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N. Gurunathan , P. Srimathi , M. Paramathma , K. T. Parthiban , K. Kumaran

Abstract

Studies made with Jatropha curcas on seed priming with different growth regulators, temperatures and durations with the constant seed to solution ratio of 3:2 revealed that priming with IBA 200 ppm at ambient temperature for a duration of 12 to 24 h enhanced the quality characters of Jatropha seedling raised at nursery to evaluate its performance in production of quality seedlings.

Keywords

Jatropha curcas, Quality Seedlings, Seed Priming, Growth Regulators

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K. T. Parthiban , M. Govinda Rao

Abstract

Industrial plantations have been recognized as an integrated part of Indian forestry in the recent past to meet the growing needs of industries, besides satisfying domestic demands. The forest as well as agricultural policies of the country have recommended strong farmerlinked industrial wood plantation through benefit-sharing mechanism. Against this backdrop, the pulp and paper industries in the State of Tamil Nadu have promoted agro- and farmforestry-based industrial wood plantations through technological support from Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Mettupalayam (T.N.). This paper describes the successful establishment of Eucalyptus and Casuarinas based pulpwood plantations in the state. During 2004-05 to 2006-07, 19,349 acres have been covered in which 91% of the plantations were established in farmlands through people's participation.

Keywords

Industrial Agroforestry, Pulpwood, Tamil Nadu

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K. T. Parthiban , M. Paramathma , R. Jude Sudhagar , K. S. Neelakantan

Abstract

No abstract

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V. George Jenner , M. G. Dasthagir , K. T. Parthiban , R. Jude Sudhagar

Abstract

Experiments were carried out with a view to assess the variability in 23 one-parent families of Mahua [Madhuca latifolia (Roxb) Macbrid], representing different agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu. Results indicated distinct variation among the 23 one-parent families in respect of seed characters like seed length, seed breadth, seed length : seed breadth ratio, hundred seed weight and oil content and seedling traits like shoot length, basal diameter, ischolar_main length, number of leaves and total dry weight. Out of the 23 one-parent families studied, TNAU and Paiyur-I were found to be suitable for short rotation forestry practices.

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K. T. Parthiban , M. Paramathma , R. Jude Sudhagar

Abstract

No abstract

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K. T. Parthiban , R. Seenivasan , M. Govinda Rao

Abstract

The State of Tamil Nadu is housed with 39 paper mills of which two mills viz., Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd, Karur and Seshasayee Paper Board, Erode are the wood based paper industries. These two industries utilize around 4 lakh tonnes of woody biomass, which are mostly derived from Casuarina and Eucalyptus plantations of Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation and partly from farm lands. But recently, both the mills have expanded their paper production, which requires nearly 8-10 lakhs tonnes of wood pulp against the current availability of nearly 3.5 -4.0 lakh tonnes. This ushered in a large gap between the demand and supply, thus necessitates alternate sources for raw material. To meet the growing demands and also to promote pulp wood plantations as per the guidelines of 1988 forest policy, both the industries have initiated farm and agroforestry plantations through contract farming system by adopting tri and quad-partite models. In this system, Casuarina and Eucalyptus have been promoted as pulp wood plantations. The contract farming facilitates supply of quality planting materials to the farmers at subsidized prices coupled with assurance of minimum support price and credit facilities through financial institutions. This paper discusses the success of contract farming along with the area covered under various districts of the state.

