A. S. Dogra , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

Eucalyptus hybrid has been planted in Punjab in linear strips along roads and canals, in small forest blocks and on farmer's fields in association with agricultural crops under agroforestry systems. The number of Eucalyptus and Poplar trees growing outside forests exceeds 28 million. Such tree planting practices have expanded the opportunity to increase wood production and slow down CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere. Data on diameter at breast height, tree height, fresh weight of different tree components (timber, small wood, fuel wood, leaves) of 95 Eucalyptus hybrid trees with diameter at breast height ranging from 7.1- 56.3 cm and height from 10.0-42.0 m across Punjab state in seven forest divisions were collected to develop prediction equations for weight (fresh and air dry) of different tree components and estimate carbon stock and amount of CO₂ removed from atmosphere. The logarithmic model Y= b₁ D^b2 H^b3 with two variables, diameter and tree height, was found to be the best fit with a high R² (0.99, P<0.01). Based on sampled trees, Eucalyptus hybrid grown under Punjab's climatic conditions attained an average air dry timber density of 550 ± 28 kg/m³. A conversion factor of 0.524 ± 0.026 to convert fresh weight to air dry weight of small wood and fuelwood was also estimated. From the best-fit equations, user-friendly tables for above ground biomass, carbon stock and amount of CO₂ removed were also developed.

Keywords

Eucalyptus Hybrid, Above Ground Biomass, Carbon Sequestration Potential, Punjab

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A. S. Dogra , Anoop Upadhyay , S. C. Sharma , S. K. Chauhan

Abstract

State-wise assessment of forest/tree cover shows an almost constant trend in the extent of forest/tree cover in most of the States and Union Territories over the last one and a half decades. The only possibility of increasing tree cover lies in promoting tree growing outside forests, particularly in the vast tracts of Culturable Non-Forest Area (CNFA), estimated to be around 66 % of the country's total geographical area. Punjab, with a forest and tree cover of only 6.33 per cent has about 84 per cent of its land under agricultural use. Diversification from intense and over-exhaustive agriculture is needed, which is not only depleting soil of its nutrients and lowering ground-water table crops but also proving to be an environmental hazard as well because of indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides. This requires technological and policy interventions in critical areas thereby offering to the farmers practical, viable and economically attractive alternate land use options. Agroforestry offers a better livelihood strategy to farmers due to relatively low input costs, flexible labour requirements, higher profitability, diversity of income sources, and more negotiating power at marketing stage than with annual crops. Interest in trees is higher with increasing opportunity cost of labour. Tree-crop combinations have been found to give better economic returns than trees or annual crops alone. This paper analyzed the yields and economic returns from poplar, clonal Eucalyptus, which are fast emerging as the most preferred tree species for agroforestry and also the prospects of Teak for plantation on farmlands. The yields and returns are based on the data collected from sample plots of poplar and teak laid out in the different agro-climatic zones in Punjab. Analysis for clonal Eucalyptus is based on a study by Haryana Forest Department and a four years old trial by Pragati Biotech in Punjab.

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A. S. Dogra , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

A trial comprising 16 accessions of Eucalyptus species and provenances introduced from different locations in Australia was established in Ferozepur Forest Division of Punjab in 1982 to evaluate differences in growth and yield. Data on various growth parameters were collected from the experimental plot up to the age of 8.5 years. Basal area ranged from 12.6 to 29.5 m² ha^-1 with the Laura area provenance of Eucalyptus tereticornis having the highest value. Statistical analyses showed significant differences between provenances in growth parameters assessed. Mean annual increment, measured in terms of product of diameter square and height (D²H), varied from 19.7 to 68.8 m³ ha^-1years and was again the highest in E.tereticornis, Laura area source, which exhibited superiority over control. It is recommended that E.tereticornis of Laura Area and four other species/provenances including control, which were not significantly inferior to it, may be used as the source for tree improvement.

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A. S. Dogra , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

Eucalyptus hybrid is an important tree for social and agro-forestry plantations in Punjab. Data from 111 felled trees ranging in diameter from 7.1 cm to 55.7 cm and height from 10.0 m to 36.4 m has been analysed to predict total wood volume over bark upto 5 cm thin end diameter. The paper concludes that Logarithmic model (with two variables , diameter and height) gives the best fit. The technique helps in stabilizing the variance and the model conforms to the theory of least squares. Results show that in Punjab , as compared to Chaturvedi's equations , the volume produced is slightly higher due to initial irrigation at the time of establishment.

