S. Nath , B. P. Tamta , B. S. Chandrashekhar , V. P. Panwar , P. K. Das , R. Krishnamurty

Abstract

Studies have been conducted to assess bamboo resources at both forest and non-forest areas in the state of Jharkhand. Information on land use, bamboo overlapping areas in forests, demographic features of the villages, households owning bamboos, species diversity, their growth, productivity etc., have been collected on sample survey basis covering all the agro-climatic zones of the state. 14.51% of total forest area (TFA) is covered with potential natural bamboos of mainly Dendrocalamus strictus (>98% area) with average clump density of 170 (clumps ha ^-1). Other species encountered are Bambusa bambos and Gigantochloa albociliata. The natural bamboos are in a state of severe degradation due to indiscriminate felling by villagers, absence of any management system and lack of state vigilance. From the villages of Jharkhand altogether 10 bamboo species have been found with dominant species being Bambusa nutans (representing 84.582% of TBA and 1.314% of TGA), Dendrocalamus strictus (11.924% of TBA and 0.185% of TGA), and Bambusa bambos (2.257% on TBA and 0.035% on TGA). 1.554 % of TGA is covered by homestead bamboos which is equivalent to 16.852% of TNA and 10.442% of TNA + CW as per the land use of the state. Contrary to this, 131.769% of TNA or 59.349 % TNA + CW in three blocks of East Singhbhum district is under homestead bamboos. This indicate that, by retaining 50% of land under these two land use classes for other domestic purposes, it is possible to extend bamboo cultivation in additional 39.558% of land not used for cultural practices in the state with suitable species and adequate extension mechanism to safeguard ecological and economic scenario of the state.

Keywords

, Bamboo Resources, Natural Bamboo Forest, Homestead Bamboo Cultivation, Bamboo Diversity

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G. K. Prasad , S. K. Singh , P. K. Das , S. Nath

Abstract

No abstract

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P. K. Das , V. Chakravarti , A. Dutta , S. Maity

Abstract

Four different tree species such as Ceriops tagal, Heritiera fomes, Nipa fruticans and Rhizophora apiculata commonly grown in mangrove swamps of Sundarbans, West Bengal, were studied for the leaf anatomy, stomatal characters and chlorophyll content. They displayed very distinct anatomical and stomatal modifications. The semi-mangrove, Nipa stood distinctly different from others. Of the halophytes, Heritiera showed deeply sunken stomata, covered by trichomes. It had more chlorophyll content and higher chlorophyll alb value, but had relatively small palisade-spongy ratio. The physiological significance of these modifications was discussed in relation to their specific adaptation to mangrove vegetation.

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S. Nath , P. K. Das

Abstract

The vegetative propagation of Dendrocalamus membranaceus through seedling proliferation and juvenile culm cuttings at seedling stage have been studied with a view to obtain plantable saplings in massive numbers. It was observed that mother stock seedlings can be multiplied more than nineteen times without addition of fertilizer within one year. Rooting and sprouting from juvenile culm cuttings were inducted by growth promoting substance though differentially. Successful sprouting and ischolar_maining of culm segments collected from D. membranaceus seedlings had further augmented the availability of planting stock.

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S. K. Gangopadhyay , S. Nath , S. P. Banerjee , S. K. Banerjee , P. K. Das

Abstract

Morphology and physiochemical characteristics of three soils within the altitudinal range of 315 to 1490m under different vegetal cover of South Sikkim forests are discussed. The soils are acidic with fairly high content of organic matter and total nitrogen. Exchangeable calcium is maximum at the surface of all the soils and highest under mixed broad-leaved species. Humic acid content decreases down the profile. The properties of the three soils differ fairly widely and the difference can primarily be attributed to differences in physiograpby reflected through differences in vegetal cover and ultimately in the resultant soils. The three soils have been classified upto sub-group level according to Soil Taxonomy.

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S. Nath , P. K. Das , S. K. Gangopadhyay , S. K. Banerjee , Balvinder Singh

Abstract

The growth of different forest species planted in road-sides and canal-banks has been correlated with the soil attributes in coastal zone of Midnapore district, West Bengal. Some of the sites having better nutritional status accelerates the growth of some selected species. On the basis of the results some species have been recommended for Social Forestry Programme under the said soil condition in a given climatic zone.

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K. Chaoba Singh , P. K. Das

Abstract

The name Quercus acutissima Carruthers is the valid name of the North-Eastern Regions species of oak in India. There exists no other alternative name against this Indian species. A scrutiny of synonyms mentioned in the literatures for this oak in India reveals that the use of the name Quercus serrata Thunberg can always be avoided and defendable for one reason or another.

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S. Nath , P. K. Das , S. K. Gangopadhyay , Balvinder Singh , S. K. Banerjee

Abstract

Height and girth increment of different forest tree species planted along road-sides, canal and river banks, wastelands and along railway tracks have been studied and correlated with soil attributes of lateritic soil zone of Midnapore district, West Bengal. Some of the sites having better nutritional status accelerated the growth of some selected species. On the basis of the results some species have been identified and recommended for planting in the lateritic belt to meet the demand for fuel wood and fodder.

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S. K. Gangopadhyay , S. Nath , P. K. Das , S. K. Banerjee

Abstract

The above-ground biomass production in coppice sal in the lateritic region of West Bengal reveals that wood contributes the largest share of tbe total biomass followed by bark, branch, leaves, and twigs. Largest biomass production is observed in 8 years old coppice sal. The biomass production is highly correlated wilh total K₂O aod P₂O₆ of the soil and the age, height and girth of the stands. The wood biomass is highly correlaled with total Ca and Mg of the soil.

