Suggestions for Living fence

[yawer]

Arif sb the history goes as below;

As a first step wanted to have water arrangement, so asked a local person for digging a 10" dia hole. Advantage is that one can lower two pumps at one time, one as a backup. Before that he brought a water diviner with him who pointed out one place. Although myself being a Geophysicist and done so much work on underground water exploration, found it hard to believe but accepted his decided place. One of my neighbor farm holder Maj Zahid then asked me to contact Maj Tanvir who is supposedly more expert in water divining and hence he came and finally pointed out a sweet water place. (rather two places). The driller asked for 500rs/foot cost and drilled till 170 feet (which was a bad decision but not worst). Casing class C or D perhaps cost around 200rs/foot. As my land falls in Potohar area so water scarcity is an issue but this hole gave just enough water with which I could manage fruit trees (around 250) as well other plants.
The next issue was power source and pump. Asked the Xen, who asked for 3.5 lacs for transformer, 1.5lacs as commission. So I said forget it. I wont pay for something which will give me loadshedding in addition to misuse by caretaker and wrong billings as a bonus !!!
Decided for Solar. DC pump system was costly, around 5-6 lacs. So went for AC pump system with fewer solar panels, a converter, two wet batteries. Cost was within 2 lacs. This also gave me around surplus 1800 watts of energy which I can use if I decide to construct a place for living too. I have lowered 2 AC pumps (cheap prices) in one borehole.
Now it has been almost a year I am using this system, and feel very happy and contended that I didn't go for IESCO connection. Further, the living room place (one room) for my farm handers (2 of them), have also solar panel with which they can use 2 inside lights, 4 outside, mobile charger, a bed room freezer, and a pedestal fan. So no load shedding and no bills.

Now I plan to have one more bore hole around 300 feet deep adjacent to the existing one, but 6" dia (145rs/foot cost) and will remove one pump from existing one to put it inside this new borehole. Existing solar panels would be used. This way I will have two parallel systems for watering, that will provide a safe backup in case of any malfunction in one borehole.

Sorry for such a detailed reply but thought it might help. I shall post the pictures of the system as shall visit on coming weekend.

regards

[yawer]

Arib sb pictures are attached which I took today.
First One although not related much but 4 experimental maize beds. Left 2 being sprayed by a Bio Spray (herbal one) and showing visible signs of better growth and health.

2nd one is the solar system for Room for farm hander and can be seen in background sowing vegetable seeds. On right is half of the fence and also where construction is being done for a poultry shed.

Third one is the Main Solar System and if you can notice a small cement marker on right side, that will be the place for 2nd borehole. This is the extreme backend of the farm towards the river side.

regards,

[azhaque]

Haque Sb.,

..... Uforbia as first line (Thorny and flowers). Next line is of Kaner. In between is Motia. : Karonda plants, then Pyracanthra (Firethorn), and then Mardan Roses and other roses till end.

..... I have started planting Lemons of all kinds (Kathis, chinease, Lisbon, Eureka etc ) on left side as it is almost 600 feet long fence. So far managed to complete 200 feet.

I hope my experiment with this fence may help you. I have though one question to ask you, and that is, from where you plan to get Sea buck thorn. This bush has very good medicinal value, but as far as I know, mostly grown in Kashmir. Some researcher in NARC has tried in Islamabad but so far no success perhaps.

regards and best of luck with your living fence.

Yawer Sb,

Assalam o Alaikum.

Thank you very much for this very helpful reply. I am sorry for the late response but I was a little busy elsewhere.

Could you please also advise me about the source of your plants/seeds that you used. I am new here and would like to tap into your experience in this field.

I have started with Bairy (Jujube). It is extensively used as a part of living fences in this area, particularly the citrus gardens. I will now add Firethorn to the list.

I have asked a friend in Gilgit to get me Seabuck Thorn seeds. I am hoping that these will also proliferate even if there is no fruiting. The idea is to use its thorns as a fence rather than its fruit. Someone also told me that Seabuck Thorn may not survive here due to the high temps. in summer. Well, let us see for ourselves if that is true.

Thank you again for your helpful reply.

azhaque

[newton]

I cant see what is wrong with using the traditional ber or Jujube. It grows well and can be layered regularly to make an impenetrable barrier.

[yawer]

Extensive research has been done by NARC on Sea buck Thorn (Karismati Jhari, as they call it), the miracle bush. I went to NARC to inquire and they said not successful yet to grow here. Anyhow, you can try as I also feel probably the best choice for a fence. The fence I am making as described in my earlier posts are not from seeds but I prefer to buy plants. Karonda, Roses, Pyracanthas, and all types of Lemons, have been bought as plants. As the fence is very long , almost 600 feet on one side, so would be finished planting by end of February. Jujube as suggested by Newton is also fine as long as you keep it trimmed on top so that lower branches remain intact and doesn't wither away with time. As fence requires full cover from top to bottom, so I would always prefer thorny vines because of faster horizontal propagation.

My source of plants vary from Nursery to Nursery depending upon who has kept the best and healthy variety. e.g., Karonda is from Wapda Town Lahore nursery, Roses are from H8 nurseries in Islamabad, Lemons are from Dr Iftikhar in Gujjar Khan and few from GT Road nurseries too. However, for fruit trees I usually prefer Dr. Iftikhar. For grapes variety, nursery on Simly Dam Road specializes in several varieties.

regards

[azhaque]

Yawer and NewtonSahib,

Thank you both for the quick and very helpful replies.

Yawer Sb, your posts on the solar based pumping was helpful in crystallizing a decision on a similar situation. I plan to use diesel generator and solar. At a later stage I would like to move to wind and slowly wean away from diesel.

Cost of solar, particularly the batteries is still in a prohibitive range. Normal wet batteries are only conducive for small loads like fans and bulbs. Therefore a diesel is required since I planning to start building a house.

Regards
azhaque

[newton]

Some of the plants you have chosen will eventually become thick woody trees with large gaps at the base defeating the purpose of the exercise.

To remain effective as a barrier with little or no gaps in the UK they utilise a method called hedge laying. It is a form of coppicing where the main uprights are cut through almost 3/4 of the way close to the ground and then layed down towards the ground. As the sap from the roots continues to rise this encourages side shoots to develop. If the branches growing to the front and back are then trimmed off or woven back into the body of the hedge it makes a secure impenetrable barrier. Every so often stakes are driven into the ground to keep the boundary lines straight and the hedge structure strong until it is well established.

In our Pakistan climate Jujube (ber) or some species of Kikkar would be an ideal candidate for this type of hedging. Neither requiring much watering needs after the initial settling periods. It can be kept to a manageable height of 4-6 feet. There are additional benefits to the birds and other wildlife however some people may consider this as more of problem. It all has to be balanced. Upon maturity hedges like this can be strong enough to keep out cattle, goats, wild boar and 2 legged thieves.

Some more info and varying techniques http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedge_laying

Another fascinating option is binding the individual hedge plants into a single living whole by osculation/pleaching or inosculation. Its advantages are that eventually all the plants end up sharing sustenance, so out of a long osculated hedge technically only the end two plants need food and water. Any large tree or structures growing adjacent need not be catastrophic to the plants within its canopy. That's a technique for the more dedicated gardeners amongst us but rest assured the results when established look stunning.

Some more info and varying techniques http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/good_wood/pleachng.htm

Good luck