R. Banyal , P. Kaushal , A. S. Dogra

Abstract

Critical analysis of meteorological data proved that some extreme climatic factors are responsible for weakening the plant system and causing considerable physiological changes in Kikar and Shisham growing in Punjab. Extreme winter, hot summer seasons, erratic rainfall after long dry spells during active growth season, short rainy season and drastic increase in number of fog days/hours seem to be primary factors to induce mortality in these species by weakening the plant protection mechanism. Imbalances in soils physical properties, nutrient deficiencies, water logging and low water table may be the other causes needs to be addressed.

Keywords

Acacia nilotica (Kikar), Dalbergia sissoo (Shisham), Climatic Factors, Survival,
Punjab, South-Western Parts

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S. A. Gangoo , N. A. Masoodi , R. Banyal , M. A. Islam

Abstract

Present investigation has concentrated upon the vegetative propagation of 10-year old deodar, blue pine, Himalayan cypress and yew. Stem cuttings of deodar gives maximum ischolar_maining 62.13% under the treatment IBA 4000ppm + NAA 4000ppm with 11.3 number of ischolar_mains/cutting. Yew gives 85% ischolar_maining when treated with NAA 3000ppm + IBA 2000ppm with 12.40 number of ischolar_mains/ cutting. 90% ischolar_maining was recorded in Himalayan cypress under the treatment of IBA 3000ppm with 8.7 ischolar_mains/cutting. In case of blue pine 88% ischolar_maining was observed when cuttings were treated with IBA 2000ppm + NAA 2000ppm and cuttings were having 13.64 ischolar_mains/cutting. Results of present investigation envisage that this methodology can be easily be adopted in Forest nurseries by having a mist chamber facility for producing quality planting material of these important timber species of J&K.

Keywords

Vegetative Propagation, Timber Yielding Species, Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana,
Picea simithiana, Abies pindrow, Taxus baccata, Kashmir

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R. Banyal , R. K. Luna , P. Kaushal

Abstract

In recent past, an unusual and large scale mortality of Kikar in almost all age-classes has been reported from every region of Punjab. The present study attempts to investigate the effect of physico-chemical attributes of the soil on this mortality. For this purpose four agroclimate zones covering 23 sites have been surveyed for detailed investigation and the results statistically analyzed to determine their individual and combined effect. The mortality ranges from 0.00 to 56.25% (average 42.25%) the highest being in block plantations. A single factor has not been found responsible for this mortality. It is rather the result of their acting in combination. Level of available phosphorus is found to contribute maximum effect. It is observed that existing levels of organic carbon, pH, electrical conductivity, water holding capacity of the soil and availability of nitrogen should be increased to the check further mortality, by integrated field management strategies.

Keywords

Acacia nilotica, Plantations, Drying, Physico-chemical Attributes, Punjab

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S. A. Gangoo , N. A. Masoodi , R. Banyal

Abstract

No abstract

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Ajay Sharma , P. Kaushal , R. Banyal , T. D. Verma

Abstract

In the recent past, large scale mortality of Kikar (Acacia nilotica Willd.) and Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) was observed in Punjab and the adjoining states. These species are grown extensively in various sites in Punjab, on roadsides drain sides, canal sides, etc. Termites were found to be the common enemies of both the trees. Celosterna scabrator grubs were found to be associated with kikar trees throughout Punjab. In addition, Plecoptera reflexa was found associated with shisham and lndarbella quadrinotata was found to cause damage to kikar trees. These insects are discussed in detail in this paper.

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R. Banyal , N. A. Masoodi , S. A. Gangoo , Ravi Kumar , S. N. Zaffar , Safiq Trambu

Abstract

Conifers occupy 6.0 per cent of total forest area of India and 0.4 per cent of the world. Mainly four genera i.e. Abies, Cedrus, Picea and Pinus form the forest of great economic significance in Western Himalayas especially in Kashmir province. In J. & K. 19.95 per cent forest cover is having dense and open forests to the tune of 11,019 and 9,422 km² respectively. Forest productivity has been lowered down from 3.0 to 0.5 m³ha/annum in the recent past. The improvement strategies include protection, reduction in dependency, policy and institutional frame work, increasing the forest productivity and expansion in the forest area. Strengthening silvicultural research on innovative and modern techniques, producing quality seedlings, reducing gestation period, understanding ecto-mycorrhizal association to enhance ischolar_maining, adoption of clonal forestry and adoption of people participatory mode.

