H. Puttaswamy , S. Gopakumar , B. N. Sathish

Abstract

Phenology of Jatropha curcas was studied by selecting 10 plants and taking monthly observations on leaf shedding, leaf flushing, flowering and fruiting. The extent of fruit set in different modes of pollination viz., open pollination, self pollination and wind pollination was determined. The plant displayed phenological cycle twice a year for all periodical events viz., leaf shedding, leaf flushing, flowering and fruiting. The first cycle lasts from January to July and second cycle starts from May and ends in November. However, the duration of flowering stage was longer in second season as it coincides with rainy season. Fruiting appeared from fourth week of May tofirst week of July in first season and from second week of October to third week of November in second season. The fruit attained yellow to brown stage of maturity at 16 to 19 days after fruit set. The maximum mean length (33.23mm) and diameter (29.17mm) were recorded in greenish yellow coloured fruit followed by yellow coloured fruit with 31.97mm length and 28.47mm diameter. The flower drop in inflorescence was 94.01% and only 3.99% of flowers set in to fruits.

Keywords

Jatropha curcas, Phenology, Fruiting Behaviour

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S. Gopakumar , P. Indira Devi , C. Kunhikannan

Abstract

Using the stochastic production frontier approach, the technical efficiency of splint and veneer industry of Kerala was analysed. Ailanthus triphysa, Bombax ceiba and Melicope lunu-ankenda (Gaertn.) are still the main raw material species. But the demand of rubber wood as an alternate raw material is now rising. The mean technical efficiency (TE) of this sector was only 0.6. This paper discusses the social and other industrial reasons for the low efficiency in this sector. A migrant, unskilled workforce is possibly bringing down the efficiency. Coupled with this, the employment of obsolete techniques and technologies are the main reasons identified for the low TE scores. However, there many industries within this cluster which had high individual TE scores. This reinforces the scope for improvement within this industry. The marked presence of educated, young entrepreneurs is a definite indication of this industry's continued potential to provide sustainable livelihoods in the future.

Keywords

Small Scale Wood Industry, Splint and Veneer, Technical Efficiency, Rural Economy

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Anju S. Vijayan ¹, S. Gopakumar ²

Affiliations
1 Chothiplackal House, Kaithakodi P.O., Kottathoor, Ayiroor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, IN
2 Department of Forest Management and Utilization, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU Post, Thrissur (Kerala), IN

Abstract

A survey was conducted in the home gardens of Cherpu block in Thrissur district of Kerala state to elucidate the floristic attributes of the shrub species and to document the associated ethnobotanical information. Plant diversity analyses revealed 23 shrub species distributed in 15 families in the homegardens. These were observed to be useful in everyday life of the local inhabitants of village as medicinal, edible, ornamental, fuel wood and other uses. Most of the shrubs recorded, having more than one uses. High shrub diversity of Cherpu block may be due to less interference of monoculture crops and plantation species.

Keywords

Homegardens, Shrubs, High Diversity, Ethnobotany.

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