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Nirmal Ram , Deepti Verma , Lal Singh

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Deepti Verma , Gajendra Singh , Nirmal Ram , Manisha Thapliyal

Abstract

Carpinus viminea, the species of moist temperate forest of Western Himalaya is facing the problem of poor regeneration in Mandal forest of Kedarnath Forest Division, Uttarakhand. In this context, seed study of this species was performed to observe the germination behavior of its seeds at different temperature condition. Collected seeds were stored at three different temperatures (5°C, 15°C, room temperature) and their germination behavior was observed. The 5°C temperature was found comparatively better storage temperature for seeds of Carpinus viminea as higher number of seeds retained viability after one year of storage. Seeds lost the viability completely after the five month of storage at room temperature, at 15°C only 6.66±2.66 % of seeds retained viability after one year, while at 5°C, 9.33±2.66 % germination of seeds of Carpinus viminea was obtained. It was concluded that, if the initial germinability of Carpinus viminea seeds is high then they can be storedfor a year at 5°C with steady decline in germination.

Keywords

Carpinus viminea, Germination Behaviour, Temperature

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Nirmal Ram , S. N. Mazumder

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The Indian Himalayas comprising an area of 2,36,000 km². Darjeeling Himalaya comprises an area of 3149 km2 with 69.74% of forest cover. Darjeeling District population registered an increased of 1596% upto 2001 since1872. During 1872-1881 annual population growth rate was registered 7% due to several developmental activities i.e. road, rail, tea garden establishment, etc on forest lands. This paper describes the effect of forest conservation impact on improvement of rainy days nearby Wildlife Sanctuary and on reduction in number of rainy days having consequences of reduction in forest cover. Sharp decrease in number of rainy days has been registered near by Nepal border and near by forest fringe observatories due to over exploitation of forest cover. Declining in rainfall and increased in maximum temperature was observed on observatory under wet temperate zone. Variability of number of rainy days in the observatory improves in its number was observed less than the observatories showing decrease in number of rainy days. The present study indicates that Darjeeling Himalayas mostly faced decrease in number of rainy days other than sanctuary areas. Regaining of deteriorating microclimate (number of rainy days) of the 'queen of hills' can be restored by improvement of tree covers to the deteriorated forests and creating awareness among local people on sustainable management basis.

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Nirmal Ram , M. M. Jana

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Ecological study under Teak plantation of 1968 in the foothill of Darjeeling Himalayas reveals that due to compaction of forest floor, decrease in height, diameter and basal area of Teak trees were in order of 8.3, 16.4 and 34.7 percent respectively. It may be due to less porosity and much bulk density of the soil. Due to compaction of the forest floor, species density of the undergrowth was 121.93% more than controlled area. Whereas species diversity was 68.30% less than controlled forest floor. Compactin leads presence of Paspalum sanguinalle and Oplismenus burmannii grasses having their value of 69.47 and 21.56 density/m² whereas their presence in controlled forest floor were 21.14 and 4.80 respectively. So, result indicates that grasses are compaction resistants under controlled forest floor. Correa bengalensis a shrub represents 75% of its distribution. From compacted forest floor undergrowth biomass production was 1.150 ton/ha and from controlled floor, it was 2.584 ton/ha. So decrease of undergrowth production from compacted forest floor was 124.69 percent. Result also indicates that in compacted forest floor, fodder quantity was 1152.94 percent more than miscellaneous undergrowth biomass production. So, the result indicates that due to compaction of Teak plantation, productivity of Teak trees and its undergrowth decreases. This may be due to less porosity and much bullk density of the soils which has direct link with intake of water. Any biological activities under forest floor should be avoided for conservation of soils and water for better productivity point of view.

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Nirmal Ram , Sheelwant Patel , M. P. Gupta

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The study was undertaken under Shorea robusta plantation in the foot-hills of Darjeeling Himalayas to observe the effect of timber operations on infiltration rate of the soil. The result revealed that due to movement of heavy trucks and dumping effects of heavy logs brings about a great compaction of the forest soil, in the timber operation site. Due to compaction of the forest floor, a reduction of soil porosity by more than 60% was noticed. There was also reduction in moisture-holding capacity due to disturbances. Initial (within five minutes) infiltration rate under undisturbed forest and disturbed forest by timber operation was 45.48 and 9.92 cm/hr respectively. Whereas it was 4.14 and 1.74 cm/hr at the end of a period of three hours. Accumulated infiltration in three hours was 36.05 and 7.64 cm in the undisturbed and disturbed site. The finding reveals that undisturbed sal forest having thick litter on its surface is much capable of intaking water. An efficient management should include guideline for avoiding heavy loads and retention of litter on forest floor for better soil and water conservation.

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