Keywords

Conifers, Western Himalaya, Abies, Cedrus, Pinus, Picea

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R. K. Luna , P. Kaushal , R. Banyal

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to address the problem of large scale mortality of Kikar trees in Punjab by analysing all the possible factors including climatic, entomological, pathological and miscellaneous. The results of the present investigation reveal that mortality is site specific and its intensity is governed by the dominance of either environmental or miscellaneous factors, which acted as pre-disposing factors. The observations also indicated that young plantations were mostly affected due to severe intensity of fog and frost, whereas, the older plantations were affected mostly due to insects pests and pathogens as they got predisposed due to continuous spell of unfavourable conditions. Among the pathogens, Ganoderma lucidum was found to be responsible for causing mortality. The insect pests which were found to be associated with mortality, are Celostrena scabrator, termites, caterpillars of Selepa celtis and Indarbela quadrinotata and nymphs of Acaudeleyrodes rachipora.

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R. Banyal , N. A. Masoodi , T. H. Masoodi , L. K. Sharma , S. A. Gangoo

Abstract

The present investigation sought to explore the knowledge and attitude of farmers towards agroforestry practices especially in North Kashmir of Western Himalayas. The informations gathered through the systematic survey by filling the testified questionnaire. A sample of 100 homesteads (41%) from the village was selected through random sampling technique. The responses were analyzed by using Frequency and Percentage Method (FMP). The results revealed that the inhabitants of study area are not well aware about the key points tested under knowledge of farmers about tree farming. On an average of 15 key points (studied), the majority of respondents fall in 'not at all' (38.23%), followed by 'moderate extent' (31.29%), 'large extent' (26.27%) and 'little extent' (19.08%) categories, respectively. Time and stage of tree felling ranked first in all the responses and VAM inoculation at the bottom. The data on attitude of farmers towards agroforestry with its benefits reveal that 58.20 per cent respondents fall in the 'agree category' followed by 'strongly agree' (21.00%) and 'neutral' (20.60%). It is observed that farmers are also reluctant to go for only agroforestry practices due to smaller land holdings. The response regarding agroforestry helps in making the farmers self-reliant ranked first in order. The present study revealed that subsidy is the only response holding the key as motivational factor for adoption of agroforestry practices.

Keywords

Agroforestry, Productivity, Motivation, Adoption, Tree Farming

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M. A. Islam , R. Banyal , N. A. Masoodi , T. H. Masoodi , S. A. Gangoo , L. K. Sharma

Abstract

The information on status of fuelwood extraction and consumption was collected in Sagipora village of Sopore tehsil under Kamraj forest division using interview schedule. Fuelwood extraction and consumption was estimated to be 0.28 and 0.42 tonnes person^-1 yeaf^-1 respectively. The village was found to be experiencing fuelwood extraction/ consumption deficit of 0.14 tonnes person^-1 yeaf^-1. Silvi-horticulture plantation provided the largest proportion of annual woody fuelwood accounting 74.29% of the total availability. Major proportion (82.86%) of the total fuelwood is consumed in cooking and heating. There are 15 prominent tree species which contribute 96.06% of the total fuelwood availability in the study area. The results advocate the need to increase the local production of fuelwood by establishing woodlots of suitable species on waste lands and un-utilized agricultural lands for meeting future demand of the burgeoning population.

