R. C. Ghosh , Bakhshish Singh , K. K. Sharma , U. D. Dhaundival

Abstract

An experiment having 15 treatments comprising of twelve provenance of chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) and one provenance each of P. caribaea. P. potula and P. kesiya was laid out in a rondomized block design with three replications and 36 plants per plot at the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun (India) during 1974, to select suitable provenances/species for afforestation under the sub-Himalayan conditions. The results of the study at the end of three years growth show that P. patula, P. caribaea and P. kesiya gave significantly better height increment than the different provenances of chir pine. lhe Dalhausie, Kulu, Nahan, Durkoti-Chamba and Bilaspur provenances of chir pine gave better diameter increment than P. caribaea, but these provenances of chir pine were inferior in diameter increment to P. patula and P. kesiya, there, however, being no significant difference in diameter increment between P. patula, P. kesiya and the Saraj provenance of chir pine. Different provenances of the indigenous chir pine gave significantly better survival per cent than the three exotic pines under trial. Based on the overall performance in terms of height and diameter growth and survival per cent, P. patula was adjudged as the best species followed by the Saraj, Debra Dun and Bilaspur provenances of chir pine.

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R. C. Ghosh , Bakhshish Singh , K. K. Sharma

Abstract

An experiment based on 24 treatments comprising of 9 provenances of Pinus caribaea, 6 provenances of P. patula, 2 provenances of P. kesiya, 3 provenances of P. roxburghii and one each of P. gregii P. pseudotrobus, P.leiophylla and P. glabra was laid out in 1974 at the Forest Research Institute, in a randomized block desigrn with three replications to select suitable species/provenances of pines for afforestation under Dehra Dun conditions. The results of the study at the end of three years growth indicate that P. gregii of Mexico origin is the most suited species. The other species/provenances which have given encouring results are P. petula of Newzealand and Malawi orgins, P. caribaea of Nicargua - Alamicamba, and Guatemala-Deten region and P. kesiya of Thailand. The indigenous chir pine (P. roxburghii) of Debra Dun origin was better (or almost as good in overall performance) than certain provenances of P. caribaea, P. patula, P. kesiya and P. glabra. Intensive provenance trials and selection are indicated in the case of P. gregii, P. caribaea, P. kesiya and P. roxburghii.

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R. C. Ghosh , Bakhshish Singh , K. K. Sharma

Abstract

no abstract

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R. C. Ghosh , Bakhshish Singh , K. K. Sharma

Abstract

An experiment to find out the stage at which the pine seedlings should be pricked out from the germination boxes to the polythene bags for raising the nursery stock of Pinus caribaea, P. patula and P. elliottii, was conducted in the research nursery of the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun (India) during 1976-77. Five treatments comprising of direct sowing in polythene bags (T₁ ), pricking of seedlings into polythene bags immediately after start of germination (T₂), pricking after the seed coat falls from the cotyledons (T₃), pricking after the formation of terminal bud (T₄) and pricking when the terminal bud opens and starts growing (T₅ ), were tried in a randomized block design with five replications and 20 plants per plot. The results of the study show that the seedlings pricked after fall of seed coat gave significantly better height and diameter growth than the seedlings pricked at the other stages, there being no significant difference in between the seedlings pricked just after germination (T₂) and those pricked after fall of seed coat (T₃) for diameter growth in case of P.patula and P. elliottii and height growth in case of P. elliotii. The different stages of pricking had no significant effect on survival of the seedlings.Based on the overall performance of the seedlings, it is recommended that the young pine seedlings should be pricked from germination boxes into polythene bags just after the seed coat fall from the cotyledons, after germination.

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Bakhshish Singh , I. P. Pradhan , A. Singh

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An experiment comprising of six treatments based on combination of three types and two times of mulching and four replications was conducted during 1967-1972 at the Soil Conservation Researeh Station, Vasad (Gujarat) to study their effect on comparative success and cost of afforestaion in a semi-arid ravinous tract. The results show that clod mulching (Soil hoeing without pulverisation and spreading clods on the surface in one meter diameter around plants) in post-monsoon period (October) gave significantly better height and diameter growth of khair (Acacia cateshu) plants as compared to grass mulching or the usual weeding and hoeing. Clod mulching in October also gave higher survival % of the plants and was overall cheaper in cost than the prevalent practice of weeding and hoeing.

