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2017 - 20194
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Subject: Forest Product and Utilisation × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2017 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardization of tree injection procedures of azadirachtin in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and neem (Azadirachta indica A Juss.)
    (Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry,Vellanikkara, 2019) Sarmishtra, V; KAU; Anoop, E V
    Tree injection is a new technology that is employed to apply fungicides, nutrients and pesticides in large trees in order to avoid drifting of these chemicals and affecting non target organisms. It eliminates the wastage of chemicals to be applied in trees as the quantity used is little compared to other conventional methods of application. This study aimed at standardizing the tree injection procedures in Indian conditions. Stem wood of three species like coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) were used in the study along with their leaves after the application of azadirachtin through injection. The depth to which the tree injection can be applied was determined by studying the thickness of the conducting tissues in these species using the software Digimizer. Three size classes like 50-60cm, 60-70cm, 70-80cm were studied. Thickness of high density wood in coconut palm and sapwood in mango and neem does not vary with the change in size class. Average high density wood thickness in coconut palm was 3.5cm and was not more than 4.89cm. Thus a depth of 6 cm was fixed so as to ensure the delivery of chemicals into the most active part of the stem. In case of mango tree, the average sapwood thickness was 6.18cm and was never smaller than 3.27cm. Similarly, average sapwood thickness in neem was 4.38cm and was never smaller than 3.02cm. Thus 3 cm was the depth fixed to inject chemicals in mango and neem. Systemic insecticide, Azajet (50,000ppm) was used to inject the trees. Each tree was marked at a basal height of 20 cm from ground. Holes were made at an angle of 45º to make sure that there was no oozing out of chemicals. The EcoJect pump consisting of a canister, nozzle and a cylinder with compressed air between 100 and 150 PSI was used to inject the chemicals. Two canisters of 20 ml each (40ml/tree) were used to deliver the chemical into the tree trunk. Physiological parameters like photosynthesis, transpiration, leaf temperature and leaf moisture were analyzed using Infrared Gas Analyzer (LI-6400, Portable Synthesis System). Stomatal rate was studied by the replica method. A correlation analysis was conducted between the anatomical and physiological properties of the three tree species. The traces of azadirachtin in the leaves were determined by collecting the leaf samples during specific time intervals like 1hr, 2hr, 6hr, 2 days, 7 days, 14 days, 20 days, 28 days, 40 days and 55 days of tree injection by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). There were no correlations between the anatomical and physiological parameters. Azadirachtin traces were found only in coconut palm on the second day of injection with a peak area of 0.14µg/g. Other trees showed no sign of azadirachtin in their leaves. The traces of the bio pesticide did not last for a week as there was no further detection of azadirachtin in the samples collected after 7 days of injection.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Screening of jack trees (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) for quality timber production
    (Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2019) Jobin Kuriakose; KAU; Anoop, E V
    Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam, belonging to the family Moraceae and popularly known as jackfruit tree, is one of the important timber species commonly found in the homegardens of Kerala. The main objective of the present study was to identify plus trees of Artocarpus heterophyllus from Thrissur and Palakkad districts and to evaluate their seedling growth performance for quality timber production. Forty plus trees, twenty each of varikka and koozha variety were selected from both districts. Seedling biometric observations like stem height, collar diameter, leaf area, fresh weights and dry weights of stem, leaves and root showed significant differences throughout the study period, i e from 30 DAP (Days After Planting) to 150 DAP. At 150 DAP, seedling height ranged from 123.10 cm (FCV AH 22) to 68.35 cm (FCV AH 1) and collar diameter ranged from 14.39 mm (FCV AH 8) to 7.18 mm (FCV AH 7). At 150 DAP, FCV AH 4, FCV AH 22 and FCV AH 15 had the highest value for both fresh weight (33.88 g, 25.22 g and 25.25 g) and dry weight (16.41 g, 8.26 g and 8.54 g) of stem, leaf and root respectively. Other parameters