Waterlogging and surface water stagnation are the serious impediments for the irrigated agriculture. Trees, which can tolerate waterlogging and possess high transpiration capacity can act as biodrains to solve these problems. Water balance studies conducted for five years in big lysimeters showed that Eucalyptus plants can biodrain 5.03, 5.14, 6.96 and 8.01 times the potential evaporation in the second, third, fourth and fifth year respectively. The corresponding maximum biodrainage capacity of Bamboo was 2.09, 2.73, 5.73 and 6.30 times the potential evaporation, respectively. Their water use efficiency decreased with increase in water supply. Higher amounts of moisture in the root zone did not show any adverse effect on their growth. Eucalyptus and Bamboo are excellent species for removing excess water and controlling water stagnation in land locked low-lying areas and disposal of wastewaters through land application.

Effect of aspect and physiographic position in a Shivalik watershed in Relmajra (Punjab) was studied on the yield and other growth indicators (IVI) on trees, shrubs and grasses. The watershed was closed to biotic interference, ten years prior to the year of study in 2002. Sixty sample plots were laid out, in each of the aspects (4), three physiographic positions as top, middle and bottom, each having five replications. Nested sampling procedure was adopted by taking the dimension for study of trees as 10 m x 10 m, shrubs as 5 m x 5 m and grasses as 1 m x 1 m. Soil analysis indicated rising trend of organic matter as one moves from top to bottom. The same was 0.61, 1.03 and 1.64 per cent on an average on the top, middle and bottom positions, respectively. Same trend was observed for the total biomass deposited. The values were observed as 487.2, 676.7 and 702.4 kg/ha for top, medium and bottom positions. The trend for the two observations in respect of aspect was noted as East, South, West and North in decreasing order. In general number of trees were in increasing order as one goes from top to bottom. The increasing trend in respect of aspect was found in West, South, East and North. Yield of shrubs and grasses combined together followed no definite trend in respect of topographical positions. Increasing order of yield was found in South, North, East and West directions. c²-test revealed that the vegetation indicators had significantly different values over the assumed hypothesis of having equal values.

Estuarine ecosystem plays an important role in primary productivity. Phytoplanktons and mangroves show major contribution to balance ecosystem, on which many primary consumers are dependent. Primary productivity was investigated of three different estuaries, viz. Bhatye, Kalbadevi and Are as representatives of West Coast of Maharashtra. Productivity of phytoplankton was quantified via light-dark bottle experiments while mangrove productivity was measured by litterfall. Planktonic net primary productivity was high in the month of December- January (values ranged from 0.009 to 0.450 gC/m³/h). In Sonneratia alba maximum litter was contributed by fruits whereas in Rhizophora, it is the leaf which had major contribution. Though area under mangroves is comparatively less along West Coast, the ecosystem is vital and supports large variety of animal life.

The present study was undertaken to compare the effect of transplanting on early seedling growth of Cedrus deodara in nursery and poly bags. The germination of seeds in different growing media showed that humus medium collected from deodar forest gave significantly higher germination than nursery soil or a mixture of Soil + Sand + FYM. The transplanted seedlings in nursery beds performed better than in poly bags. However, non-transplanted seedlings raised in nursery soil showed significantly good growth than in poly bags. The comparison of transplanted seedlings in nursery and poly bags showed that transplanting in nursery beds resulted in significantly better growth. The seedlings raised in nursery.

The effect of super cyclone (October 29-30th, 1999 in Orissa) witnessed varying degree of damage to different tree species at different stages of growth. The effect was more pronounced in tree stage while it was least in seedling stage. Further, different species were damaged to different extent at particular stage of growth. The rating of species damaged would be done in the order of Delonix regia > Acacia mangium > Anthocephalus cadamba > Melia azedarach > Casuarina equisetifolia > Eucalyptus hybrid > Tectona grandis > Acacia auriculiformis > Gmelina arborea > Mangifera indica > Cocos nucifera> Dendrocalamus strictus > Emblica officinalis > Anonna squamosa > Bambusa nutans > Polyalthia longifolia > Syzygium cumini > Ailanthus excelsa > Pongamia pinnata > Azadirachta indica.

Physical and mechanical properties of Acacia mangium of nine years old obtained from Sirsi, Karnataka have been reported. The results obtained have been compared with Tectona grandis (teak). Timber of this species is classified as heavy, moderately strong, not tough and moderately hard.

Regular surveys for pathogens of Craspedonta leayana in and around Jorhat District of Assam were undertaken. Four important entomogenous fungi, viz. Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana were isolated from the dead, fungus infected larvae, pupae and adults of C. leayana. The laboratory studies were carried out to see the pathogenicity of two entomopathogenic fungi, viz. Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. on C. leayana. The pathogenicity studies showed differential percentage mortality with respect to different concentrations of spore suspensions. Another experiment was conducted to see the field efficacy of Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp. and B. bassiana on C. leayana. All the fungal species were found significantly pathogenic to the V instar larvae. However, in both the laboratory as well as field conditions, Fusarium sp. at the concentration of 2x107spores/ml was found to cause the highest mortality.  Apart from fungal infected larvae many diseased pupae were also collected which did not produced any fungal filaments under humid conditions. Spraying crude maceration of these diseased pupae did not produce disease to healthy IV and V instar larvae, the prepupae or pupae.