Keywords

Fuelwood, Extraction, Consumption, Deficit, Species Contribution, Kashmir

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M. A. Islam , S. A. Gangoo , R. Banyal

Abstract

Forestry education and training in Jammu and Kashmir has a long history of more than 100 years with the advent of scientific forest management. The forestry education and training in the state may be categorized broadly as training of IFS, SFS and FROs at national level academy, training colleges and schools and training of sub-ordinate personnel viz., Forester, Dy. Foresters, Forest Protection Guards, Watchers, Class IV Employee, etc. in the state-run training schools, U.G., P.G. and Doctoral Programme in SAUs and specific training of in-service officers/officials in the Directorate of Forest Education (DFE) colleges, ICFRE institutes, ICAR institutes, WII, Dehradun, etc. Despite many major initiatives, the forestry education and training need a shift of paradigm to keep pace with current development and future challenges in the state. The forestry institutes require augmentation of infrastructures, upgradation of the existing system and strengthening the inter-institutional linkages. The career opportunities for forestry professionals required to be created in private, government and non-government organizations in the state.

Keywords

Forestry Education And Training, Jammu and Kashmir, Augmentation of Infrastructure Upgradation, Interinstitutional Linkages

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R. Banyal , M. A. Islam , T. H. Masoodi , S. A. Gangoo

Abstract

The study was conducted in Astingo village of Bandipora Forest Division in north Kashmir on a sample of 224 from 560 households (40%) with the help of combo pack of interview and observation methods. The observations on land utilization pattern revealed that 37.48 per cent of the land area is under agriculture followed by horticulture (20.16%), homestead farming (14.86%), agri-silviculture (12.92%), forestry (08.08%) and silvi-horticulture (06.50%), respectively. The inhabitants relied mainly upon fuel wood, charcoal, dung cake, LPG, kerosene and electricity to meet out their day to day energy demand. Fuel wood dominated among all the energy sources with charcoal at second and cow dung at third in raking. The total requirement of fuel wood at study site was estimated 634 tonnes per annum against its availability 405 tonnes per annum. The almost half (50.20%) of total fuel wood is utilized for cooking and rest is being for other different applications. The strategies must be framed to narrow the gap between demand and supply of energy sources by advocating the need to establish woodlots of suitable species on waste and fallow lands. There is significant potential for generation of power from small hydro projects as Kashmir has vast source of water, solar energy, etc.

Keywords

Energy, Fuel Wood, Landuse, Household, Charcoal, Agri-silviculture, Temperate

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R. Banyal ¹

Affiliations
1 Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Camp Wadura, Sopore (J&K)- 193 201

Abstract

No Abstract

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J. A. Mugloo ¹, R. Banyal ¹, P. A. Khan ¹, S. Murtaza ¹, Gowher Nabi ¹

Affiliations
1 Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Camp Wadura, Sopore (J&K) 193 201, IN

Abstract

Conflicts between man-wild animals are a serious problem across the region. Black bear, common leopard, snow leopard and monkeys are generally found to involve in man-wild animals conflicts. The study reveals that women/men working in fields venture into the forests for grazing their animals, collection of MFPs and collection of firewood and fodder are the main targets for the wild animals. It is observed that the frequency of attack is governed by the time intervals (morning, afternoon, evening and night) and seasons (summer, autumn and winter) and even on the sex groups of human beings with age. The study on ageand sex composition of victims reveals that the maximum numbers of victims were found between the age group of 18 to 40 years. Wild animals attack livestock and damage crops thus proving the damage to economic loss for the inhabitants of the region. The results show that leopard and black bear have the ability to adapt any place and habitat for attacking human lives. The study indicates that human settlements are either in or around the forests results in the conflicts with wild animals. It is further found that number of conflict cases increases as the distance from water sources decreases with human establishments. The study also suggests some of the measures that may prove milestone in controlling the man-wildlife conflicts in the region include strengthening of the Forest and wildlife Department; professionalism in wildlife management to be enhance through capacity building and awareness; involvement of the civil society including state universities, government departments, NGOs, local communities and youth particularly the students.

Keywords

Wild Animals, Conflicts, Black Bear, Common Leopard, Snow Leopard, MFPS Collection, Human Settlements.

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