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R. N. Mathur , Ram Babu , P. Joshie , Bakhshish Singh

Abstract

Two small forest (brush) Watersheds W₁F (1.45 ha) and W₂F (0.87 ha) were calibrated for 8 years (1961-68). During calibration period W₁F gave 18% more runoff and 63% higher peak rate of runoff as compared to W₂F. In the year 1969, W₁F was clearfelled and reafforested with Eucalyptus species. The post calibration relationship indicates that W₁F (treated) after afforestation gave 10% less runoff and peak rates of runoff as compared to W₂F (untreated). The total reduction of 28% in runoff and 73% in peak rate is due to afforestation resulting in fully stocked plantation and a dense undergrowth. The study has quantitatively indicated the effectiveness of afforestation for flood control purposes by reducing runoff (28%) and of drastically reducing the peak rate of runoff (73%).

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R. C. Ghosh , Bakhshish Singh , K. K. Sharma

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Eight depths of sowing (viz., 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 cm) for three species of pines (viz, Pinus patula, p. caribaea and P. ellioltii) were tried in a randomised block design with four replications in the research nursery of the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun (India) to find out the optimum depth of sowing for 'propagation of the pines under Dehra Dun conditions. The results show that 0.5 and 1.0 cm deep sowings gave the highest emergence energy and germination value in case of P. patula and P. caribaea, while in the case or P. elliottii, 1.5 and 2.0 cm deep sowings proved better. 1.0 cm deep sowings gave significantly higher number of seedlings for P. patula as compared to the other depths tried. For P. caribaea also, 1.0 cm deep sowings gave the highest number of seedlings but there was no significant difference between the sowings done at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 cm. depths. In case of P. elliottii, 2.0 and 1.5 cm deep sowings gave higher number of seedlings. Based on the overall performance and development of the seedlings In-respect of commencement or germination, total germination germination value, biomass of the seedlings, number of seedlings obtained and survival percent etc., it was concluded that in case of P. patula and P. caribaea. the seed should not be sown deeper than 1.0 cm while for P. elliottii, the sowings should be between 1.5 to 2.0 cm deep.

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R. C. Ghosh , Bakhshish Singh , K. K. Sharma

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A nursery study on Pinus roxburghii, P. caribaea, and P. oocarpa was conducted in the research nursery of the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun (India) to find the effect of seed grading (by size) on germination and growth of pine seedlings. The results show that medium sized seed gave significantly higher mean total germination percent and plant percent as compared to the large or small sized seeds. Moreover, medium sized seed gave higher mean daily germination, peak value (of germination), germiuation value, total biomass, height growth and ischolar_main/shoot ratio of the seedlings as compared to the other two grades. Small sized seed gave significantly higher germination percent and germination value as compared to the large sized seed but the seedlings raised from large, sized seed had higher total biomass than the seedlings raised from the small seed. Seedlings of Pinus roxburghii had the highest Root/Shoot ratio and total biomass, followed by P. oocarpa and P. caribaea.

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S. S. Dalal , N. Patnaik , Bakhshish Singh

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Bakhshish Singh , S. K. Majumdar , Balvir Verma

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Four cultural operations (C₁-Control, C₂-Harrowing, C₃-Ploughing, and C₄-Furrowing at 1 m interval and three seeding and fertiliser treatments (S₀f₀ - no seeding or fertiliser, S₁f₀-seeding with a mixture of Cenchrus ciliaris and Dicanthium annulatum at 6 kg/ha; and S₁f₁-seeding as above and fertiliser application at 20 kg N, 20 kg P₂O₅ per ha) were tried in a split plot design with 4 replications to study their effects, singly and in combination with each other, on the various aspects of grassland production in the Ravine Lands at the Soil Conservation Research Station, Vasad (Gujarat). Results indicate that ploughing gave significantly higher forage production than all other cultural operations tried, but reduced the basal cover per cent of the grasses to a considerable extent. Furrowing was better than Harrowing in overall performance. Out of the two grass species used for seeding, Cenchrus ciliaris developed higher percentage composition in the stand. Both the seeding treatments, i.e., seeding only and seeding with fertilisers increased the forage yield, height growth and percentage composition (of the two species used for seeding), but reduced the basal cover per cent and number of tillers per clump. Furrowing combined with seeding of Cenchrus ciliaris has been found to be a comparatively suitable practice for grassland development on marginal lands and humps of ravine areas in this region.