The effect of salinity types (chloride and sulphate dominated) and levels (4-16 dS m-1) on germination and early growth characters was studied in Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd., an important timber tree of semi-arid zone. Salinity of both the types significantly inhibited germination and growth in Acacia nilotica. However, chloride dominated salinity was found to be more deleterious. The germination percent decreased to half at lowest (4 dS m-1) level of chloride dominated salinity. At 16 dS m-1, the decrease was 90 percent. Similarly, the growth characters such as root, shoot lengths, dry weights at all the stages (i.e. 28 days and 4-12 months) were also affected more in chloride dominated salinity. The decrease in plumule, radicle lengths of seedlings at 4 dS m-1 was 50-60 percent in chloride dominated salinity, whereas in sulphate dominated salinity there was slight increase in these characters at lower level and the decrease was 50 percent at highest level. At later seedling stages (4, 8 and 12 months), the effect of both the types of salinities was less on all of the growth characters. However the chloride dominated salinity caused more reduction even at the lowest level.  Hence, in Acacia nilotica salinity of both the types is more deleterious at germination and early seedling stage as compared to later grown stages. The tree species can be successfully used for afforestation programmes on saline wastelands by raising the seedlings in nursery with normal conditions with good soil and water.

Palas (Butea monosperma) is an important lac-host plant of all India importance. It bears orange-red flowers and has compound leaves, each with three leaflets. During a survey of selected Districts of Jharkhand, three rare genotypes were collected. One genotype had unifoliate leaves, while the other two had white and yellow flowers respectively. All the genotypes have been recorded for the first time from the State.

The study was conducted in Golaghat Forest Division of Assam with 203 respondents selected from all the 14 forest villages under the division by using proportionate random sampling. The study reveals that majority (81.77%) respondents had low level of participation in selected maintenance practices of forest resources. People in forest villages had commonly involved in maintenance practices like soil working, weeding and cleaning. The study further shows that the variables – education, family size, localiteness-cosmopoliteness, economic motivation, decision making ability, interest in forestry, information seeking behaviour, forestry knowledge and attitude towards forest resource conservation had shown positively significant relationship with the extent of participation in maintenance practices of forest resources.

A field experiment on effect of fertilizer levels on yield and nutrient uptake of Wheat intersown with Poplar was conducted at Forestry Research Farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during rabi seasons of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. The yield and nutrient uptake of Wheat grown under different spacings of Poplar was compared with control (field without tree). Both grain and straw yield of Wheat under Poplar were significantly less than control. Application of 50 per cent of the recommended dose of Wheat sown under 5 m x 4 m spacing during both the years and 100 and 75 per cent of recommended dose in 10 m x 2.5 m and sole Wheat (control) during 1999-2000 and 2000-01, respectively, produced significantly higher grain and straw yield of Wheat. Grain protein content increased significantly with increasing fertilizer level up to 125 per cent of the recommended dose. N, P and K content in Wheat grain was found maximum at 125 per cent fertilizer level of the recommended dose, while in case of straw maximum content was recorded at 100 per cent fertilizer level. Grain and straw uptake of N, P and K significantly increased with successive increase in fertilizer level from control to 125 per cent fertilizer level.

The present article is based on a study conducted in Rajgarh taluka of Nahan District, Himachal Pradesh. Based on the field level primary and secondary surveys, it was assessed that forestry and agriculture sectors together generate about 91631 tons of biomass annually. Of the total generated biomass, about 72 % is contributed from forestry and other sectors, while rest is from the agriculture sector. In the agriculture sector, wheat and maize crop residues are major contributors with > 68 % contribution. On the other hand in the forestry sector, forestland generated the maximum biomass (51.60%). Of the total generated biomass, about 42.5 % was consumed in the study taluka, while the rest remains as surplus, which can generate about 3 MW of electricity annually. The implications of such findings from the power generation point of view for the entire study taluka have also been discussed in the present article.

Wild Mulberry genetic materials were collected from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh through exploration. The collected materials (26) belong to different species of Morus i.e., M. indica (17), M. alba (04), M. laevigata (02) and M. serrata (03) and subject to propagation for multiplication and subsequent transfer to ex-situ field gene bank. The vegetative cuttings were planted in nursery after grafting on stem stock (Kanva 2 or M5 and V1). Maximum survival percentage was recorded in collection No. 13, 14 (100.00 %) followed by 11 (99.70 %), 17 (99.30 %), 9 (91.00 %) of M. indica.  M. alba grafted sample showed less survival compared to M. indica. M. laevigata and M. serrata are wild species and very poor in rooting showed survival after grafting on local shoot stock. Maximum survival % was recorded in collection No. 26 (57.30 %) followed by 25 (12.00 %) in M. laevigata. M. serrata showed highest survival in collection No. 24 (75.00 %) followed by 22 (46.60 %) and 3 (10.65 %).

