Shailendra Bhalawe , M. U. Kukadia , Dileswar Nayak

Abstract

The investigation undertaken to find out the rate of decomposition of leaf litter of seven multi-purpose tree species, viz., Tectona grandis, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Dendrocalamus strictus, Terminalia bellirica, Cassia fistula, Casuarina equisetifolia and Terminalia arjuna for 195 days i.e. from first fortnight of July 2009 to second fortnight of January 2010. The litter bag of nylon net (1mm mesh size), 20x20 cm. in size, containing 10g air-dried samples were incubated on surface in the first week of July 2009. Litter bags of each species were placed on the plantation field of respective species. For each species 3 litter bags were recovered at fortnight intervals for the study of weight loss in dry matter due to decomposition. Fresh leaf litter were also chemically analysed for N, P, and K using standard prescribed procedure. Significantly the highest amount of nitrogen release (%) was recorded in Eucalyptus tereticornis which was followed by Dendrocalamus strictus. Among different multipurpose tree species the maximum amount of phosphorus release was recorded in Cassia fistula and maximum amount of potassium release percentage was in Eucalyptus tereticornis which was at par with Terminalia bellirica.

Keywords

Decomposition, Multipurpose Tree Species, Nutrient Release, Weight-loss.

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Paresh Gayakvad ¹, D. B. Jadeja ¹, M. B. Tandel ¹, M. R. Parmar ¹, Shailendra Bhalawe ¹, D. Nayak ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, ASPEE College of Horticulture and forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari-396450 Gujarat, IN

Abstract

Jatropha curcas, a monoecious perennial biofuel shrub belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, has few female flowers, which is one of the most important reasons for its poor seed yield. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of foliar application of GA<SUB>3</SUB> (25, 50,100ppm), Ethrel (1500, 2000, 2500ppm), Copper sulphate (0.10, 0.20, 0.50ppm) on fruit 3 and seed yield of J. curcas. Exogenous application GA<SUB>3</SUB> 50ppm resulted in significantly increased number of fruits per 3 inflorescence (3.71) , number of fruits per plant (88.00), and total fruits (453.33) as well as 355.55 gm seed yield per th th plants in plant treated with GA 50ppm as compared to control between 9<SUP>th</SUP> to 14<SUP>th</SUP> spray. The Male: Female flower ratio 3 th was lowest at 14<SUP>th</SUP> spray stage under majority of treatments indicating increased number of female flowers which is ultimately reflected by increased fruit and seed yield.

Keywords

Jatropha curcas, GA₃ , Ethrel, Copper Sulphate and yield

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