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S. Nath , P. K. Das , S. K. Gangopadhyay , K. S. Kapoor , Balvinder Singh , S. K. Banerjee

Abstract

The growth of forest tree species planted along road sides, canal banks and railway tract has been correlated with the soil attributes in Alluvial soil zone of Midnapore district, West Bengal. Some of the sites having better nutritional status accelerate the growth of some selected species. On the basis of the results some quick growing species for Social Forestry programme and range of soil characteristics most suitable for optimum growth of plants in a given climatic condition have been recommended.

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S. K. Banerjee , S. Nath , Balvinder Singh , P. K. Das , S. K. Gangopadhyay

Abstract

The nature and properties of some sal (Shorea robusta) growing soils in the tarai region of North-eastern Himalayas were studied in order to evaluate the characteristic of the soils supporting the species It was found that since sal is growing well in this area, the characteristics and nature of the soils should be favourable for the growth and development of the species Ranges of Some Of the soil sutributes suitable for the optimum growth of the species under more or less similar climatic conditions were assessed.

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Balvinder Singh , S. Nath , P. K. Das , S. B. Singh , S. K. Banerjee

Abstract

The nature and properties of the soils supporting Cryptomeria japonica in Darjeelling Himalayan Region were studied. The soils are acidic and contain high organic matter. The growth parameters are inversely related to the p^H and organic matter of the soils while height of plants and basal area of tbe species are positively correlated with C.E.C., exch. Ca⁺²,Mg⁺², K⁺ and available phosphorus. Total nitrogen contents of the soils are correlated positively with G.B.H. and basal area but negatively with the heights of the plants. Ranges of some of the attributes suitable for the growth of the species under more or less similar climatic conditions are assessed.

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P. K. Singh , P. K. Das , S. M. S. Quli

Abstract

Trial has been framed to examine the economics of growing teak and cashew nut along with upland paddy in four combinations. The data trends up to 7 years of plantation were extrapolated to project the economic profit using standard economic analysis methods to interpret the benefits of various tree crop systems. The prediction has been done at 15^th and 45^th year (rotation age) at 7% and 15% discounting rate. The Net Present Value (NPV) predicted at rotation was found highest in land use with Agri-silviculture (teak + paddy) at 7% rate Rs 7,24,699/ha where as at 15% rate of discounting the highest NPV was observed in Agri-horticulture (cashew nut + paddy) Rs 45,255/ha, followed by Silvi-horticulture, Agri-silviculture and lowest in Agri-silvi-horticulture Rs 27,289/ha. The benefit cost ratio (BCR) was found higher 3.64 and 1.98 respectively at the 15th year in case of Silvi-horticulture (teak + cashew nut) at two extreme of discounting (7 and 15%) than that found in the other three agroforestry combinations. At rotation age of 45 years the highest BCR (6.33 and 2.64) was also found in Silvi-horticulture (teak + cashew nut) combination at 7% and 15% discounting respectively and it was found lowest in cashew nut+ paddy (4.42) at 7% and teak + cashew nut + paddy (1.78) at 15%

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P. K. Das ¹

Affiliations
1 Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, Assam, IN

Abstract

Rice straw and rice husk are easily available raw material at village level for farmers in huge quantity. It can be used for preparation of useful compost which would be utilized by farmers at their own field. With this objective compost has been prepared from rice straw and rice straw-rice husk mixture to study the quality of compost produced, the technique and time taken for its preparation in bulk amount. These two ingredients were taken in seven different ratios to study the effect of rice husk on the rate or time taken for compost preparation. In order to decrease the production time for compost some ingredients viz. soil dust, cow dung, urea, SSP were added with the mixtures at a same ratio in all the seven material mixtures. Time taken for compost preparation from rice straw singly and in combination with rice husk varied from 41 to 88 days depending on the ratio of the two material mixture used. Time taken for compost preparation from only rice straw was found 88 days. Rice straw-rice husk mixture in the ratio of 1:1 (w/w) with 10% cow dung, 10% soil, 1.0% urea and 0.5% SSP took least time (41 days) for preparation of compost with 49.6% weight and 43.2% volume output with respect to initial values. Reduction in weight and volume output was observed for seven mixtures including only rice straw and it was varied from 36.4 to 49.6 % and 32.1 to 43.2 % respectively with respect to the initial weight and volume of the material . Strong significant negative correlation (at 1% level) was found between the compost preparation time and rice husk content in the material mixture (R² = 0.880***). Strong significant positive correlation (at 1% level) was found between the weight and volume output of compost with rice husk content in the material mixture (R² = 0.903*** and 0.892*** respectively). Nutritional status of compost prepared from rice straw and rice husk was estimated. Composite sample of compost prepared from six treatments and sample of compost prepared from only rice straw contained high amount of available nitrogen (876.8 and 859.8 ppm respectively) and available phosphorus (456.3 and 196.9 ppm respectively). C/N ratio of compost prepared from rice straw and rice husk mix and only rice straw was found 13.9 and 14.3 respectively. Operational cost including material and labour for preparation of 1778 kg dry compost from 3849 kg rice straw and rice husk raw material (dry) was found Rs. 4.18 per kg.

Keywords

Rice Straw, Rice Husk, Compost Preparation Technique, Bulk Amount, Time.

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