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P. K. Pande , J. D. S. Negi , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

Vegetation composition, species diversity, distribution pattern and other parameter of vegetation analysis along with the population structure and regeneration behaviour of some tree species in a Western Himalayan forest of Chakrata Forest Division (Uttaranchal) were studied. The possibility of future composition changes was also explored. The whole area is divided into three sites as per their aspect and altitudes (site-I - alt. 1,700 masl, aspect N-Ej site-II - alt. 2,050 masl, aspect, N, and site-III, alt., 2,100 masl, aspect, N-W). The communities for these sites were identified as Cedrus deodara forest (site-I),
Cedrus deodara-Quercus leucotrichophora-Pinus wallichiana (site-II) and
Q. leucotrichophora-C. deodara-P. wallichiana (site-III). Total density range for the tree species (plant 100 m-¹) was 4.51-6.64; 23.56-41.62 for shrubs and 7,280-11,920 for herbaceous species; while the range for total basal cover (cm² 100m-² ) was in between 0.332-0.938 for trees; 9.50-18.81 cm²100m-² for shrubs and 235-323 cm²100 m-² for herbaceous species. Most of the species in all the sites showed contiguous pattern of distribution, however some species were also randomly distributed. Maximum diversity of trees was observed for site-III and for herb and shrubs species diversity values were highest for sites II and III respectively. However, lowest diversity was recorded for the herbaceous layer in site-III. Further, increasing altitude showed increase in tree diversity. Concentration of dominance showed reverse trend to diversity. Sites II and III were most similar sites, whereas sites I and III were most dissimilar sites. Highesio turnover of tree species was recorded between sites I and III; for shrub species, these were site-II and III and maximum turnover for herb species was recorded between sites I and II. In all the studied sites, the dominant species has shown good regeneration potential as evidenced by the presence of adequate number of seedling, sapling and distribution of boles among almost all gbh classes.

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P. K. Pande , J. D. S. Negi , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

In this paper, species diversity, species turn-over and resource apportionment among the various species at selected sites of Western-Himalayan forest situated at Sandev, Distt. Pithoragarh (U.P.) are described. The whole are is divided into four sub sites as per their aspect, altitude and vegetation. In general, Quercusleucotrichophora, Pieris ovalifolia, Rhododendron arboreum, Alnus nepalensis and Macaranga denticulata dominate the site except site-III, where Pinus rOlCburghii forms its community with P. ovalifolia and R. arboreum. The density value range (plant/100m²) was 6.37-12.37 for tree layer; 21-74 for shrubs and 6182-11400 for herb layer. Total basal cover (cm²/100m²) ranged in between 1986-4612 for tree layer; 17-50 for shrubs and 246-497 for herbaceous layer. Diversity.index is higher for herbs and lowest for trees. Site-IV is more diverse than of the other sites for trees and shrubs while site-II is more diverse than of the other sites as far as herbs are concerned. Site-III and IV are the more similar sites whereas site-I and IV showed least similarity. In general, log and log-normal distribution of species is followed by most of the Bites for all the life.forms, which is indicative of higher interspecific competition among the various species at their respective sites.

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V. K. Misra , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

The phytogeographical analysis of the flora of north-central Uttar Pradesh was made during its floristic survey (2004-2009). A total of 944 angiospermic species belonging to 510 genera and 130 families are reported from the study area and these are classified into 13 floristic elements viz. Pantropical (27.12%), Indian (19.6%), Indo-Malayan (17.27%), Neotropical (9.32%), Tropical Indo-African (8.37%), Cosmopolitan (6.04%), Temperate (4.03%), Eurasian (3.28%), Mediterranean (2.54%), Indo-Chinese (0.85%), Austro-Asian (0.64%), Sudano-Rajasthanian (0.64%) and Saharo-Sindian (0.32%). The dominance of pantropical elements in the study area may be due to the adaptation of entrant species to the typical tropical climatic conditions prevailing during major part of the year. The phytogeographical richness of the study area may be due to its unique geographical location where different climatic zones are appearing to be merged with one another.

Keywords

North-Central Uttar Pradesh, Floristic elements, Phytogeography, Vegetation

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Piare Lal , A. S. Dogra , S. C. Sharma , G. B. S. Chahal

