Careful planning is required for biomass production, which consists of integration of different techniques and improved methods. The general sequence for biomass production is the integration of different techniques and improved methods starting from site survey, nursery techniques, transplanting techniques and maintenance of the plantation. The production techniques include:

• Site survey

• Planting site selection

• Species selection

• Preparation of the planting site

• Preparation of the soil mixture

• Sowing of seed

• Method of sowing

• Transplanting of seedling into containers

• Transport of seedlings to the planting site

• Maintenance of the plantations

After successful plantation of biomass it is harvested by various methods such as:

• Coppicing

It is one of the most widely used harvesting methods in which the tree is cut at the base, usually between 15 and 75 cm above the ground level. New shoots develop from the stamp or root. These shoots are sometimes referred to as sucker or sprouts. Management of sprouts should be carried out according to use. For fuel wood the number of sprouts allowed to grow, should depend on the desired sizes of fuel wood. If many sprouts are allowed to grow for a long period, the weight of the sprouts may cause the sprouts to tear away from the main trunk. Several rotations of coppicing are usually possible with many species. The length of the rotation period depends on the required tree products from the plantation. It is a suitable method for production of fuel wood. Most eucalyptus species and many species of the leguminous family, mainly naturally accessing shrubs can be harvested by coppicing.

• Pollarding

It is the harvesting system in which the branches including the top of the tree are cut, at a height of about 2 m above the ground and the main trunk is allowed to stand. The new shoots emerge from the main stem to develop a new crown. This results into a continuous increase in the diameter of the main stem although not in height. Finally, when the tree loses its sprouting vigor, the main stem is also cut for use as large diameter poles. An advantage of this method over coppicing is that the new shoots are high enough off the ground so that they are out of reach of most grazing animals. The neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is usually harvested in this manner. The branches may be used for poles and fuel wood.

• Lopping

In this method most of the branches of the tree are cut. The fresh foliage starts sprouting from the bottom to the top of the denuded stem in spite of severe defoliation, surprisingly quickly. The crown also re-grows and after a few years, the tree is lopped again. The lopped trunk continues to grow and increases in height, unless this is deliberately prevented by pruning it at the top.

• Pruning

It is a very common harvesting method. It involves the cutting of smaller branches and stems. The clipped materials constitute a major source of biomass for fuel and other purposes, such as fodder mulching between tree rows. It is also often required for the maintenance of fruit and forage trees, alley cropping and live fences. The process of pruning also increases the business of trees and shrubs for bio fencing. Root pruning at a required distance from the hole is effective to reduce border tree competition with crops for water and nutrients.

• Thinning

It is a traditional forestry practice and in fuel wood plantation, it can also be of importance. The primary objectives of thinning are to enhance diametric growth of some specific trees through early removal of poor and diseased trees to improve the plantation by reducing the competition for light and nutrients. Depending on initial plant density, initial thinning can be used for fuel wood or pole production.