like taproot length, number of leaves, Leaf Area Ratio, Specific Leaf Area, Absolute Growth Rate, Relative Growth Rate and Net Assimilation Rate were also found to be significant but not throughout the study period. The highest taproot length was noticed in FCV AH 2 (48.85 cm) and the least taproot length was in FCV AH 14 (30.45 cm) at 150 DAP. To establish a field trial plot, seedlings were out planted one year after nursery growth near the International Hostel at KAU, Vellanikkara. Field performance of the progenies were evaluated at 30 DAP. Seedling height and collar diameter were found to be significantly different among various seed sources. The average seedling height was 117.30 cm with values ranging from 143.94 cm to 96.35 cm and FCV AH 22 being the tallest. The mean collar diameter was 12.27 mm with FCV AH 29 having the highest (14.67 mm) value. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on the morphological and biometric characters was carried out and 40 plus tree sources were grouped into twenty-one clusters. Based on the biometric observations for 150 DAP and cluster analysis, it was found that Cluster 2 (FCV AH 2), Cluster 18 (FCV AH 8), Cluster 12 (FCV AH 9), Cluster 11 (FCV AH 15), Cluster 10 (FCV AH 21), Cluster 21 (FCV AH 22), and Cluster 15 (FCV AH 23) possess superior quality. Anatomical studies of young (six month old) Artocarpus heterophyllus seedlings from different seed sources and core samples of mature trees from a ‘Jack Gene Sanctuary’ of the Agricultural Research Station (ARS), KAU at Mannuthy revealed significant differences in various parameters. Vessel area, ray height, ray width, fibre length and fibre wall thickness were found to be significantly different in six month old seedlings, whereas samples from mature trees showed significant difference in vessel diameter, vessel area, vessel frequency, ray height and ray width. Mean vessel area increased from 4199.14 µm2 in young seedlings to 62569.05 µm2 in mature trees. Mean vessel diameter also increased from 126.43 µm in young seedlings to 276.58 µm in mature trees. Mean ray height and mean ray width were found to be 466.98 µm and 34.58 µm in young seedlings and 498.38 µm and 52.97 µm in mature trees respectively. Mean fibre length and fibre wall thickness were found to be 801.13 µm and 3.27 µm in young seedlings and 993.10 µm and 4.37 µm in mature trees Questionnaire survey conducted in Thrissur and Palakkad district had 46.34 per cent and 39 per cent positive response respectively towards growing jack tree as a timber species in homegardens. There is an increasing preference for dwarf varieties over tall indigenous varieties among the respondents in both districts. The increasing trend of planting dwarf varieties can have an adverse effect on the easy availability of good quality wood from our homesteads. Therefore, there is a pertinent need to protect the existing high quality tall varieties of jack trees.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Screening of superior genotypes of ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.) Alston. (Matti) for Matchwood quality
    (Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2018) Jagaddish Kumar, Das; KAU; Anoop, E V
    A study entitled “Screening of superior genotypes of Ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.) Alston. (Matti) for matchwood quality” was conducted in the College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period, 2016-2018. The objectives were to assess the variation in growth and wood traits of Ailanthus triphysa grown in the main campus of Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara under a tree improvement trial. It was also aimed at selecting the superior genotype in this population through an assessment of the genetic worth of their parents. Among the five best performing progenies, FCV AT 11 and FCV AT 20 were found to perform well in terms of height and collar diameter. The progenies of FCV AT 11 also showed highest mean stem volume of 0.006 m3. Overall mode for number of branches was found to be zero, only one progeny (FCV AT 3) had single branching habit. Regarding bole straightness all the progenies scored 3 “almost straight with 1 or 2 small bends” except progeny of FCV AT 8 and 14 CPTs scored two “slightly crooked with 2 small bends or less than 2 serious bends”. At this stage of the trial, majority of the progenies had good branching habit and bole straightness. This aspect should be utilized in breeding programme so that it will be helpful to improve the tree form, which ultimately upgrade the quality and economic value of the timber. Average survival percentage of the progenies were found to be 94.98 %. The average basic density of CPTs was found to be 0.37 g cm-3, which shows that the wood belongs to the light wood category. Wood colour and grain pattern