Abstract

The dependence of human population as well as livestock on forests all over the world to meet the requirements led to degradation of forests, natural resources and depletion of floral/ faunal diversity. The degradation of forests threatens the ecology and has resulted in climate change. India's forests have very low growing stock 65 m³/ha compared to world average of 110 m³/ha. Similarly mean annual increment is also very low 0.5 m³/ha/year compared to world average 2.1 m³/ha/year. Therefore it is needed to improve the productivity of forest resources and plantations by planting of high yielding species or clones to meet the forest based growing needs of the inhabitants. Eucalyptus and Poplar have been widely grown in Punjab either under agroforestry or as block plantations. Generally Eucalyptus is raised through seed that brings lot of variation. The eucalypts, a fast growing species and widely adopted in Punjab has tremendous scope for raising through clonal technology to keep it true to type and maintain its superiority. Keeping this objective, clonal research and demonstration plot was planted at a spacing of 4 × 2 m with 36 clones and seedling source as control at Semi (Jallandhar, Punjab) during August 2001. The clonal material is derived from E. tereticornis, E. camaldulensis and E. hybrid. The periodical data on diameter at breast height (d.b.h), height and volume was recorded. The most productive clones (2070, 285, 316, 288, 498, 286 and 2045) in clonal testing area (CTA-1) were ranging with m.a.i. from 24 to 30 m³/ha/year at 4 years age. The clones (601, 2029, 2054, 2152 and 2011) suffered heavy damage by wind in this experiment. The most productive clones (413, 407, 285, 290, 105 and 72) in CTA-2 were ranging with m.a.i. 30 - 36 m³/ ha/year at 4 years age. The clones 285 and 290 suffered crown damage heavily during winter where as 271, 272 and 315 led to low productivity due to wind damage. The clone 413 performed significantly superior among all other clones at 4 years of age. The present study revealed that clones 2070, 316, 288, 413 and 407 can be considered for plantations under Punjab conditions. However, new 42 CPTs have also been selected by Punjab State Forest Department from their old plantations of Eucalyptus to improve gene bank for future multiplication of promising clones.

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R. S. Dhanda , G. P. S. Dhillon , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

No reference on timber volume and biomass estimation of Leucaena leucocephala is available for Punjab State. The timber volume and weight tables for estimation of timber volume and above-ground biomass have been prepared based on destructive sampling of Leucaena trees for ready use by the tree growers, wood contractors, State Forest Department, researchers and plannners.

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J. D. S. Negt , S. C. Sharma , P. L. Taneja

Abstract

Stemflow, throughfall and interception loss were studied in Pinus caribaea plantation at two different spacings (2 × 2 m, 3.5 × 3.5 m). The Interception loss (11.3%) was observed more in wide spacing compare to the close one. Equations for computing throughfall and stemflow have been developed to estimate the storage capacity of the entire canopy. The influxes of macro-nutrients in bulk precipitation and canopy Wash were measured during the peak rainfall months The nutrients added by bulk precipitation and canopy wash were: Ca 24.59, N 23.07, K 7.26, Mg 5.09 and P 0.21; K 13.26. ea 9.86, Mg 6.39, N 5.94 and P 0.19 kg ha-¹ yr-¹ respectively.

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P. K. Pande , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

Nutrient conservation through biochemical cycling in four plantations of sal, teak, pine and eucalypts was studied. In general, sal and teak conserved higher amount of nutrients than pine and eucalypts. The conservation of phosphorus was more than the nitrogen. Nitrogen and phosphorous conservation was more than those of other nutrients in all the plantations. The lower conservation of nutrients in eucalypts compared to the other species may cause nutrient loss from the stand through leaching/run-off during wet period, especially in well drained soils.

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V. R. S. Rawal , A. P. S. Bist , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

No abstract

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J. D. S. Negi , S. C. Sharma , S. T. S. Lepcha

Abstract

Biomass and nutrient accumulation at two sites of shrub land ecosystems were studies in Tehri Dam-I Division of Garbwal Himalaya. Carrissa spinarum and Indigofera mulchella are two colonising shrub species on the degraded slopes framing a close association. Biomass production at boant site (22.7 t ha^-1) was observed more than that of unbornt (13.5 t ha ¹). Substantial amount of nutrients are conserved in the biomass.

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J. D. S. Negi , S. C. Sharma , D. C. Sharma

Abstract

The paper describes various methods of biomass estimation in forest ecosystems with their limitations and applicability. Some comparisons have also been made between the conventional stratified tree techniques and other methods and the regression technique has been found to be satisfactory for wider application or where the destructive sampling is not desirable.

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P. K. Pande , A. P. S. Bisht , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

The present study deals with the comparative vegetation analysis of the four plantations of sal, teak, pine and eucalypts at New Forest, Dehra Dun. The higher density values and species richness in the plantations of pine, sal and teak were due to the stand maturity. The total basal cover (cm² 100 m^-2) followed the order; Pine (5308.33)> sal (4002.21)> teak (2887.27)> eucalypts (1106.88), whereas IVI was the highest for eucalypts and sal (300) followed by teak (203.18) and pine (142.61) in their respective plantations. Comparatively, more diversity was observed for pine, while minimum for euculypts stand on both density and IVI basis. The distribution pattern of different tree species was contagious in all the plantations except pine, where it was random for most of the species. The highest values of concentration of dominance (on IVI basis) observed for sal and eucalypts, are attributed to the monospecific nature of their stands. In conclusion, it seems that different silvicultural operations like thinning, burning, weeding, etc. may create a possible route for the invasion of new species even during the premature age of the plantation.

