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Subject: Forestry × End date: 1996 × Start date: 1996 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of provenances for seedling attributes in teak
    (Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry,Vellanikkara, 1996) Jayasankar, S; KAU; Luckins Babu, C
    A randomized block design experiment involving the performance of selected provenances ie., Arienkavu, Konni, Malayattur, Nilambur, Parambikulam, Wynad and Thrissur (Local provenance) of Tectona grandis Linn. F. initiated during June, 1995 was used for the present investigation. The objective of the study included qualifying the seed characters, growth parameters, physiological and anatomical characters, root growth potential, field establishment and also elucidating the extent of nutrient uptake pattern, besides characterising the nutrient status dynamics. Seed characteristics like mean number of seeds per kg, 100 seed weight, purity percentage and individual seed parameters were found to vary significantly among the provenances tested. Parambikulam was found to be superior to other provenances, while local provenance recorded the least values for most of the parameters. Germination behaviour of teak provenances in the laboratory varied considerably among provenances. The overall performance was better in Konni which recorded a high germination percentage, peak value and MDG. Malayattur was showed to be inferior in these respects. Shoot, root growth, biomass allocation pattern, RGR and NAR were followed the trend that, Parambikulam, Nilambur and Malayattur consistently registered better growth rates in most of the stages of experimental period while, local provenance recorded the least values. Physiological parameters like LDR, transpiration rate, leaf water potential and RWC were influenced considerably among the provenances. Anatomical character like stomatal frequency was also varied among provenances throughout the period. Concentration of nutrient in the different plant parts and uptake pattern were found to be higher in Malayattur, Nilambur and Parambikulam especially with a high magnitude of N use efficiency. Local provenance registered a low accumulation of nutrients in different plant parts. Root growth potential studies showed significant variation among the provenances. Malayattur and Nilambur provenances had relatively higher values in RGP. While, Thrissur recorded a poor growth performance in this respect.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Response of selected forestry and agroforestry tree seedling to water stress
    (Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, 1996) Rajesh, N; KAU; Ashokan, P K
    An experiment was conducted at the College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period from 1994 to 1995 with seedlings of Acacia mangium Willd., Ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.) Alston., Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb., Swietenia macrophylla King and Tectona grandis L.F. to study the response of the species to water stress. The results showed that the growth characteristics and Physiological behaviour of all the five species were adversely affected due to water stress. Among the five species studied S. macrophylla was the most sensitive species and did not show much adaptations to tolerate water stress. Eventhough A. mangium showed adaptations like quick closure of stomata, thick cuticle and low chloroplast disintegration when exposed to water stress, growth characteristics were found to be adversely affected due to water stress. So the species has to be tested for its water stress tolerance in a long term experiment. Pterocarpus marsupium was also found to be sensitive to water stress and all the growth characters were adversely affected. However, it showed relatively high net photosynthesis and relative growth rate. Ailanthus triphysa was the least sensitive species to water stress. Considering the relative growth rate and net photosynthesis, A. triphysa and P. marsupium are rated to perform well under dry situations. Among the five species studied T. grandis seedlings showed symptoms of permanent wilting when the water stress was increased from moderate (~ 5 Bar SMT) to severe (~ 10 Bar SMT) levels. Other species did not show permanent wilting even when the plants were not watered for nine days condinuously (S3). Growth characteristics in T. grandis was not much affected due to mild (S1) levels of water stress eventhough the plants wilted and dried under severe water stress (S3).
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Habitat utilisation of animals and their parastic burden with special refference to elephant in Vazhachal Forest Division , Kerala, South India
    (Department of Wildlife Science, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 1996) Animon, M M; KAU; Jacob, V Cheeran
    An investigation was carried out in Vazhachal Forest Division, Kerala, South India during 1994-95 to identify the habitat utilization and seasonal movement patterns of the wild elephants (Elephas maximus indicus). Estimating the population of elephants, finding out the impacts of elephants on woody vegetation, identifying the internal parasites of elephants, studying the need and type of mineral supplements and assessing the importance of Vazhachal as a zone of tourism were also aimed by this study. Habitat utilisation and seasonal movements were studied by indirect methods based on dropping count. Population was estimated by a direct simultaneous count. Vegetation damages were assessed by demarcating plots of size 25x25 m randomly in the study area. Parasitic analysis of fresh dungs was done by centrifugal sedimentation technique and microscopical examination. Mineral mixtures of different concentrations were placed in the area to study the preference for minerals. Data on income from Vazhachal was collected to assess the importance of Vazhachal as tourism centre. Seasonal movements reflected the habitat utilization patterns. Preference of habitats by elephants varied with season. Moist deciduous forests were preferred most in winter season whereas it was least preferred in summer. Evergreen forests were preferred over the moist deciduous forests only during summer season. Acacia plantations were most preferred in summer seasons and was least preferred in first rainy season. Preference for teak plantations were comparatively high during summer and first rainy season. A seasonal movement from thickly vegetated east end of the division to open and secondary forest dominated west end was evident. Great variations in dung densities of individual transects indicated a continuous movement of elephants in the study area. Elephant population at Vazhachal comprised of 155 elephants with a sex ratio (male : female) of 1:6.5 and a crude density of 0.38 elephant/km2. Debarking and breaking tops were the main forms of damages in Teak (Tectona grandis), Papitta (Pterocymbium tinctorium) and Albizia (Albizia falcataria) plantations. Breaking of tops and pushing over accounted for main damages in Bombax (Bombax ceiba) plantations. Damages were comparatively less in moist deciduous and evergreen forests. A total of 35species were found to be debarked in whole of the study area. Elephants preferred mineral mixture with high concentration of minerals and this stresses the need of supplementation of required minerals. Majority of the dungs analysed showed the presence of parasites strongylus and tape worm, indicating heavy infection. Increase in income from tourism in Vazhachal indicates the increasing importance of Vazhachal forests in the tourism map of Kerala. The tourist influx was found to vary with changes in rainfall pattern.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Nutrient deficiency diagnosis in tectona grandis
    (Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 1996) Jayamadhavan, A; KAU; Sudhakara, K
    The foliar nutrient concentration of ten year old Teak plants collected from the Nilambur Teak plantation were analysed to standardize the canopy height, time of sampling, leaf rank and diameter class during the period 1992 – 94. Also, the leaf samples from the standardised position and time interval were analysed for a period of thirteen months starting from August, 1993 to August 1994 to study the variation in the foliar N, P and K concentration with season. Further, leaf samples from four different site qualities viz., site quality 1, 11,111 and 1V were analysed to determine the critical nutrient level. The chemical analysis of the leaf samples were carried out in the College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural university, Vellanikkara. Since mean nutrient concentration was high and varied little among the samples, leaves taken from the bottom position of the crown during the time interval 9.am. to 11 a.m. were taken as the standard. Similarly, the second leaf rank from the tip and the fourth diameter class which was the largest, (16.75 cm – 20 cm) were found to be ideal for sampling. The foliar nutrient concentration were higher during the period starting from June to September, which received high rainfall and were low during the drier months of January, February, March and April. Equations were developed to predict the yield based on foliar nutrient concentration. A simple linear model of the form Y = B * X + A was used to predict the yield in terms of basal area or volume and the foliar nutrient concentration; where Y = basal area (m2) or volume (m3), X = foliar nutrient concentration and A and B are constants. But a higher predictability was obtained for the relationship between basal area or volume and foliar nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentration, when fitted with super geometrical model, Couchy model and parabolic model respectively. The super geometrical model used for the relationship between basal area or volume and foliar nitrogen concentration was of the form