Forestry in India presents the history of deforestation and degradation, and on the other the humanized forestation - the plantation forestry. Heavy felling of natural forests during the world wars, especially the second one, replaced natural regeneration-based colonical forestry to human-controlled plantations in the neo-colonical (post-independence) age in a gradient of social, socio-economic and ecological - socioeconomic perspectives in the first, third and eighth Five Year Plans, respectively. This synthesis presents progress in selected aspects of plantation forestry research in India, especially during the last decade and attempts to identify the opportunities for future research to achieve sustainable human-controlled forestry for multiple resource management.

A sub-tropical foot-hill forest of Uttaranchal (Garhwal) Himalaya flourishing at the slopes along with left bank of river Ganga in District Pauri-Garhwal (opposite Rishikesh) is enriched by 45 species of angiospermic trees. The trees of Bombax ceiba, Erythrina glabrescens, Haldina cordifolia, Holoptelea integrifolia, Mitragyna parvifolia, Shorea robusta and Toona ciliata constitute the upper canopy layer of the forest. Though the general morphology and crown architecture of all the individuals of each species were essentially alike, nevertheless, there were variations in leaf longevity, leaf growth rate, number of leaves and empty nodes per unit length, rate of leaf fall and leaf flux rate in the individuals of the same species growing at different locations/elevations. Among the 13 tree species dominating the area, mean leaf longevity ranged between 105 to 237 days and the leaf duration between 185 to 365 days. During a year, maximum leaf-fall noticed in Mitragyna parvifolia (60.40%) and the minimum (5.17%) in Bombax ceiba. The trees of Bombax ceiba, Casearia elliptica, Cassia fistula, Haldina cordifolia, Holoptelea integrifolia, Mallotus philippensis, Mitragyna parvifolia, Naringi crenulata and Shorea robusta exhibited intermittent leaf shedding. The number of leaves per unit length of 1.5 m varied from 26 (Sapium insigne) to 304 (Holoptelea integrifolia). Leaf senescence was higher in Holoptelea integrifolia (69.69%) as against Sapium insigne (6.80%) which recorded the minimum value. Turnover Rate of Haldina cordifolia, Holoptelea integrifolia, Mitragyna parvifolia and Naringi crenulata were around three, that of Bombax ceiba, Casearia elliptica, Mallotus philippensis, Shorea robusta and Syzygium cumini were around two, and the same of Cassia fistula, Erythrina glabrescens, Sapium insigne and Toona ciliata was around one.

A breakthrough has been made in clonal propagation of Quercus griffithii Hook. & Thom. ex Miq. through air layering. IBA and NAA the two root inducing hormones were used during May and July in 1998 and during June in 1999 and 2000 in three doses of 250, 500 and 750 ppm for raising air layers. IBA 250 and NAA 500 ppm was found to be the best dose for induction of rootimg (73.33 – 75.0%) followed by IBA 250, NAA 500 and NAA 750 ppm doses which induced as high as 62.5, 50.0 and 40.0 per cent rooting, respectively. The most suitable season for raising air layers has been found to fall during June- July. As Q. griffithii is a hilly plant, air layerings transplanted in low lying (water logging) areas in Imphal Valley failed to survive. Hence care should be taken to transplant well rooted air layerings in sloppy areas only.

Effects of three Salix clones and four diameter classes on growth and survival of Salix species were evaluated under Tarai conditions of Pantnagar in a nursery experiment. Maximum collar diameters (2.07 cm; 2.18 cm) were recorded in S1 clone and D4 diameter class, respectively. Similarly maximum heights (258 cm; 233 cm) were observed in S3 clone and D4 diameter class, respectively. In comparison to Srinagar conditions, plant height was 1.6 to 2.2 times and collar diameter 2.0 to 2.9 times higher under Pantnagar conditions. Maximum survival under different diameter classes at Srinagar conditions ranged from 61 to 82% in comparison to 100 % at Pantnagar.

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of different soil pH and organic matter on germination, seedling growth and chemical attributes of Pongamia pinnata. The seeds were sown in soil with different pH (8.1, 9.0, 10.2 and 10.5) and the different pH soil mixed with sand + farmyard manure at 2:1:1 ratio compared with control (red earth + sand + farmyard manure at 2:1:1 ratio. Significant differences were observed among different treatments for all the parameters of germination and seedling growth of 28 days old seedling and survival percentage, seedling growth attributes and chemical constituents (Chlorophyll a, b and total) and total N, P and K content of 180 days old seedling.

Study carried out to see the effect of size of seed and storage temperature on germination of Toona ciliata seeds reveals that the size of the seeds have no significant difference on germination. It was observed that seeds loose their germination when stored at room temperature (18–200C) whereas, at low temperature (6–80C) they maintained 90 % germination up to one year.

In silvipastoral models the production of under growth is affected by over storey vegetation. In the present study the over storey pine trees have shown the conspicuous effect on the tiller formation and biomass production of these grasslands by reducing illumination. This effect is more pronounced when pine-needle litter is present on the ground floor.

Eucalyptus tereticornis Smith, an Australian species, introduced in India is widely used in social forestry due to fast-growing nature. Three plantation stands at Site I (Hardwar), Site II (Deo- Band) and Site III (Shukratal) have been studied for morphological parameters of plant diversity and seasonal changes in phytosociology. Site I was found richer in diversity throughout the year with higher frequency and better density and abundance values. Seasonal trends show best performance during the rainy season, followed by winter and least in summer.