The study was conducted to estimate the variability for the juvenile growth and bio-chemical parameters of Toona ciliata among the altitudinal provenances, zones and seed sources. Collar diameter and seedling height differ significantly for different seed sources during first and second year of growth, whereas these characters were significantly different among altitude, zone and seed sources during second year of growth. Bio-chemical parameters viz. RNA, DNA and soluble protein differ significantly among the season, altitude, zone and their interaction. Seed sources with high RNA and soluble protein seems to be responsible for better juvenile growth of Toona ciliata.

Fifteen clones were planted during January 2000 in nursery area of the Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, in randomized block design with three replications. Analysis of variance indicated presence of variation for basal girth, shoot length, fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight, root length, root spread, fresh root weight, dry root weight, root length: shoot length ratio and root weight: shoot weight ratio in fifteen clones of Populus deltoides under nursery conditions. Little difference between genotype coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation and medium to high estimates of heritability for all the characters under study revealed the heritable nature of variability present.  Estimates of genotypic advance as percentage of mean were observed high for all the characters under study. The clones viz., 146 and 154 of M/s WIMCO Seedlings Ltd., were observed as best clones and the clones viz., 28, 156, 139 were considered as potential clones.

The effect of fertiliser amendment was studied on biomass yield of grass Heteropogon contortus seeded on coal mine spoil. Two different doses of NPK fertiliser treatments were used along with control. The biomass production was significantly greater in fertilised plots compared to control plots. The response to fertilisation was comparatively greater for shoot biomass than root biomass. The root/shoot ratio was significantly greater in control plots in comparison to fertiliser amended plots.

Eight commonly available weeds in Mulberry gardens of Doon Valley were studied to assess the VAM status. Root infection percentage and spore numbers were worked out. Cyperus rotundus showed highest (45.8%) root infection. Lowest root infection (24.0 %) was found in case of Digitaria sp. On the other hand Digitaria sp. harboured the highest number of spores in its rhizosphere (247 per 50 g of soil) and Alysicarpus vaginalis lowest spores (40 per 50 g of soil). Glomus was the fungus associated with all the plants studied. The mycelia of fungus were seen in all the weeds and vesicles were available in Ageratum conyzoides, Commelina paludosa, Bauhinia retusa, Euphorbia hirta, and Alysicarpus vaginalis. The arbuscles however were found in Ageratum conyzoides, Cyperus rotundus, and Euphorbia hirta only. The species harbouring VAM spores in their rhizosphere in descending order were as Digitaria sp. > Euphorbia hirta >Cyperus rotundus > Bauhinia retusa. These four species can be used as trap plants for multiplication and maintenance of VAM for experimental purposes and multiplication of VAM spores. These plants can easily be propagated as they are found abundantly in this area.

The Kingdom Fungi includes some of the most important organisms, both in terms of their ecological and economic roles. It composes about 4% of the known species of life on earth and about 8% of estimated unknown species. In spite of their importance, less than 5% of the estimated 1.5 million fungi have been identified (Anon., 2004). Wood rot fungi are important elements of tropical forest ecosystem as they take care of decomposition of fallen woody branches, trunks and stumps.

Fifteen Mulberry germplasm accessions were evaluated based on morphological and yield attributes. Before analysis the data, both quantitative and qualitative traits were ranked as suggested by Kendall and Spearman (1904). Simple and rank correlation analysis revealed that leaf appearance, leaf surface, leaf yield and total biomass weight are positively and significantly associated with each other. The rank value vs. rank value and rank value vs. numeric data were also analysed and a group of combination of characters showed relationship with each other. Thus, the result indicates a wide spectrum of relationship providing ample scope for indirect selection of accessions for further crop improvement.

Four species of Memecylon L. (Melastomataceae) are first and new distributional records for India. A short description with ecology, flowering and fruiting period, distribution and specimens examined are provided here.

The present study deals with the consumption of fuel wood in a area of Central Himalaya. The study have been done in three villages, viz. Shitlakhet, Deolikhan and Dhamas. In each selected villages, 10 families were randomly selected and divided into four groups, according to the size of the family (viz. FA, FB, FC and FD). Fuel wood consumption varies from 23.14 qtl.y-1 for FA to 65.34 qtl.y-1 FD (Village-I), between 22.45 qtl.y-1 in FA and 59.50 qtl.y-1 in FD (Village-II), while these values ranged between 20.84 qtl.y-1 in FA and 55.44 qtl.y-1 in FD in Village-III. Average Per Capita Fuel wood Consumption (PCFC) in different villages ranged between 7.14 qtl.y-1 to 8.00 qtl.y-1. The PCFC was decreased from FA to FD, across all the villages. PCFC during study year was maximum in FA, which was approximately 36 to 37 percent, while the minimum (17-19% approximately) was in FD across the Village. The average fuel wood consumption across the season varies from 27.99 percent at Village –I to 41.54 percent at Village - II.