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Bakhshish Singh , K. Monappa

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Six treatments comprising of three depths of planting (D₁-60 cm; D₂-90 cm; D₃-120cm) and two levels of manuring (M_o-control; i.e., no manuring and M₁-manuring @ 5 kg F.Y.M. per pit) were tried for planting of Populus casale, 488 in the ravine lands along River Mahi at the Central Soil Conservation Research Station, Vasad (Gujarat). The lay out consisted of Randomised Block Design with 3 replications and a planting diatance of 3 m × 3 m. The results of the study indicate that deep planting (D₃) with or without manuring gave significantly better height and diameter growth as compared to the medium and shallow depths of planting (D₂, D₁,), there being no significant difference between the medium and shallow depths of planting.The depth of planting remaining same, manuring (M₁,) gave significantly better height and diameter growth than the un-manured treatment (M₀,) except in the case of shallow planting (D₁) when no significant difference was observed between the manured and un-manured plants. Deep planting (D₃,) prolonged the period of active growth and delayed the leaf fall of the plants. At the end of two growth seasons, the manured plants under deep and medium depths of planting (D₃ M₁, D₂ M₁) gave significantly better survival % than under shallow planting (D₁ M₁) while in the case of un-manured plants, the various depths of planting had no Significant effect on survival percentage,

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Balvir Verma , Bakhshish Singh , N. H. Saraf , K. Monappa

Abstract

Grasses play an important role in the stabilization of peripheral and contour bunds and bench terrace faces in gullied land reclaimed for cultivation. In the case of deep gullies, where reclamation is very costly, they effectively check the widening and deepening of gullies. The role of grasses for Soil and Water Conservation in ravine lands side by side to their economics has been discussed in this paper.

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Bakhshish Singh , K. Monappa , M. S. Mistri

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The effect of three depths of planting (D₁-60 cm; D₂-90 cm; D₃-120 cm) and two levels of manuring (M₀ no manuring, M₁-manuring @ 5 kg F.Y.M. per pit) On height, diameter growth and survival percent of Populus casale 488 were reported earlier (1) on the basis of the studies conducted at the Central Soil Conservation Research Station, Vasad (Gujarat) during 1965-67. The results of some additional investigastions regarding the effect of various treatments and available soil moisture on the growth characteristics and water balance of the plants are reported in this paper. The studies reveal that deep planting gave significantly better height and diameter growth, leaf size, leaf moisture per cent, relative turgidity (of leaves), percentage of the plants with active growth in the later parts of the growth season, percentage of plants without any leaf fall at the end of winter, percentage of plants without any die back of their leading shoots in dry summer months and survival per cent of the plants at the end of two growth seasons as compared to the medium (D₂) and shallow (D₁) depths of planting. Manuring (M₁) gave significantly better height and diameter growth, leaf size, relative turgidity and survival per cent than the un- manured plants (M₀) but it (M₁) had no significant effect on leaf moisture per cent. Un-manured plants (M₀) had significantly higher saturation deficit in their leaves as compared to the manured plants (M₁). Moreover, the shallow depth of planting (D₁) gave significantly higher saturation deficit than the medium depth of planting (D₂), which in turn gave significantly higher saturation deficit than deep planting (D₃). The effect of deep planting in enhancing the growth and vigour of the plants was found mainly due to the increase in available soil moisture per cent with the increase in soil depth.

