Tree height is more responsive to family and within family selection than dbh. Kaldu P₅ (30), Charet Mansu P₄ (34) and Dohar PT₁ (109) were found best performer. Site index curves were developed for Pinus roxburghii Sarg. (Chir pine) based on data from half sib progenies of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. established at UHF, Nauni, Solan (H.P.) Different models were employed to express height as a function of age. The model LnH = a+b/A ^0.4 was found to be the best and was used to construct site index curves. Site index of 16.70 m, 15.90 m and 15.80 m at reference age 27 was obtained.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2007-08 to study the response of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) to different levels of seed rate (25, 31.25 and 37.5 kg/ha) and nitrogen ((37.5, 75, 112.5 and 150 kg/ha) grown in association with five year old Poplar spaced at 5x4 m. The height and dbh of Poplar was 17.58 m and 18.27 cm respectively. The Coriander crop intercropped with Poplar responded positively to higher seed rate and nitrogen levels than recommended to sole crop. Increasing levels of nitrogen from 37.5 to 112.5 kg/ha and seed rate from 25 to 31.25 kg/ha increased all growth and yield attributes and recorded significantly more seed and straw yields. The interaction between seed rate and nitrogen was significant for plant height, umbels per plant, 1000 seed weight, straw and seed yield. The combination of 31.25 kg/ha seed rate and 112.5 kg/ha N gave highest seed yield of 5.83 q/ha which was 33.3% more than that obtained with recommended seed rate (25 kg/ha) and nitrogen level (75 kg/ha).

Effect of seed orientation and depth of sowing on germination, seedling emergence and seedling vigour of Jatropha curcas was investigated. The preconditioned seeds were sown in sand filled earthen pots at 1.5, 3.0 and 5.0 cm depth, adopting three orientations of the embryos viz., up right (embryo facing up), horizontal and inverted positions. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design. Percentage germination, root and shoot length and dry matter production were measured and the vigour index was calculated. Placing the seeds with the embryos in a upright or horizontal position at a depth of 1.5 cm and 3.0 cm resulted in early and higher germination and computed vigour index.

The paper reports preliminary findings of a NTFP study which covered 34 villages under 10 forest areas in the state of Mizoram. A total of 314 different species (168 medicinal plants, 40 fruit species, 27 edible plant species, 15 fodder species, 22 fuel wood species, 9 canes, 6 palms, 10 ornamental species, 17 bamboo species) belonging to 100 plant families contributed to NTFP diversity in the state.  A diverse variety of NTFPs of plant origin like bamboo poles, small timber, broom grass, rattan, medicinal plants, vegetables, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, leaves, availability of different kinds of flowers during winter months and numerous fruits, bark of some trees, honey, orchids during summer months not only supplement dietary requirement of the rural poor but also provide good income during the ‘bloom’ period. The study further reveals that a diverse variety of forest produce could potentially find alternative livelihood for the forest fringe villages provided marketing interventions and other measures are undertaken to promote such products facilitated by appropriate government policies/incentives are made to the people to promote cultivation of such produce in the degraded/un-classed forests.

Comparative performance of Simarouba glauca seedlings grown in poly pot, nursery beds and root trainer was investigated with an aim to select suitable substrata for seed germination and container for quality seedlings production. Seed germination percentage, imbibition period and energy period found higher in raised nursery bed followed by root trainer and flat bed. Among substrates, raised bed method has significant higher scope in ensuring seed germination and seedling availability for commercial nursery. Morphological parameters of seedlings viz., shoot length, root length, collar diameter, fresh weight, dry matter production and number of leaves were recorded maximum in T₁ and T₃ treatments. Vigor index and quality index were also significantly higher in T₁ and T₃ treatments. T₃ treatment revealed best performance in respect to germination and other growth parameters. However, T₁ treatment was found suitable in the nursery for quality seedling production of Simarouba glauca.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the behaviour of yield of Gram (Cicer arietinum) crop over years (1999-2000 to 2004-2005) grown under four different fodder tree species, without tree and at different distances from tree base. We examine different modeling approaches to study the impact of tree species on crop productivity and identify model that best explains yield trend.

