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S. A. Gangoo ¹, N. A. Masoodi ¹, Shah Murtaza ¹

Affiliations
1 Sher-e-Kashmir, University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Wadoora, Sopore, 193201, IN

Abstract

The narrow sense heritability for various progeny trials of Cupressus torulossawas assessed. There was obviously much variation in the degree to which traits are under additive genetic control. Height is strongly controlled genetically followed by base branch angle and then by collar diameter. The coefficient of variation (C.V.) being a unit less measurement is a good basis for comparing the extent of variation between different characters with different scales. Here GCV (genotypic coefficient of variation) and PCV (phenotypic coefficient of variation) is highest for height. Heritability is of key importance in estimating gains that can be obtained from selection programme.

Keywords

Cupressus, Heritability, Progeny, Traits, Variability

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S. A. Gangoo ¹, T. H. Masoodi ¹, Shah Murtaza ¹, M. A. Islam ¹

Affiliations
1 Sher-E-kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Campus Wadoora, Sopore-193201, J&K, IN

Abstract

Practicing lateral pruning as a management practice has given results that there is a significant increase in increment per cent in height of the poplar trees when they are laterally pruned up to 25 % clear bole, 75 % clear bole or 100 % clear bole. However, the pruning intensities do not make any difference in the height of trees when compared among themselves. The results also reveal that there is a significant effect on increment per cent in diameter over control. However, there is no significant effect on increment per cent in dbh among different pruning intensities. As there is significant difference in height and dbh due to various pruning intensities, the same is reflected by the volume of the trees. The maximum commercial volume is obtained in 100% pruning intensity which is 178% more over control followed by 25% and 50% pruning intensities which are significantly at par. Pruning management also reduces the number of female catkins considerably when trees are pruned up to 50%. The number of catkins gets reduced by 80%. Hence it is suggested that the poplar plantations should be intensively pruned leaving at least 50% clear bole to get knot free timber and reduce the cotton menace by 80% due to dispersal of seeds during the month of June and July. This pruning should be done in autumn and till the plantation achieves a height of 15 meters because up to this height the trees can be pruned without much effort.

Keywords

Exotic Poplars, Quality Timber, Reducing, Cotton, Kashmir.

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Akhlaq A. Wani ¹, P. K. Joshi ², Ombir Singh ³, Asif A. Gatoo ¹, Amarjeet Singh ¹, Rafiq A. Mir ¹, Bilal A. Khaki ³, Shah Murtaza ¹

Affiliations
1 Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Benhama-Watlar Ganderbal J&K, IN
2 School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University. New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi, IN
3 Silviculture Division, Forest Research Institute (FRI) Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IN

Abstract

Realizing the importance of carbon monitoring and reporting in climate change, it becomes imperative to assess the contribution of less significant but equally important forest carbon sub-pool of shrubs and herbs in mitigating the atmospheric carbon. The present study was conducted to calculate the strata wise biomass carbon of undergrowth (herbs and shrubs) in the coniferous forests of Western Himalayan region. Quadrates of 0.1 ha were laid in six forest types and within these plots, shrub plots (5m X 5m) were laid at the opposite corners. Herb plots (herbs including freshly fallen litter) (1m X 1m) m were laid inside the shrub plots at the opposite corners for undergrowth measurements. Shrub and herb measurements were taken by total harvest method and sub-samples weighing 200 g packed tight were transferred to the laboratory and oven dried at 65 ± 5 °C to a constant weight. The estimated biomass from these plots was extrapolated to one ha. The total herb biomass hence calculated was converted into carbon equivalent using a factor of 0.50. The entire results were subjected to statistical tools using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed that shrub biomass carbon was found to be highest under Deodar (closed) strata 0.65 t ha^-1 ( ±σ 0.48) and minimum under Deodar (open) 0.17 t ha^-1 ( ± σ 0.20) with p<0.05. For herb biomass carbon the highest values were observed under Fir-Spruce (closed) 1.32 t ha-1 ( ± σ 0.46) and minimum under Blue Pine (open) 0.59 t ha ( ± σ 0.49) with p<0.05. The open forests were subjected to a high biotic interference as a result of uncontrolled grazing, fuel wood and fodder collection that led to the lower values for undergrowth biomass carbon. However these strata were found to have a promising potential to fix atmospheric carbon into herbs and shrubs once the conservative interventions are brought into practice.

Keywords

Biomass, Carbon, Herbs, Shrubs, Temperate, Kashmir, Himalaya.

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