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Bakhshish Singh , Balvir Verma , K. Monappa

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Seven fertiliser treatments consisting of 20 kg Nitrogen as Ammonium Sulphate, 20 kg P₂O₅ as Superphosphate, and 20 kg K₂O as Sulphate of Potash per hectare, singly as well as in different combinations, were tried for a period of 4 years in the ravine lands along the river Mahi at the Soil Conservation Research Station, Vasad (Gujarat) to study their effects on grassland production, quality of fodder and economics, etc., as compared to the control-where no fertilisers were applied. Results indicate that combined application of N & P gave significantly higher mean forage yield. Cumulative effect of phosphates in the later years was better than that of nitrogen, while potash depressed the forage yield. The various treatments of fertilisers had neither any significant effect on percentage botanical composition of the grass species, nor on their chemical composition (total N per cent and crude protein per cent as compared to control). Dichanthium annulatum gave significantly higher N per cent, and crude protein per cent under the treatments of N, K & PK as compared to NP and NPK. None of the fertiliser applications proved to be economical as compared to the Control.

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Bakhshish Singh , H. N. Mathur , S. K. Gupta

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Lot of areas are lying waste and are threatened with stream bank erosion in the Sub-Himalayan region. A study was, therefore, undertaken at the Soil Conservation Research Station, Dehra Dun in the Bainkhala torrent to See the performance of vegetative measures and engineering structures, singly or in combination with each other, for channelisation of the torrent with the object to reclaim excels areas under the bed for proper land utilisation and also to check bank cutting. The principle of torrent training and details of the various structures tried are given in this paper. Moreover, their functioning and performance have also been reported; and based upon the experience gained from these trials for about 10 years from 1958 to 1967, the authors have recommended a rational scheme for torrent control works in this region.

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Bakhshish Singh , Balvir Verma

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Five treatments (viz. T₁ - Closure to grazing and fires; T₂ - Closure plus broadcasting seeds of Cenchrus ciliaris at 4.5 kg/ha and planting Dichanthium annulatum in gully beds at 3×3m spacing; T₃ - closure plus gully plugging and peripheral bunding; T₄-T₈ plus N₂₀P₂₀; T₅- similar to T₄ but with soil scarification) for grassland improvements were tried in the ravine lands along river Mahi at the Soil Conservation research Station, Vasad (Gujarat), for a period of six years from 1960-61 to 1965-66. The results indicate that closure alone, increased the mean forage production by 47.9 per cent. Gully plugging and peripheral bunding gave a marked increase in percentage composition of Cenchrus ciliaris as well as in Soil moisture per cent, and it effected an increase of 76.5 per cent in forage yield. The application of fertilisers with soil scarification affected an appreciable increase in forage production while their application without soil scarification (T₄) did not have any appreciable effect as compared to no application of fertilisers (T₃).

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Bakhshish Singh

Abstract

The effect of the various Soil Conservation-cum-Grassland improvement practices on forage production, botanical composition and soil moisture per cent was reported in an earlier paper (1). Comparative economics of those practices have been discussed in the present paper. The results indicate that the Soil and Water Conservation treatment of gully plugging and peripheral bunding combined with closure (T₃) gave the highest net annual return of Rs. 107.77 per hectare. The application of fertilizers was found to be uneconomical.

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Bakhshish Singh

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The world demand for energy doubles every 13 years or so. At the present rate of use of fossil fuels, all the world resources are likely to be exhausted in 50 to 100 years period. For a population of about 550 million, the total domestic energy consumption in India is about 190 million tons of coal equivalent. The prime coking coal reserves of India are expected to be exhausted in about 40 years. The desirable approach to the problem of likely energy crisis would be to rely more and more on renewable resources like fuelwood and to conserve the stored resources of non renewable fossil fuels like coal, mineral oils and nuclear fuels etc. for emergent and specific uses only. Solar energy can very cheaply be tapped through the agency of plants and there is a dire need to develop our fuelwood resources through intensive management of existing forests and by creating fuelwood plantations of fast growing tree species over wastelands, village common lands, and other available areas. Tree plantations will also be helpful in environmental conservation and in reducing the hazards of pollution.

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