A. K. Patra , P. K. Pande , T. R. Sahu

Abstract

Vegetation was analyzed quantitatively in miscellaneous open, miscellaneous closed, sal open and sal closed forests of West Chhindwara Forest Division (Madhya Pradesh). Total density for tree layer ranged between tree ha^-1 1,650 (miscellaneous open) to 3,030 t ha^-1 (sal closed); 4,960.23 (miscellaneous open) to 10,840 (sal closed) for shrubs and 3,180 (miscellaneous closed) to 3,18,000 (miscellaneous closed) plant ha^-1 for herb layer, whereas the range for dominance (cm² ha^-1) was 1,65,855 (miscellaneous closed) to 16,38,325 (sal closed) for trees; 5428 (miscellaneous open) to 16,100 (sal closed) for shrubs and 14,778 (miscellaneous open) to 11,28,020 (sal open) for herbs. It is very interesting to note that density and dominance of trees are invariably higher in closed forests, whereas, shrubs and herbs are higher in open forests except shrubs for miscellaneous closed forest. Miscellaneous open forest showed highest species richness followed by miscellaneous closed, sal closed and sal open for tree species. Diversity index values were highest for miscellaneous open followed by miscellaneous closed, sal open and sal closed. Miscellaneous open also showed highest species richness values, while sal open and closed miscellaneous showed lowest values, respectively, for shrub and herb species. Sal open and sal closed showed lowest values, respectively, for shrub and herb species for diversity index. Invariably, concentration of dominance followed the reverse trend to species diversity. Miscellaneous open and miscellaneous closed were more similar sites for tree and shrub species, whereas sal open and closed showed more similarity while considering herbs as the measure. Miscellaneous closed and sal open were most dissimilar sites for trees and shrubs and miscellaneous and sal closed for herb species. Examination of disturbance magnitude indicated that openness of the stand does not disturb the regeneration and stand development in terms of total tree composition in miscellaneous forest, whereas, it disturb the composition of Shorea robusta in case of open sal stand in ecotone.

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A. K. Pandey , A. K. Patra , P. K. Shukla

Abstract

Satpura Plateau of Madhya Pradesh with diverse agro-climatic conditions, Jarge biodiversity and strategic geographical location is likely to emerge as a leading producer and supplier of medicinal plants. The paper gives a resume of activities undertaken in recent years by Centre for Forestry Research and Human Resource development, Chhindwara as a part of eudeavour towards conserving the medicinal plant wealth and promoting the cultivation of medicinal plant. Training programmes on conservation and cultivation of medicinal plants have also been carried out as apart of Human Resource Development activity. Agrotechniques have been developed for the cultivation of Abelmoschus moschatus, Acorus calamus, Andrographis paniculata, Rauvolfia serpentina, Withania somnifera, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon martinii and Mentha arvensis.

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D. L. Nandeshwar , K. S. Negi , A. K. Patra

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No abstract

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C. K. Tiwari , N. S. K. Harsh , A. K. Patra

Abstract

The cellulolytic activity of some wood decaying fungi using filter paper cellulose was screened. All the species tested decomposed cellulose. Oxyporus ravidus and Funalia leonina exhibited maximum cellulolytic activity. While Pyrofomes tricolor was slow decomposer. The decomposition rate varied considerably with all the tested fungi. It was found that the initial pH value of the medium changed considerably after incubation period.

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C. K. Tiwari , N. S. K. Harsh , A. K. Patra

Abstract

The cellulolytic activity of some wood decaying fungi using filter paper cellulose was screened. All the species tested decomposed cellulose. Oxyporus ravidus and Funalia leonina exhibited maximum cellulolytic activity. While Pyrofomes tricolor was slow decomposer. The decomposition rate varied considerably with all the tested fungi. It was found that the initial pH value of the medium changed considerably after incubation period.

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C. K. Tiwari , P. B. Meshram , A. K. Patra

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum is used in different hosts viz. Albizia lebbek , Boswellia serrata , Delonix regia , Populus deltoides , Leucaena leucocephala and Lannea coromandelica for artifical cultivation in control condition. The better performance was observed in Delonix regia for the production of G.lucidum.

