A. Vasishth , J. R. Manmohan , P. S. Chauhan , S. B. S. Pandey

Abstract

Bamboo is a versatile group of plants which is capable of providing ecological, economic and livelihood security to the people. Importance of the crop as a source of raw material for industrial and domestic use with its growing demand all over the country necessitated its cultivation in farm lands as well. Bamboo can give yield up to 50 tonnes per hectare per year in managed stands. It is estimated that about one quarter of the biomass in tropical regions and one-fifth in sub-tropical regions comes from bamboo. Bamboo culms grow to more than 40 metres in three to four months in some species. India is producing the largest volume of pulp from Dendrocalamus strictus and Bambusa bambos (B. arundinacea). Approximately 5 million standard bamboos are extracted directly and indirectly from forests in Rajasthan, amounting to Rs. 100 million. For the promotion of bamboo utilization, cottage and handicrafts is a major sector for employment generation and product diversification. The annual consumption of bamboo is 4.5 million MT of which 1.9 million MT is utilized for paper making. Out of this one per cent is being derived from natural forests. Bamboo is basically a household plant species around the houses and compounds on farmlands. Keeping in view the vast untapped potential of the bamboo plant, it has been decided to implement a scheme on National Bamboo Mission for addressing the issues relating to the development of bamboo in the country.

Keywords

Bamboo, Potential, Utilization, Handicrafts, National Bamboo Mission

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Salil K. Tewari , Shubhanjana , S. B. S. Pandey

Abstract

Present investigation deals with the reproductive biology of Dalbergia sissoo. Under natural conditions, pod setting of 11.09% (1998) and 17.19% (1999) were observed. In isolated single buds 1.71 percent (1998) and 7.97 percent (1999) pod setting were observed. In the year 1998, in isolated whole inflorescence, 186 pods were formed out of 6840 buds and in 1999, out of 4248 buds, only 144 pods were formed. In emasculated and bagged buds, 9 pods were formed out of 299 emasculated buds in 1998 and in the year 1999, only 14 pods were formed from 468 buds. No pod formation was observed in emasculated and left open buds indicate that a system of allogamous pollination is not working. Pod formation was also observed during hybridization (9.19 percent in 1998 and 6.94 percent in 1999) supports the idea that pod formation may take place if pollen even from other source is available.

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Amol Vasishth , A. N. Kaushal , Vipan Guleria , S. B. S. Pandey

Abstract

Acacia catechu Willd is valuable tree found in sub Himalayan tract to the Indus, eastward to Assam and throughout the peninsular in the drier regions ascending up to 900 m and sometimes found at 1200m amsl. Heart wood of Acacia catechu (khair) is used for extraction of katha and cutch. To evaluate the losses during storage and how losses can be minimized, khair wood were kept in three different storage conditions viz. shade, shade with end bee wax coating and some blocks of wood were kept in open. To see the effect of heartwood thickness on the yield of katha, the heart wood was converted into small chips having four thicknesses. The maximum yield of Katha was obtained from blocks coated with end bee wax and minimum in blocks kept in the open, as moisture content in the heartwood facilitates the extraction. Maximum katha yield was obtained in first month of storage and minimum in fifth month of storage. Katha yield also decreased with increase in chips thickness. The time of extraction is also reduced in case of lesser thickness due to quicker imbibitions of water. However, yield of cutch percentage is not affected by moisture content in the wood. Maximum cutch yield was obtained in wood blocks, kept in shade followed by blocks end coated with bee wax and minimum in open stored wood.

Keywords

Acacia catechu, Heartwood, Katha and Cutch Yield

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