Three hundred and twenty eight mulberry accessions (Indigenous - 212 and Exotics -116) maintained as dwarf trees at base collection of CSGRC, representing different genetic and geographical origin, were evaluated for different yield contributing parameters to estimate the magnitude of variation. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that both the seasons and accessions were highly variable and significant. Higher mean values were recorded for leaf characters in exotic accessions, whereas, for shoot characters in indigenous accessions. Highest co-efficient of variation was recorded for total shoot length and leaf yield; and least for moisture content and moisture retention capacity. Significant positive association was observed between leaf yield/plant with number of shoots, length of longest shoot, total shoot length and internodal distance. The promising accessions identified in the study may be utilized for different mulberry crop improvement programmes.

An area of 2,732 ha. forest land and 12,926 ha. of cultivable and wastelands of 193 villages were surveyed for the enumeration of standing growing stock under different GBH classes (cm) at Top Canopy Level (TCL) in the submergence areas of Sardar Sarovar Dam Project (SSP) in M.P. As a result of enumeration at TCL in forest areas, a total of 1,49,900 trees under different GBH Classes like 21/30 (1,03,161), 31/45 (14,380), 46/60 (12,083), 61/90 (12,596), 91/120 (5,301), 121/150 (1,518) and over 150 (861) have been recorded. Whereas in 193 submergence village areas about 2,46,306 trees of above GBH Class represents 71,011; 61,544; 51,022; 37,449; 15,161; 6,303; and 3,818 respectively. The volume m³ has also been calculated as Teak 1,255.45 m³ (1.262/ha.), other Timber species 868.987 m³ (0.873/ha.) in Jhabua Division and 33.60 m³ (0.062/ha.) in Dhar Division and other species 4,436.383 m³ (4.459/ha.) in Jhabua and 4,296.35 m³ (7.926/ha.) in Dhar. Basal area sq.m in per hectare area has been also found out 1.1815 and 1.2134 in Jhabua and Dhar Forest Divisions for all species.

A trial on agrisilvicultural system was carried out from 1996 to 1998. Four common Kharif field crops like paddy (var. Heera), Green gram (var. K-851), Black gram (var. T-9) and Groundnut (var. Smruti) were grown in the allies of four tree species, viz., Eucalyptus tereticornis, Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia auriculiformis and Gmelina arborea in a slopy barren land. The Mean annual increment of tree growth (height and girth) was maximum in Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Dalbergia sissoo. The productivity of kharif field crops were invariably maximum under the canopy of Dalbergia sissoo followed by Acacia auriculiformis but lowest yield of above crops were obtained from the inter spaces of Eucalyptus tereticornis.

The tricotyledonous seedlings described here forms the first record of occurrence of Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Willd. (Mimosaceae). The origin of tricotyledonous seedlings appears to be the result of the differentiation of supernumery primordia during embryogenesis.

One of the most important steps involved in in-vitro propagation is establishment of contamination free cultures. To overcome the problem of contamination of explants of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. collected from mature trees present investigation was initiated and it was observed that treatment of explant with 1.10% HgCl2 for 15 minutes was found to be the best and most effective and resulted in establishment of contamination free healthy cultures of Dalbergia sissoo.

During the screening of leaf extracts of 23 angiospermic species for their fungitoxicity against Pythium aphanidermatum and P. debaryanum, Chenopodium ambrosioides (Chenopodiaceae) and Lippia alba (Verbenaceae) showed strong fungitoxicity. The active fungitoxic products of these plants were isolated and standardised in the form of essential oils. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of both the oils was 1000 µg/ml and they showed broad range of fungitoxicity and were not phytotoxic. The oils were found to be more efficacious than the synthetic fungicides, viz., Agrosan G.N., Captan and Ceresan. The Chenopodium oil when used in seed soaking reduced damping-off disease of tomato in soil infested with either P. aphanidermatum or P. debaryanum up to 66.7% and 100% respectively. Seeds soaked in Lippia oil exhibited 88.9% and 71.3% reduction of damping-off disease of tomato when sown in soil infested with P. aphanidermatum and P. debaryanum respectively.

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium increased up to September and declined afterwards in October. There was no much difference in nutrient of grasses under Chir-pine and open grassland. In below ground grass biomass lesser amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were recorded as compared to above ground biomass. Overall northern aspect recorded higher amount of N, P, K under tree and open grasslands.

Four taxa of flowering plants, viz. Aquilegia nivalis (Baker) Bruehl, Ranunculus palmatifidus H. Riedl (Ranunculaceae); Herniaria incana Lam. (Caryophyllaceae) and Polygonum polystachyum Wallich ex Meissn. var. griffithii Hook. f. (Polygonaceae) have been recorded for the first time from Uttaranchal. Of these, Polygonum polystachyum Wallich ex Meissn. var. griffithii Hook. f. is a new record for Northwest Himalaya as well.

Axillary shoot proliferation has been achieved in Eucalyptus F1 hybrid (E. citriodora Hook x E. torelliana F.V. Muell.) using nodal segments as explant collected from 17- year old tree. Cultures were established on MS medium supplemented with BAP (1.5 mg/l) alongwith NAA (1.0 mg/l) and regular sub-culturing was carried out in BAP (1.0 mg/l).  Best rooting was observed in 1/2 MS medium supplemented with IBA (0.5 mg/l). This method of in-vitro propagation will help in retaining the hybrid vigour of F1 hybrid of Eucalyptus which has the potential to produce 3 to 5 folds more volume of wood than the parent species.

The present paper deals with 347 species of pteridophytes recorded from Garhwal Himalaya belonging to 86 genera and 39 families. The genera are arranged alphabetically with correct nomenclature.