Preeti S. Virkar , V. P. Uniyal , A. K. Banerjee

Abstract

Long term ecological monitoring of biodiversity is practicable with an inventory of its floral and faunal diversity. With this view, the documentation of biodiversity of the two fenced areas of Dhanolti reserve forest of Mussoorie forest division has been prepared (Site 1 and Site 2). Long term ecological monltoring locations were established for assigning changes in the biodiversity of the fenced area.

Keywords

Biodiversity, Indicators, Flora, Fauna, Fenced Area, Landscape, Ecological Monitoring

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A. K. Banerjee

Abstract

Tropical rain forests of Indian sub-continent have not been studied in detail so far. Characteristica of the population, pattern of distribution of selected species, change in number of stems, diameter distributions, crop, heights etc. with 100 metres change in elevation have been studied in the forests of south western part of Arunachal Pradesh. The pattern ot distribution of selected species bave been worked out. It bas been concluded from the study of the data that apparently homogeneous rain forests are, in fact, haterolenous. The heterogeneity is mainly in frequency and abundance of varioul species. The pattern of distribution of individual species are clumped, random or uniform. It is tentatively suggested that in low level rain forests, the first critical level of change is reached at an elevation ot 600 to 700 metres.

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A. K. Banerjee

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The present paper deals with a profile belonging to the order umbraquult, exposed at 2700 m elevation in the forest area of Kalimpong Forest Division, West Bengal. The soil has an organic matter enriched epipedon underlain by an argillic horizon. The base rock is granite-gneiss. The study of the texture and the graphs representing the size distribution of the non-clay fraction indicates that the profile is developed from a uniform parent material. Intensive weathering resulting in paucity of heavy minerals has taken place in the entire profile. The pH and texture and micromorphological studies showed that the soil had the maximum weathering and evacuation of ion in the B 22t layer while the clay accumulation by illuviation was maximum at B 3t layer. The lateral water movement due to steep gradient may be an important factor to bring about the clay profile of the soil.

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A. K. Banerjee

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Hill soils of Bankura District have been studied. The mineralogical composition of the parent rock and its relation to the mechanical and chemical composition of the soil have been discussed. The nutrient status of the soil particularly with respect to N, P and K has been indicated.

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A. K. Banerjee

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Transpiration and evaporation from a planted forest of Alstonia scholaris of 20 years of old at Arabari Range of East Midnapore Division in Midnapore District of West Bengal has been computed in an indirect manner from moisture measurements taken at periodic intervals of 1970-71 and from the evaporation data collected through U.S. pan evaporimeters installed in the plantation site and in an adjoining bare land. It was found that during the study period the total rainfall was 162.28 cm while the loss due to interception, evaporation and transpiration during the period was 34.50 cm, 56.80 cm and 73.62 cm respectively. It has been discussed that very close spacing of plants to reduce evaporation and make more water available to them to boost up their growth is a possibility in Semi-arid regions.

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A. K. Banerjee

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Acacia auriculaeformis, a native of Australia, has been tried in West Bengal in semi-arid sites, and has been found to be successful. The nursery soli-working, spacing. fertilisation techniques have been discussed. Also included in the paper are diameter, height, volume and yield of the species when raised in plantations in West Bengal.

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A. K. Banerjee

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A Sand culture nutritional experiment of Acacia auriculaeformis was done in the Glass House at Midnapore in 1972. Results have shown that the species respond significantly to NH₄NO₃ and K₂SO₄ application. P does not seem to have any significant effect. The linear components of interaction of NH₄NO₃ and K₂SO₄ are also significant at 1% level.

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A. K. Banerjee

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Two species of Agave, namely, Agave sisalana (Keleghai of West Bengal and Sambalpur of Orissa provenances) and Agave cantala (Maharashtra provenance) were planted on an experimental scale in clearfelled areas under the high tension grids in laterite soils of West Bengal to determine their suitability. It was found that Agave cantala produces maximum dry fibre in the first three years among the tried varieties. Fertilizer and cleaning treatments indicated that none of the varieties can compete with Sal coppice crop. Further, 5.75 g of fertilizer of N : P : K (2 : 2 : 5) is better than the plots without any fertilization or with double the above dose. The additional fibre production due to application of the best fertilizer dose at an additional cost was found to be an economic proposition.

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A. K. Banerjee

Abstract

The soils of Midnapore uplands developed on pleistocens alluvial are generally coloured in different shades of red, brown, yellow etc. Reconnaissance study and morphological, chemical and minerological, study indicated that these soils are made up of one or more number of type horizons. The horizons included red loamy soils, soils dominantly made up of ferric oxide nodules, firm indurated laterite and soft plinthites. The generalised sequance in a profile is red loamy soil-nodule dominant brown soil-firm laterite-yellow and white variegated soil from top downward. The horizons have variable characteristics but all of them are low in organic matter, total nitrogen and reserve fertility. It has been found that profile with about 1 metre of red loamy soil on the top is the best ischolar_maining medium for the forest growth.

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