August 03,2018
By Deepak Karthik
The Tamil month of Aadi is considered the apt time to sow seeds as the northeast monsoon will begin in a few months. A group of youngsters threw seed balls on vacant lands adjacent to the Trichy-Madurai stretch of the national highway on Friday on the occasion of Aadi Perukku to increase the green cover of the city.
Environmentalists, who participated in the event, said only 10% of seed balls thrown would survive while the other seed balls comprising quality soil and micro-nutrients would serve as natural manure.
Organised by Trichy-based Omega Healthcare Private Limited and e-NGO Shine TREEchy, around 50 members participated in the drive covering localities between Mannarpuram roundabout and Manikandam on the highway.
Around 3,000 seed balls comprising seeds of native breeds including pongamia (pungai), neem, tamarind, manila tamarind (kodukkapuli) and Indian lilac (vembu) beside 12 other native tree species were rolled by participants under the guidance of environmental enthusiasts.
A mixture of clay, red soil, compost, and seeds were rolled together to form a seed ball weighing 150 to 200 gram each, with water sprayed over the mixture periodically to make it flexible.
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