Keywords

Contract Farming, Farm Forestry/Agroforestry Plantations, Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Paper Industry

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K. T. Parthiban ¹

Affiliations
1 Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam, IN

Abstract

The Forest College and Research Institute of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has implemented a project on "A Value Chain on Industrial Agroforestry in Tamil Nadu" funded by ICAR, NAIP through a consortium mode involving research organizations, wood based industries, tree growing farmers and financial institutions. Through this consortium approach high yielding short rotation varieties in Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Melia, Subabul, Gmelina, Ailanthus and Dalbergia sissoo have been promoted and this has witnessed increased wood production (150 ton/ha) and reduction in rotation (3-5 Years). These activities have attracted several farmers towards tree husbandry and over 45000 ha. have been planted during the last 6 years in association with all stake holders. This successful industrial agroforestry plantations have experienced problem through cyclone and damages due to wild animals which necessitated development of comprehensive tree insurance programme to benefit the farmers. Hence the research group lead by the current author has conceived a comprehensive insurance plan in association with United India Insurance, Chennai and the same is introduced and implemented in Tamil Nadu which attracted over 5000 acres of plantation insurance. This tree insurance model can be extended to the rest of the Country through participation of all stake holders which will ensure protection of farm grown trees against all through abiotic and biotic damages and also protect the farmer's economic benefits. This tree insurance model may be an effective tool for legal security of agroforestry species for ravening farmers in India.

Keywords

Tree Insurance, Farm Grown Trees, Perils, Premium.

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K. T. Parthiban ¹, R. Jude Sudhagar ¹, C. Cinthia Fernandaz ¹, N. Krishnakumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agroforestry, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641 301, IN

Abstract

India is among the few tropical countries which have been reporting a progressive increase in forest cover over the past two decades. Our country being a major consumer of wood and wood products, the role of agroforestry as a viable land-use system is gaining significant attention owing to its contribution towards meeting domestic and industrial wood requirements. Growing demand coupled with legal issues in wood supply from Government-owned forests has resulted in a total mismatch between demand and supply of wood and wood products. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) conceived and implemented ‘a value chain model’ and created sustainability in industrial wood generation and supply in the state by involving a wide range of stakeholders. In order to strengthen the value chain and promote agroforestry based on the objectives envisaged in the National Agroforestry Policy of 2014, TNAU established a ‘Consortium of Industrial Agroforestry’ (CIAF) by linking stakeholders to address the issues related to production, processing and consumption in agroforestry. Keeping in line with the guidelines provided in the National Agroforestry Policy of 2014, CIAF has successfully established decentralized institutions for supply of quality planting materials to the farmers besides facilitating organized plantation developers, harvesting and marketing institutions. The activities of CIAF have paved the way for creating the much needed database in tree cultivation, development of price supportive mechanism for important farm-grown industrial wood species and reducing the risks faced by tree growers through innovative approaches like tree insurance and value addition technologies. This consortium-mode value-chain model in agroforestry holds great potential for adoption and replication across India, which would help create self-reliance in raw material security besides augmenting tree cover in the country.

Keywords

Agroforestry, Consortium Approach, Industrial Wood, Value Chain Model.

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T. M. Akhilraj ¹, K. T. Parthiban ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agroforestry, Forest College and Research Institute (TNAU), Mettupalayam (T.N.), IN

Abstract

We conducted a study to analyse the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for pulp quality parameters of Melia dubia. For this, 30 Melia dubia genetic resources were taken to analyse its physical, chemical and strength properties. Further these properties are subjected for genetic estimates. Current study shows the estimates of low GCV and PCV for many traits indicating the role of environment in the expression of the traits. Hence, the high heritability coupled with low genetic gain for all the parameters in the current study indicated that this character is strongly under genetic control as well as environmental conditions.

Keywords

Genetic Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance , Pulp Quality, Melia dubia.

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K. T. Parthiban ¹, Deepak Srivastava ², A. Keerthika ³

Affiliations
1 Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641 301, IN
2 Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Mettupalayam 600 015, IN
3 ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Pali Marwar 306 401, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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A. Keerthika ¹, K. T. Parthiban ², D. Suresh Kumar ³

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Pali Marwar 306 401, IN
2 Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam 641 301, IN
3 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, IN

