N. Bala , G. Singh , N. K. Bohra , K. R. Choudhary , R. K. Gupta

Abstract

A trial was initiated in July, 1995 to study the performance of Eucalyptus camaldulensis under different irrigation regimes on an arid sandy plain. Six treatment combinations of water quantity (W₁ and W₂) and watering frequency (I₁, I₂ and I₃) were imposed. Irrigation schedule was maintained on the basis of IW/CPE ratio (Irrigation water/cumulative pan evaporation). Plant growth and biomass at 40-month age was high in I₃W₂ treatment where 45/ 60 mm of water per irrigation was applied with a total of 1935 mm (36 applications). Inspite of receiving more irrigation water, (2040 mm in 53 applications) growth and biomass accumulation by plants in I₃W₁ was less in comparison to plants in I₃W₂ treatment. Irrigation increased total dry biomass by 9 fold in I₃W₂ treatment over I₁W₁ treatment. Analysis of variance showed significant difference both at 5% and 1% level between the treatments. Incremental growth followed more or less the same trend in the first and second year but in the third year no significant variation was observed among treatments signifying absence of any treatment effect. More than six fold higher water use efficiency (WUE) was recorded in I₃W₂ over I₁W₁. Soil organic matter and electrical conductivity decreased significantly in all the treatments whereas, significant increase in pH was observed after 40 month of plant growth. Results of the study show that quantity of water added per irrigation is more important than the total irrigation input. I₃W₂ treatment provided more soil volume with favourable moisture condition for ischolar_mains where wetted ischolar_maining zone was more and thus resulted in better growth and biomass production.

Keywords

Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Arid Zone, Biomass, Irrigation, Water Use Efficiency

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Pramod Kumar , N. Bala , G. Singh , S. P. Chaukiyal , S. Mutha , N. K. Limba , N. K. Bohra

Abstract

A total of 66 villages were surveyed from six types of degraded land areas in arid and semi-arid parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Availahility of common access resources (CARs) i.e. Gaucher/Oran and Community wasteland varied from 4% in Johrheed (Bikaner) to 93% in Ramgarh (Jaisalmer) of Rajasthan. Arahle farming and animal husbandry are the main occupation in the area with very high cattle population. 62-100% household fall under the category of marginal land holding (<5 acres) and are totally dependent upon CARs for getting fuel , fodder and even food. The average fuelwood and fodder requirement per household in the area were worked out to be 3.46 tonnes and 2.07 tonnes per year , respectively. To meet this requirement on sustainable basis , productivity of the available CARs need to be maintained at 4.2 tonnes ha^-1 yr^-1. Female members of the family and children mainly carry out collection of fuel and fodder for which they devote 30 to 40 % of their time.

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N. Bala , Pramod Kumar , N. K. Bohra , N. K. Limba , S. R. Baloch , G. Singh

Abstract

Litter production varied greatly with plantation age and stem density in E. camaldulensis being high in 12-year-old plantation (6087 kg ha^-1). Lowest litter production was in 4-year-old plantation (2042 kg ha^-1). Bimodal pattern of litter fall was observed in younger plantation where, two peaks of varied intensity were observed in summer and winter. Overall, litter production was more in summer. Component wise, leaf litter accounted for the major part of the total litter production. It varied from 64% in 17-year-old plantations to 73% in 8-year-old plantations. Woody litter component varied from 16% to 23% in different age plantations. Bark litter also constitute a significant proportion of the total litter production rangingfrom 9-13%. Value of decomposition constant (k) was 0.1508, signifying very slow rate of decomposition. A significant positive relationship between annual total litter production and girth at breast height (GBH) as well as tree height was observed. Conclusively, lowrate of decomposition signified slow rate of nutrient turnover.

Keywords

Litter, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Decomposition, Aridzone, Plantation

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N. Bala , G. Singh , N. K. Bohra , N. K. Limba , S. R. Baloch

Abstract

No abstract

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G. N. Gupta , Premlal , N. Singh , B. Singh , N. K. Bohra

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of varying levels of nitrogen (0, 9 and 18g N per plant) and phosphorus(0, 3 and 6 g P₂O₅, per plant) in factorial combinations, on the growth of Ailanthus excelsa planted on an arid sandy soil in Rajasthan. Nitrogen application at the rate of 9g N per plant improved the plant height by 24 per cent when recorded after one year of plantation. Phosphorus application at the rate of 6 g P₂O₅ per plant improved the ischolar_main length by 27 per cent and ischolar_main spread five folds after one year of plantation. Preplant application of 9g N combined with 6g P₂O₅, per plant was the best treatment which improved the height of two year old trees from 144 to 213 cm.

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N. Bala ¹, G. Singh ¹, N. K. Bohra ¹, N. K. Limba ¹, S. R. Baloch ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Forest Ecology, Arid Forest Research Institute, New Pali Road, Jodhpur – 342005, IN

Abstract

An attempt was made to remove excess water from the land through bio-drainage and to increase vegetation cover and productivity of a waterlogged area in Indian desert. Area protection, soil working and plantation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. fastigata, E. rudis and Corymbia tessellaris on raised bunds, improved vegetation cover with simultaneous decrease in water table. Performance of E. rudis was best with respect to growth, biomass, transpiration rate and overall bio-drainage potential. E. rudis maintained uniform transpiration and photosynthesis rate throughout the year. Ground water level receded by 145 cm in E. rudis plot compared to 90 cm, 70 cm and 60 cm in C. tessellaris, E. camaldulensis and E. fastigata respectively within a period of four and half year. Soil organic carbon, electrical conductivity, NH and NO - N were high in E. rudis and low in E. fastigata. The results suggests that E. rudis has high 4 3 potential to be used as an efficient bio-drainage species in canal command waterlogged area of Indian desert. Apart from the planted species, Prosopis juliflora, Tamarix dioca and Saccharum munja also have come up in the area with recession of ground water table as natural succession and contributed significantly for further lowering of ground water table and increasing productivity.

Keywords

Biodrainage, Biomass, Eucalyptus Rudis, Transpiration, Waterlogging

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