The carbon sequestration potential of trees grown on farmlands of Punjab has been estimated on the basis of data collected from 60 villages. A project based methodological approach was used to estimate the sequestration potential between 2005 and 2035. The results show that there is mitigation potential of 1.63 x 106 tC during the period of analysis and whole of this potential could be achieved at a negative cost where non-carbon revenue is sufficient to offset direct costs. Agroforestry seems to provide attractive options for Punjab state, as large number of farmer’s land area is dedicated to agriculture supported by irrigation facilities and high productivity of land.

Black Wattle (Acacia mollissima) plantations have come up extensively in the mid-hills of North-Western Himalayas. The above ground biomass and its allocation among different tree components (leaf, branch+ twig and stem wood) and among diameter classes was estimated using destructive and non-destructive method for stands established at different sites. Stemwood volume (m3 ha-1) was also calculated for each stand by these two methods. The results have revealed that leaf and branch biomass at all sites was over estimated by the non-destructive method whereas, over estimates in stem wood biomass were recorded in two sites only. Stemwood volume estimated by non-destructive means was less than that by destructive one. Therefore, in general to avoid destructive felling, reasonable estimate can be predicted using non-destructive methods of biomass and volume estimation.

Forests provide multiple benefits to the society, which are both direct and indirect. These benefits include goods viz., timber, fuelwood, fodder, food, ornamental and medicinal resources and services like carbon sequestration, soil and water conservation, pollination, conservation of biodiversity and overall maintenance of life supporting system. A study was conducted in Dehradun and Tehri districts to quantify and assess the economic value of various provisioning services which local people derive from the forest to meet their day to day requirement. The results indicated that local people are mainly dependent on forests for fodder, fuelwood, grazing, timber and edibles etc. and the average value of these goods was estimated as Rs. 12,033.00, Rs.7,123.00, Rs.5,451.00, Rs.2,439.00, Rs.707.00 and Rs. 508 for fuelwood, fodder, timber, edibles and cattle beds mulch, respectively. Since the economic value of these goods and services is so high, necessary management strategies should be adopted to maximize their flow from the forests. It may go a long way in evolving peoples’ participation in protection and conservation of forests in the state.

A study was conducted on modelling the growth of Teak in relation to soil conditions using data from 52 permanent sample plots established in Teak plantations in Kerala, India. The plots were established during 2000-2001 and re-measured during 2004. Diameter increment was computed for all the plots. From each of the plots, soil samples were taken from pits at three depth layers viz., 0-20, 20-40, 40-60 cm and the soils were subjected to analysis for determination of particle size separates, bulk density (BD), particle density (PD), water holding capacity (WHC), soil pH, organic carbon (OC), exchange bases (EB), exchange acidity (EA), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), Total N, available P, K, Na, Ca and Mg. Process-based modelling approach was tried to characterize the interrelation of tree growth vs soil properties.  WHC, in the 20-40 cm depth level, turned out as the foremost soil variable significantly influencing tree growth. The adjusted R2 value for the diameter increment function was 0.55, a reasonable value to expect under uncontrolled conditions. However, this implies that a substantial part of the variation in growth happens on account of factors not included in the model. The results also indicated an almost linear decrease in diameter growth with increase in the soil WHC in 20-40 cm depth level, keeping other factors constant.

Primary and secondary branch cuttings of eight different bamboo species viz., Bambusa balcooa, B. bambos, B. nutans, B. tulda, B. vulgaris, Dendrocalamus asper, D. giganteus and D. hamiltonii were studied for their rooting potential. Primary branch cuttings were given 200 ppm IBA treatment and control treatment for 8 hours. Secondary branch cuttings were treated with 4000 ppm IBA for one minute. The study revealed following order of rooting: B. vulgaris> Bambusa balcoa> D. hamiltonii> D. giganteus> B. bambos> B. tulda>B. nutans> D. asper. Application of 200 ppm IBA was found to enhance the rooting and sprouting parameters. In secondary branch cuttings, all the species except B. vulgaris failed to produce root.

Evaluation of chemical properties in the present experiment showed that the maximum cold water solubility, hot water solubility, 1% alkali (NaOH) solubility, alcohol-benzene solubility along with lignin content were observed in Bombax ceiba followed by Anthocephalus cadamba. Holocellulose and ash content was found highest in Dalbergia sissoo followed by Tectona grandis. In respect to mechanical properties viz. bending strength, surface hardness, tensile strength and compression strength, the best results were recorded in Dalbergia sissoo and Tectona grandis. The findings of the present investigation can be feasibly used in screening and selecting the appropriate species in the field of pulp and paper, fibre board, particle board industries and different structural and constructional purposes.