Abstract

Numerous studies have underlined the benefits of cultural services from different landscapes and acknowledge the non-material benefits linking society and nature. However, cultural services from agroforestry have not been reported. Therefore, the present study was conducted in multifunctional agroforestry (MFA) comprised of 24 tree species and 8 intercrops established at the Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India. Four workshops were conducted and a total of 105 respondents were asked to fill two sets of questionnaires regarding their perception of cultural ecosystem services in MFA. Among the selected components, education and scientific knowledge (0.90) ranked first, followed by relaxation (0.86) and walking (0.84). Results from principal component analysis revealed that three components, viz. relaxation, education and scientific knowledge, and inspiration accounted for 56.60% of the variance. Respondents’ willingness to pay was Rs 33/visit on an average and multiple regression analysis indicated that the MFA model was a good fit (R2 = 0.79) for agroforestry tourism. The results indicate that MFA provides scope for agro­forestry tourism, which will be an additional source of income for small and marginal-scale farmers.

Keywords

Aesthetic and Recreation, Agroforestry Tourism, Cultural Ecosystem Services, Multifunctional Agroforestry, Willingness to Pay.

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A. Keerthika ¹, K. T. Parthiban ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Institute, Pali Marwar 306 401, IN
2 Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 301, IN

Abstract

Agroforestry is widely recognized for its role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, carbon sequestration and a marketable carbon value of smallholder agroforestry systems in India are poorly documented. Therefore, the present study was carried out to quantify carbon stock in a circular-shaped multifunctional agroforestry (MFA) divided into four equal quadrats. It comprises 24 different tree species and 8 intercrops, mainly established to provide daily income to small and marginal farmers. A nondestructive method was used to assess biomass carbon stock. Soil core samples collected from 0 to 60 cm depth were analysed to quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) stock. Results revealed significantly higher biomass and carbon stock in the following order: Neolamarckia cadamba > Melia dubia > Lagerstroemia parviflora > Dalbergia latifolia > Tectona grandis. Duncan’s multiple range test revealed significant differences in the multi-utility circles (P < 0.001). The total change in SOC stock was 11.55 Mg quadrat–1, but the difference was insignificant in different soil depths. The results indicated that the total carbon sequestration and CO2e from vegetation were 2.23 and 9.23 tonnes respectively. Similarly, CO2e from the soil were 42.37 Mg quadrat–1 respectively; the highest contributions were from quadrat II and quadrat IV of MFA. By taking into account profitability and incentives to smallholder farmers, the total marketable carbon revenue of MFA was calculated as US$ 206.40

Keywords

Biomass Carbon Stock, Multifunctional Agroforestry, Soil Organic Carbon, Total Carbon Sequestration.

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V. Venkatesh ¹, N. Chandra Sekaran ¹, V. Sanjivkumar ¹, S. Meena ¹, K. T. Parthiban ², B. Balaganesh ³, K. Subash Chandra Bose ¹, S. Murali ¹

Affiliations
1 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore 641 003, India., IN
2 Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Mettupalayam 641 301, India., IN
3 School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya University, Coimbatore 641 114, India., IN

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the impact of different nutrient management practices on soil quality in a permanent manurial experiment cotton field established in 1982 at the Agriculture Research Station of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, which falls under the dryland ecosystem of Kovilpatti in Tamil Nadu, India. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with nine different treatments. The effect of these treatments in different depths (0–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm) was compared, and the soil quality index was developed with a total of 27 parameters, including physical, chemical and biological parameters. Principal component analysis was carried out and the principal components with eigenvalue >1 were selected to determine the indicators to be retained in the minimum data­set. The highly weighted variables, viz. field capacity, available water content, cation exchange capacity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc. with a variance of 93.57% were retained for MDS. Linear scoring functions were used to transform them into unitless scores ranging from 0 to 1. Three different methods of soil quality were analysed, viz. weighed additive soil quality index (SQI_w), additive soil quality index (SQI_a) and Nemoro soil quality index (SQI_n). In all three methods, the treatment receiving farmyard manure at 12.5 t ha^–1 showed superiority in maintaining soil quality

Keywords

Cotton, Dryland Ecosystem, Nutrient Management Practices, Permanent Manurial Experiment, Soil Quality Index.

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