studies revealed that, single colour (pale yellow) and straight grain pattern was found in all the CPTs respectively. Fibre morphology, vessel morphology, and ray morphology exhibited significant variation among the CPTs whereas, the variation in tissue proportion was found to be non-significant. Pest incidence was found to be one of the major hindrances to the growth of the species. Bioassay using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was found to be effective against both the lepidopteran defoliators, Eligma narcissus (Cram.) and Atteva fabriciella Swederus. In case of E. narcissus, median lethal dose (LD50) was achieved with 10 % concentration of Bt whereas in A. fabriciella, 2.5% Bt concentration was found to be effective. Neem oil showed a clear antifeedant activity against E. narcissus, the feeding rate was reduced to 3.58 % in 2 % neem oil treated leaves as compared to 30.91 % in control. Scoring of pest incidence was found to be non109 significant among the progenies, all the progenies affected moderately by both E. narcissus and A. fabriciella. Ten CPTs namely FCV AT 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 20 were found to be good combiners for both height and collar diameter. The CPTs with positive GCA could be potentially included in a seed production programme and for further breeding. Broad sense heritability (H2) for height was found to be 0.03 and for collar diameter, 0.1. It could therefore be concluded that height and collar diameter were highly influenced byenvironmental factors rather than genetic factors.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Cause - consequence analysis of human-wildlife conflict in Wayanad district, Kerala
    (Department of Forest Management and Utilization, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2017) Ajaisanker, K; KAU; Gopakumar, S
    Human-wildlife conflicts is now a paradox for foresters and policy makers across the globe. In Kerala, interaction between humans and wildlife is affecting many lives and livelihoods. The damage caused by these interactions are drastic, it can vary from crop loss in a small area to human deaths. For the people living near the protected areas crop losses and livestock losses due to raiding by wildlife are a serious social and ecological concern as this can create an anti-wildlife lobby in the long run. So, understanding the social dimensions of such conflicts is also important to frame effective mitigation strategies. The study titled “Cause-consequence analysis of human-wildlife conflict in Wayanad district, Kerala” conducted during 2015-2017 tried to discern the nature, frequency, distribution and intensity of human-wildlife conflicts in Wayanad district and to understand the causative factors involved in the conflicts. The study was also intended to suggest suitable mitigatory measures to enhance human-wildlife coexistence in Wayanad district. A total of 120 households were interviewed from four locations in Wayanad namely Meppadi, Odapallam (SulthanBathery), Bhoothanam (Chedleth) and Thirunelli. Detailed interviews using pre-tested questionnaire was conducted and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools like timeline, problem tree and vulnerability mapping was employed at each location for collecting additional information. Crop raiding was found to be the major type of conflict occurring in the district. Over the past years there occurred a shift in the farming practices with banana becoming a popular crop at the expense of the traditional crops. Most of the respondents lived in the close proximity and practiced agriculture and also occasionally integrated livestock in their farms. More palatable crops in the forest fringes along with domestic animals and plentiful water attracted the wildlife to the farmlands. Plantations of teak, eucalyptus etc, together with the invasive alien weed species has smothered the natural vegetation thereby reduced the natural food resources triggering animal migration. Reduced rainfall, droughts and forest fires that the district now increasingly experience has further reduced the availability of resources for the wildlife. These were found to be the major causes leading to conflicts. People were well aware of the forest laws and the attitude of the farmers to wildlife was positive. They believed in coexistence and conservation to be unavoidable for human existence. Enrichment of the habitat and fencing around the farmlands were favoured as the best mitigation measure. People did support the compensation schemes and insurances, provided they were adequate and immediate. The study outlines the possible role of various stakeholders such as farmers, Non- Governmental Organisations, Research institutions, Local self-governmental institutions and governments in improving the conflict mitigation process.