In the present work, remote sensing data viz. Aerial photographs were used for vegetation mapping of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala forests. Survey of India topographic sheets were used to prepare the base map and contour maps of the area. Slope class analysis was done on the contour map prepared. Vegetation analysis was also done using the phytosociological methods. The present study gives valuable information about the dominant forest types, state of degradation, areas for wildlife corridors, areas of encroachment and human interference. All these data can be used for the critical evaluation of forest management plans for the future.

The study was conducted to ascertain the effect of IBA- chemical formulations and cutting types on rooting behaviour of Lagerstroemia indica during monsoon and spring seasons. The cuttings taken in monsoon (August) performed remarkably better than those taken in spring (March). Application of 0.4% IBA + 1% captan + 2% sucrose- talc registered the best sprouting (68.89%), rooting (75.56%) and root characteristics. The lateral cuttings resulted in significantly better rooting and root characteristics as compared to terminal and sub- terminal cuttings. Interaction effect revealed a maximum 86.67 per cent rooting when lateral cuttings were treated with the formulation of 0.4% IBA + 1% captan + 2% sucrose- talc and planted in monsoon. The study also revealed that cuttings with higher levels of total phenol, total carbohydrate and C/N ratio and low level of nitrogen exhibited better results.

The study was undertaken to present mainly some physical and mechanical wood properties of Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King.) grown in homestead forest of Bangladesh. The study was carried out following the standard test methods and comparing the finding with those of standard Chittagong Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) reported earlier. Both the physical and mechanical properties were studied in different age classes and height positions. It has been found that the average green moisture content was 39.83%, volumetric shrinkage was 6.62% and densities in green, air-dry and oven-dry conditions were 0.53, 0.55 and 0.56 gm/cm3 respectively. The average MOE and MOR valued for air-dry and oven-dry conditions were 7712.71 and 7912.12 MPa, and 71.15 and 73.59 MPa respectively. The compression parallel to grain and perpendicular to grain in air-dry and oven-dry condition were 52.65 and 55.90 MPa, and 13.45 and 14.42 MPa respectively. The effect of age and height of the tree was significant for most of the physical and mechanical properties. Some of the properties of S. macrophylla were found relatively and reasonably lower than Chittagong Teak.

The containerised seedling production technology, especially use of polypacks/root trainers is dependent on suitable growing media for raising quality seedlings. In the present investigation, experiments were carried out to find out the suitable potting mixture for raising Cedrus deodara and Cupressus torulosa seedlings. Out of eight media used M6 (Forest Soil: Sand: Pisolinthus tinctorius) supported maximum survival of (75.05 and 78.40) percent, plant height (14.60 and 17.46) cm, collar diameter (1.96 and 1.99) mm, shoot to root ratio (3.82 and 3.92), plant dry weight g/plant of (1.82 and 1.91) in Cedrus deodara and Cupressus torulosa respectively. In root trainers the morphological characters viz. Plant survival (80.00 and 79.15) percent, plant height (13.16 and 17.23) cm, collar diameter (2.25 and 2.47) mm, shoot to root ratio (2.82 and 3.36), plant dry weight g/plant of (1.76 and 1.77) were maximum in Cedrus deodara and Cupressus torulosa respectively in 300 cc root trainer size.

The present paper deals with bio-agents presowing seed treatment on the germination and subsequent seedling growth of Banjoak (Quercus leucotrichophora). The seeds were inoculated by Pseudomonas fluorescens (pf-173), Trichoderma harzianum @ 10 g/kg seed and mixture of both bio-agents for (5 g+ 5g) each of the same rate. All the inoculated treatments significantly influenced the germination and subsequent seedling vigour except the value for dry weight of seedling were at par with all treatments even control. The maximum value for germination, seedling height, total seedling length, collar diameter and vigour index II were observed for cumulative effect of both bio-agent while survival of the seedling, root length and below ground biomass were at par with Pseudomonas fluorescens treated seed. The significantly higher value for above ground biomass per seedling was found in Pseudomonas fluorescens treated seed and number of leafs per plant was recorded for Trichoderma harzianum.

The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications comprising six doses of KNO3 (10, 20, 30, 50, 75 and 100 mM) were compared with control. It was found that the growth, nodulation, chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake of the seedlings of Albizia lebbeck were significantly better with nitrate application over control. A positive response was observed up to 75 mM nitrate application.