Indonesia, India and China are among the world’s major producers of gums and resins. India is the leading producer of lac, Guar Gum and Gum Karaya. Gum and resin are important minor forest produce and are a source of livelihood for tribals residing in forest, sub-forest, desert and mountain areas. Some state governments have banned the tapping of resins and gums as the method for tapping are destructive in nature. To give proper attention to these important export oriented minor forest products, ICAR has approved a Network Project on Harvesting, Processing and Value Addition of Natural Resins and Gums (HPVA of NRG) with six centers apart from lead centre at IINRG, Ranchi. Network Project Centers on Pine Rosin, Gum Karaya, Gum Arabic and Guggul have worked to develop scientific method of tapping along with adopting/developing tapping tools, which have been presented in the paper.

The present investigation medicinal plant resources in sacred forests of Garhwal Himalaya were carried out in six sacred protected groves in four districts of Garhwal Himalaya. The aim of the study was to enlist the important plants of medicinal value in these forests. A total of 126 plant species were found of medicinal importance representing 99 genera under 53 families. Herb species contributed the maximum (46.83%) to the total medicinal plant species. The family Rosaceae was the dominant family with (13) species. Leaves are the mostly used plant part, accounting for 41 species followed by roots/rhizomes/bulb with (38) species. The medicine from a tree near temple is considered more holy (prashad) and effective in treating diseases because of penance of deities. The region is enriched with large number of religion based conservation areas with rich vegetation and if studied with wisdom and in detail may prove to be boon for communities and conservation management for such areas.

Results of the experiment conducted to evaluate the performance of bark harvesting techniques on quality parameters of Terminalia cuneata indicated that the bark harvested from stem recorded maximum and significantly higher mean thickness (4.39 mm), mean fresh weight (0.56 g/cm2), mean dry weight (0.20 g/cm2), mean per cent moisture content (180.59) and mean per cent tannin content (4.37) as compared with bark harvested from matured primary, secondary and tertiary branches of T. cuneata.

The details about the polyembryony noticed during germination studies of Atylosia scarabaeoides under laborattory condition are presented in this paper.

The paper highlights Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. and Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell to cure thyroid by the rural and common people of Uttar Pradesh, India.

The paper provides traditional knowledge of medicinal plant species against Rheumatoid arthritis by tribal people of Vizianagaram district. The ethnomedicine comes from 32 plant species belonging to 32 genera and 25 families of were identified. The tribal inhabitants of the study area largely constitutes of Gadaba, Jatapu, Savara, Konda dora, Manne dora, Mukha dora, Yerukula and Goudus. The documentation of these medicinal plants against rheumatoid arthritis reveals that these ethnic people are still dependent on local vegetation for their life care.

The value of medicinal plants in traditional healthcare practices provides clues to latest areas of research. However, information on the uses of plants for medicine is deficient from interior areas of Himalaya. Keeping this in view, the   present study has been conducted to highlight the medicinal values of some plants used for the skin care by the natives of Kumaun Himalaya, a province of Uttarakhand. Ethno-botanical assessment of 24 plant species belonging to 18 families used by the local people for curing the different skin ailments including boils and blisters, itching, wounds and cuts, skin irruption, leprosy, etc. were recorded. Plant name, local name and traditional uses are described in the paper for each plant. The aim of the study is to document the traditional therapies diminishing day by day.

The study documents the commercial Non-Timber Forest Products, collected by arid and semi-arid region and marketed by the tribals in Jodhpur town of Jodhpur District, Rajasthan. These tribals collecting a total of 32 products as commercial NTFPs which are sold in the open daily and highly in weekly tribal market by the tribal people. Buyers come from within and around the town. Women constitute over 60% of the traders in these markets.

Ariopsis peltata Nimmo ex Grah. (Araceae) and Thottea tomentosa (Blume) Ding Hou (Aristolochiaceae) are reported as new records for the flora of Meghalaya collected from Siju Wildlife Sanctuary of South Garo Hills district.