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P. B. Meshram , A. K. Patra

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No abstract

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P. B. Meshram , A. K. Patra , V. K. Garg

Abstract

Studies on the detailed seasonal history and chemical control of twig gall forming black caterpillar Betousa stylophora Swinh. revealed that the moth laid the eggs on leaves of Emblica officinalis in the month of June. The pest commenced its activity from the month of June and completed one generation in a year in Satpura Plateau of Madhya Pradesh. Phorate (Thimet) 10 G followed by Carbofuran (Furadon) 3 G @ 10 gm per plant (3 years old) was found to be most effective by using both prophylactic and curative measures against this pest for tbe protection of E. officinalis plants in agroforestry models.

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U. M. Farooqui , R. K. Dixit , A. K. Patra , S. P. Rayal. , A. Khan , S. K. Tiwari

Abstract

Cones of radiata pine or Pinus radiata are serotinous. The cone scales are stuck together by resin making natural seed release impossible for many years. In the present study cones were subjected to various heat treatments viz. Heated in a kiln at 65°C for 8 hours, heated in a microwave oven set at high poser for 60 seconds or submerged in boiling water of 120 seconds. Subsequent rate and extent of seed release was observed on day 1,3,6 and 7. Maximum and quickest seed release was observed following the kiln treatment. Seed viability assessed by Tetrazolium Test (TZ) and relative seed vigour assessed by Accelerated Aging (AA) test both showed that seed extracted by the kiln method was superior to that obtained by either of the other two methods. The effectiveness of suitable methods of extraction of seeds from cones of P. radiata in the light of economic importance is discussed.

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A. K. Patra

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No abstract

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A. K. Patra , P. K. Pande

Abstract

The paper presents a comparative account of litter fall, litter nutrient concentration, return and release in open miscellaneous forest (CMF, site-I), closed miscellaneous forest (CMF, site-II), open sal (OSF, site-III) and closed sal (CSF, site-IV) and also between miscellaneous (MF) and sal forests (SF) of tropical dry deciduous mixed and tropical dry sal forests of Satpura plateau, Madhya Pradesh (India). Leaf and litter fall was erratic in miscellaneous forest (sites I, II) and peak period was in December while peak leaf fall period in sal forest was March-June. However, fall was unimodal in sal forest (sites III, IV). The magnitude of annual leaf fall (kg ha^-1) followed the order: 20958.40 (site-III) > 18708.60 (site-IV) > 3381.71 (site-II) > 2897.60 (site-I). The higher leaf and litter fall in OSF than of CSF is related to the higher dominance of the deciduous species Tectona grandis in the stand and also higher age of the stand. Litter decomposition rate (k) was higher for sal forest (SF) than the miscellaneous forest (SF). Generally, Ca and N were higher than K, Mg and P in all litter fractions, irrespective of sites. Variance ratio (F) test showed that SF showed higher values of nutrient concentration and their lower variations as compared to MF. Open forests showed lower concentrations of nutrient than closed forests.

Keywords

Ecotone, Litter Decomposition, Litter Fall, Nutrient Return, Nutrient Release

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R. K. Dixit , M. B. Thomas , U. M. Farooqui , A. K. Patra , M. L. Spurway

Abstract

Three species of Acacia were grown using a range of P rates in a peat/sand (1:1) media. Seedlings were grown in 1 litre pots in a greenhouse. Severe P toxicity occurred in A. baileyana and A. cardiophylla when P rates supplied from 5-6 month, Osmocote 0-18-0 fertilizer exceeded 20g P/m³/month. Toxicity was indicated by severe stunting and often iron chlorosis of the tip growth. The third species was A. pravissima which was tolerant of P levels approximately double (and even higher) those tolerated by the former species. All three species showed increases in the growth parameters measured of stem diameter, height and foliar dry matter when the P application was increased from nil to 10g P/m³/month.

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