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R. K. Luna , R. K. Manhas , S. Banyal , S. K. Kamboj

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to control Lantana camara in Shiwalik hills of Punjab through chemical treatment (Glyphostate 1.0% spray at stump level) and by planting four fastgrowing species viz.Dendrocalamus strictus, Leucaena leucocephala, Albizia procera (White siris) and Melia azedarach (Drek) after stubbing Lantana at Patahankot, Hoshiarpur and Ropar. Under these five treatments effect of Lantana on biomass production of palatable and non-palatable species and carrying capacity of sites was studied. Biomass studies show that contribution of non-palatable species in control and chemical treatments was very high ranging between 71.80% to 98.84%. Total biomass of palatable and non-palatable species was also found to be very high in all the control treatments mainly due to the dominance of L. Camara. However, dominance of L. camara was found to be low in Bamboo, Leucaena, Whitesiris and Drek treatments. Though L. camara was negatively correlated with H' (Shannon- Wiener's Index) of non-palatable species, it significantly affected H' of palatable species under four treatments of fast-growing species except bamboo treatment. Cd (Simpson's Index) was observed inversely related to H' in all treatments. Correlation analysis showed significant relationship between biomass and H', which meant that with the increase of diversity, biomass of palatable species also increased significantly. The values of carrying capacity showed that the chemical and control treatments had 'very poor' (<1.07 cows ha^-1) and other treatments had 'poor' (<3.89 cows ha^-1) carrying capacity. The study suggests that plantations of fast growing species hinder the growth of Lantana camara and help to increase the biomass of palatable species thereby upgrading the carrying capacity of the forests though marginally within a short period 2-3 years.

Keywords

Lantana camara, Carrying Capacity, Biomass Production, Shiwalik Hills, Punjab

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Laxmi Rawat , R. K. Luna , Deepak Kholiya , S. K. Kamboj

Abstract

The biomass and nutrient distribution in Acacia catechu Willd. Plantations of Punjab has been studied at six sites of different ages (20, 22, 23, 24, 28, 32 years). The biomass ranged from 39.4 kg tree^-1 to 738.98 kg tree^-1 and from 77.29 to 223.46 t ha^-1 in all these sites. Productivity ranged from 2.57 t ha^-1 yr^-1 (at 32 yrs) to 9.31 t ha ^-1 yr^-1 (at 24 yrs). The contribution of individual tree components to total biomass varied as: leaf 1.41 to 4.29%; twig 2.92 to 6.31%, branch 10.95 to 19.98%, bark 6.65 to 10.69%, ischolar_main 15.29 to 20.61% and bole 42.86 to 56.33%. The per cent contributions of all tree components in all the sites were in the order of bole > ischolar_main > branch > bark > twig > leaf. Prediction models have been worked out by using allometric regressions. Among prediction variables tried D²H were found the most reliable parameters for prediction of biomass. In all these regressions, the biomass of the tree components has been taken as dependent variable and shows significant correlation coefficient confirming linear relationship The amount of various nutrients varies from N- 482.19 to 1041.04 kg ha^-1, P- 30.32 to 92.72 kg ha^-1, K- 194.81 to 767.05 kg ha^-1, Ca - 523.3 to 1425.59 kg ha^-1 and Mg - 27.27 to 80.13 kg ha^-1, respectively. The percentage contribution of different nutrients to total nutrients are as; N (29.78 to 35.61%), P (1.61 to 2.76%), K (11.36 to 22.79%), Ca (38.64 to 54.86%) and Mg (2.01 to 2.61%), respectively. Nutrient losses through complete harvesting have been discussed and some suggestions have been given to replenish the nutrient loss and improve the site productivity.

Keywords

Acacia Catechu Willd., Plantations, Biomass, Productivity, Nutrient Retention, Shiwalik
Hills, Punjab

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Laxmi Rawat ¹, S. K. Kamboj ¹, Arun Kandwal ¹

Affiliations
1 Forest Ecology and Environment Division Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, IN

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Eucalyptus hybrid (safeda), Dalbergia sissoo (shisham/tahli), Acacia catechu (khair), Populus deltoides (poplar) plantations of different ages at different sites in Punjab. Biomass was calculated on the basis of complete tree harvesting method (stratified mean tree technique method). Biomass Expansion Factors (BEFs) and ischolar_main-to-shoot ratio (R) of 4 tree species were calculated. Sample trees of Eucalyptus hybrid were of 18, 28 and 30 years of age. BEFs for 3 age series were as 1.39 for 18 years, 1.23 for 28 years and 1.31 for 30 years. Similarly R values assessed were 0.19, 0.15 and 0.17 at 18, 28 and 30 years, respectively. Sample trees of Dalbergia sissoo had age series of 25, 27, 29 and 33 years. BEF assessed for 4 age series were 1.96, 1.64, 1.44 and 1.62 and R values assessed as 0.36, 0.41, 0.26 and 0.37 respectively. Similarly Acacia catechu trees had age series of 20, 22, 23, 24, 28, and 32 years. BEF calculated for Acacia catechu series were1.51, 1.66, 1.49, 1.50, 1.63 and 1.98, respectively and R values as 0.28, 0.22, 0.20, 0.23, 0.26 and 0.22, respectively. Populus deltoides was studied in the farmer's field. The age of plantation was 7 years, BEF and R value for P. deltoides were assessed as 1.47 and 0.12, respectively.

Keywords

Biomass Expansion Factor (BEF), Root-to-Shoot Ratio (R), Eucalyptus Hybrid, Dalbergia Sissoo, Acacia Catechu, Poplar Deltoids, Punjab, India.

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