Clonal variation in morphological growth parameters of Populus deltoides and P. ciliata were studied in the nursery stages in Sub-tropical (Naganji) and Sub-temperate (Shilli) regions to assess their planting success and growth potential in their climatic zones. P. deltoides clones planted in Sub-tropical nursery recorded highest average height (298.70cm), basal diameter (21.75mm) and leaf area (175.40cm2) with clone ‘PD-1’ sharing maximum height (350.00± 26.07cm) and leaf area (193.70±6.86cm2). Whereas, basal diameter was recorded maximum in the clone ‘G-48’ (25.05±3.77mm). Among P. ciliata clones planted under Sub-temperate condition clone ‘Chhachpur’ recorded maximum height (159.00±24.54 cm) and leaf area (104.25±26.40 cm2) growth, whereas, basal diameter of 12.48±0.55 mm was found maximum in P. deltoides clone ‘90-2’. Standing fresh leaf biomass significantly decreased with advancement in month. Dry leaf biomass increased significantly from September to October. While, significant variation between sites having maximum fresh as well as dry leaf biomass was observed in sub-tropical nursery. It was observed that average height, diameter, leaf area and leaf biomass were almost double in the clones at Sub-tropical (Naganji) nursery as compared to Sub-temperate (Shilli).

The present study is Gluta travancorica Bedd. (Anacardiaceae) on different aged stems for initiating roots by treating with IAA, IBA and NAA, at concentrations of 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm had resulted in rooting of juvenile stem cuttings from1-2 year old plants. The highest rooting of 75% achieved with the use of NAA 1000 ppm from juvenile stem cuttings indicated that juvenility along with the type of auxin were critical for the successful conventional clonal propagation of the species. Thus, the clonal propagation through juvenile stem cuttings of G. travancorica is recommended as a promising method for multiplication, conservation and management of this timber resource.

Dioscorea pentaphylla L was collected from ten locations in Tirunelveli hills and the genetic variability was investigated using RAPD - PCR fingerprint and the populations which showed high percentage of polymorphism was selected. Those populations were chosen for further phytochemical analysis.  The active principle in these plants has been quantified by HPLC analysis. The population which exhibited both high percentage of polymorphism and high amount of active principle was considered to be the superior genotype.

Paper includes information on intraspecific variability (ecologial and morpho-anatomical) among 25 accessions of Dumortiera hirsuta collected from diverse habitats in Bhaderwah (J.&K.). Taxon exhibits tremendous diversity in ecological (habitat, pH and altitude) and morpho-anatomical (both gametophytic and sporophytic) characters.

Various parameters of quantitative vegetation analysis along the gradients (aspects and altitude) of six village forests of the Mandakini catchment were studied. The study revealed that Density (trees/ha) and Total basal area (m2 ha-1) values of the study area ranged between 2084 trees/ha – 600 trees/ha and 53.44 m2 ha-1 – 29.36 m2 ha-1 respectively. Maximum density 2084 trees/ha was recorded for the village forest stands of Rudrapur village and minimum (600trees/ha) for Devsal village of Mandakini catchment. All the selected village forests of the catchment area could be designated as broad-leaved mixed temperate forest. Rhododendron arboreum is the common species in all the selected stands of the catchment except the stands of Sankari and Devsal village which are dominated by Quercus leucotricophora.  Shanon-Wiener diversity index ranged between 1.16-1.66. Concentration of dominant showed reverse trend to diversity index. Highest number of tree species (6) was recorded in village Phaphanj and Pali. Sankari and Devsal village are the most similar sites of the study area.

The present study high lights the physico chemical properties of soils under two different plant communities. The soil was Loamy in texture and more acidic in nature Total N available P, K available Ca, Mg were found high in Ulmus villosa as compared to Fraxinus excelsior the concentration of all the nutrients were fairly high in upper soil layer and gradually decreases with soil depth.

All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Agroforestry, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, have developed Teak and Bamboo based Agri-silviculture System. In the present study production and economics of Teak and Bamboo based Agri-silviculture System is discussed. Economic and ecological viability were studied and the Agroforestry models have been released for cultivation in semiarid region of the state.

Influence of interplanted species on N and P resorption efficiencies of companion species was studied in mixed plantations of various species combinations raised for revegetation of coal mine spoil. The species combinations were legume: legume, legume: non-legume and non-legume: non-legume. The interplanted species were found to alter the N and P resorption efficiences of companion species in all combinations. In leguminous species the N and P resorption efficiencies dropped with increase in foliar N and P concentration, whereas in non-leguminous species the N and P resorption efficiencies increased with increase in foliar N and P concentration. Across all species, the N resorption was found independent of foliar N status, while the P resorption efficiency increased with increase in foliar P concentration.

Recent surveys in Teak forests of Madhya Pradesh revealed the occurrence of sap-sucking bugs, Erthesina fullo Thunberg and Halys dentatus Fabricius. This is the first record of occurrence of pentatomid bugs feeding on Teak.