatened Cyathea Spp., Journal of
Tropical Forest Science, 32(4), 414-421,
Available at:
https://info.frim.gov.my/infocenter_applicat
ions/jtfsonline/jtfs/v32n4/414-421.pdf.
3. AGROVOC, “Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO)”,
[Online] Available at:
https://www.fao.org/agrovoc/institutions/fo
od-and-agriculture-organization-united-
nations.
4. L D. Farlee (2013). Direct seeding of fine
hardwood tree species. Proceedings of the
Seventh Walnut Council Research
Symposium, (pp. 31-47). GTR-NRS-P-115,
Available at: https://htirc.org/wp-
content/themes/child_theme/assets/newslett
ers/nov-2013/06farlee-p-115.pdf.
5. K D. Holl (2017). Research directions in
tropical forest restoration, Annals of the
Missouri Botanical Garden, 102(2), 237-
250, Available at:
https://doi.org/10.3417/2016036.
6. C C. Jakovac, F Bongers, TW. Kuyper, et al
(2016). Land use as a filter for species
composition in Amazonian secondary
forests, Journal of Vegetation Science,
27(6), 1104-1116, Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12457.
7. J Jayawardhane and G Amta (2020).
Restoration success evaluation of a thinned
and enriched pine plantation in Sri Lanka,
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 32(4),
402-413, Available at:
https://info.frim.gov.my/infocenter_applicat
ions/jtfsonline/jtfs/v32n4/402-413.pdf.
8. C Ikenna Nwankwo, L Herrmann and G
Neumann (2018). Physical and chemical
optimisation of the seedball
technologyaddressing pearl millet under
Sahelian conditions, Journal of Agriculture
and Rural Development in the Tropics and
Subtropics, 119(2), 67-79, Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/33
0619803_Physical_and_chemical_optimisat
ion_of_the_seedball_technology_addressin
g_pearl_millet_under_Sahelian_conditions.
9. L P. Shoo, K Freebody, J Kanowski and C
P. Catterall (2015). Slow recovery of
tropical old-field rainforest regrowth and
the value and limitations of active
restoration, Conservation Biology, 30(1),
121-132, Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12606.
10. C Tamilarasan, R Jerlin and K Raja (2021).
Seed ball technique for enhancing the
establishment of subabul (leucaena
leucocephala) under varied habitats,
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 33(3),
349-355, Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/27039923.
11. S Narayan Hota, A Kumar Karna, PK Jain
and B Dakhad (2018). Effect of gibberellic
acid on germination, growth and survival of
jamun (Syzygium cumini L. Skeels), The
Pharma Innovation Journal, 7(8), 323-326,
Available at:
https://www.thepharmajournal.com/archive
s/2018/vol7issue8/PartF/7-7-184-645.pdf.
12. E Ceccon, E J. González and C Martorell
(2015). Is direct seeding a biologically
viable strategy for restoring forest
ecosystems? Evidences from a meta-
analysis, Land Degradation and
Development, 27(3), 511-520, Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2421.
8
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e-ISSN: 2582-3132
Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
APPENDIX
Table 1: Botanical and Common Names, Families, Image and Seeds of Plants that can be used for
Seed ball making.
Sr.
No.
Botanical
Name
Common
Name
Name of
Family
Photo of Plant
Photo of Seeds
1.
Acacia
arabicae
Willd.
Kikar
Mimosaceae
2.
Acacia
concinna
Willd.
Sikakai
Mimosaceae
3.
Acacia
fernesiana (L.)
Willd.
Ghand
Babul
Mimosaceae
4.
Aegle
marmelos L.
Bael
Patter
(Bel
Patra)
Rutaceae
5.
Albizia
lebbeck Benth.
Siris
Mimosaceae
6.
Anthocephalus
cadamba Mig.
Kadam
Rubiaceae
7.
Azadirachta
indica (A.)
Juss.
Neem
Meliaceae
8.
Cannavis
sativa L.
Bhang
Cannabidaceae
9
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Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
9.
Cassia fistula
L.
Amaltash
Leguminosae
10.
Cassia nodusa
Ham.
Gulabi
Amaltash
Caesalpiniaceae
11.
Citrus limon
Burmann.
Nimbu
Rutaceae
12.
Elaeocarpus
ganitrus Roxb.
Rudraksh
Elaeocarpaceae
13.
Emblica
officinalis
Gaertn.
Anwla
Euphorbiaceae
14.
Eugenia
jambolana
Lam.
Jamoha
Myrtaceae
15.
Ficus religiosa
L.
Pipal
Moraceae
16.
Jacranda mimosaefolia
D.Don.
Nili
Gulmohar
Bignoniaceae
17.
Lagerstroemia
flos-
reginae Retz.
Jarul
Lythraceae
18.
Lawsonia alba
L.
Mahendi
Lythraceae
19.
Madhuca
indica Gmel
Mahua
Sapotaceae
10
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Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
20.
Melia
azadirachta L.
Neem
Meliaceae
21.
Phoenix
dactylifera L.
Khajur
Palmae
22.
Prunus
amygdalus
Batsch.
Badam
Rosaceae
23.
Pterocarpus
santalinus L.
Lal
Chandan
Fabaceae
24.
Tamarindus
indica L.
Imli
Leguminosae
25.
Pithecellobium
dulce
Goras
Imli
Fabaceae
26.
Manilkara
hexandra
Rayan/
Khirni
Sapotaceae
27.
Tectona
grandis L.f.
Teak
Verbenaceae
28.
Terminalia
arjuna Wight.
Arn.
Arjun
Combretaceae
29.
Terminalia
bellerica
Roxb.
Baheda
Combretaceae
30.
Terminalia
chebula Retz.
Harad
Combretaceae
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Volume-8, Issue-1 (January-April, 2023)
31.
Thevetia
nerifolia Juss.
Pili
Kaner
Apocynaceae