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J. D. S. Negi , S. C. Sharma , A. P. S. Bisht

Abstract

Studies on forest floor and soil nutrient reserve (0-25 cm) under five eucalypts (E. acmenoides, E. eugenoides, E. paniculata, E. pilularis and E. propinqua) plantations were carried out in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. These studies reveal that the forest floor behaviour was similar to that of tropical forest, while the soil nutrient status was akin to the temperate forest of the world. Thus, the soil nutrient status is well developed under eucalypts plantation.

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S. C. Sharma , K. Gurumurti

Abstract

A simple device to control misting inside the mist chamber has been fabricated. This device consists of a control unit which activates or inactivates the water pump through a sensing device placed inside the mist chamber. This device is highly useful to maintain saturated vapour pressure inside the mist chamber, at the same time prevents both overwatering and underwatering of experimental plants. The cost of fabrication of this device, including control unit is only Rs. 250. The device can also be used for controlled nursery irrigation and lawn irrigation.

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P. K. Pande , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

The present study deals With the Patterns in leaf-fall, its seasonality and litter accretion in four plantations of sal, leak, pine, and eucalypts. The leaf-fall followed the order (in kg/hal sal (8286.21), eucalypts (9908.12), teak (5009.42) pine (4780.82) while tolal litter was in order of sal (11271.08> pine(9674.30) eucalypts (7069 .8) and teak. The variation in amounts of litter fall has been reasoned for evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous nature of the tree species as well as the density of the respective stand and associated tree species. A clear-cut pattern was observable in sal, with a maxima in leaf-fall during the months of March-April, while pine and teak showed during the months of April-May. Eucalypts recorded bimodal patterns of leaf-fall, one peak (22%) durinq october - November the other (18.8%) during April-May. The first peak supposed to be genetically determined and the second environmentally stressed. In conclusion it has been assumed that eucalypts plantations are unale to draw the advantage of their leaf-fall probably due to lag in time between the active growth of the plant and subsequent decomposition of the deposited leaf-fall and litter.

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J. D. S. Negi , S. C. Sharma

Abstract

The distribution of organic matter in an age series of Eucalyptus Hybrid plantation. In Tamil Nadu has been discussed . It was observed that (i) the rotation age for E. hybrid can be fixed at 7 years where the mean Annaual Production (MAP) is at the maximum,(ii) Pollachi seems to be comparatively better site for E. hybrid planting presumbly due to higher leaf efficiency and (iii) to increase the productivity in a coppicied crop thinning is essential as the lower stand density gives a better chance for high leaf production and consequently higher biomass.

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S. C. Sharma , J. D. S. Negi

Abstract

the paper summerises the impact of plantation foresty in general with special references to Eucalyptus plantation - a much talked about issue of the day. To be able to conserve the environment can-gained to the human inhabitation require the fuller understanding of mam-made ecosystem in terms of in-put and out-put in tatality. Of the many environmental factor which influences the human environment , in the present writeup, a possible role of nutrient dynamics has been detailed out. However, it is not easy to set the clock back early realisation of the facts must be analysed in its right perspective to save the humankind

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S. C. Sharma , V. K. Srivastava

Abstract

Distribution of organic matter in differenf tree components of 3,5,9, 11 and 13 years old plantations of Pinus patula has heen discussed. The total biomass ranges from 7 tonnes (3 years) to 194 tonnes (9 years) per ha with 82 to 87 per cent being contributed by the aboveground parts and 13 to 18 per cent by ischolar_main.

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Sanjeev K. Chauhan , S. C. Sharma , R. Chauhan , Naveen Gupta , Ritu

Abstract

The increasing level ot green house gases in general and carbon dioxide in particular has raised concerns about the vulnerability of human, animal and plant life. Forests though serve as source and sink of the CO₂ there is need to synthesize the impact of climate change on forests and the role of forests in global carbon cycle. Soil accounts for a major organic carbon pool, which needs to be quantified in tree based systems. At a rotation of seven years, poplar timber carbon content was 23.57t/ha and an equal amount was contributed by ischolar_mains, leaves and tree bark. The contribution of branches was 24 per cent of the total 62,48t poplar biomass (carbon storage) in seven years. Soil organic carbon increase was also substantial under tree-crop interface than sole wheat cultivation. The annual biomass in agroforestry intervention not only accumulated sixty per cent more carbon but a major portion of carbon is stored over a longer period than the sole crop.

Keywords

Poplar-wheat Intercropping, Productivity, Carbon Sequestration, Organic Carbon

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