1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)
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Item Biomass production and root distribution pattern of selected fast growing multi-purpose tree species(Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry,Vellanikkara, 1994) Jamaludheen, V; Mohankumar, bA randomized block design experiment involving nine fast growing multi – purpose trees (Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth., Casuarina equisetifolia J.R. & G Forst., Leucaena leucocephala (Lamk.) de wit. Var. K 8, Ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.) Alston, Emblica officinalis Gaertn, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk., Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb., Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Neilson and Artocarpus hirsutus Lamk.) Initiated during June, 1985 was used for the present investigations. The objectives of the study included quantifying the biomass production potential of nine selected fast growing multi-purpose tree species grown under short rotation intensive cultural systems; characterising the root distribution pattern of these trees and also elucidating the extent of nutrient loss through harvest, besides characterising litter dynamics. Acacia and paraserianthes recorded the highest growth rates in terms of height, radial growth and biomass yield. Biomass production decreased in the order: Acacia > Paraserianthes > Casuarina > A. heterophullus > Emblica Pterocarpus > A. hisrsutus > Ailanthus > Leucaena. The most important component of total biomass undoubtedly, was the bole while foliage contributed least to biomass yield. Nevertheless foliage, in general registered the highest N, and K contents. Among the species, Leucaena had the highest N concentration followed by Paraserianthes and Pterocarpus. For P and K concentrations, Pterocarpus and A. hirsutus registered the highest concentration. A one – to – one correspondence between nutrient accumulation and biomass yield was however, lacking because of wide variations in elemental concentrations among species and also among tissue types. Bole fractions, in general, did not account for more than 50 % of total nutrient export from site. Altering the rate of nutrient removal in products is one of the most important design criteria in planning for sustainable plantion. N-fixing tree plots generally had a higher soil N status. Casuarina, Emblica and Pterocarpus plots were having higher P levels. Acacia, Paraserianthes and A. hisrsutus plots registered markedly higher K level. The amount of litterfall was maximum for Acacia and the minimum for Pterocarpus. Litterfall also followed a unimodal distribution pattern with a distinct peak during the November – January period and the period of lean fall was during May-August. Litter dynamics accounted for bulk of the nutrient inputs into the system. The retranslocation of mineral nutrients from senescing leaves to younger leaves and /or other tissues prior to abscission was obvious. Leucaena, Paraserianthes, Pterocarpus, Acacia, Alinathus and Emblica formed examples of high (> 1.5%) detrital N content. Generally the wet period (June – August) was characterised by increased concentration of N in litter. Litter P did not follow a consistent pattern with respect to seasons. However, a characteristic decline in litter K concentration was noticed during the rainy season. Mass disappearance of litter samples followed a negative expontential relationship. Leucaena litter, having the highest initial N content, decomposed compeletely in the shortest period (9 months). Root system studies suggest that A. hetrophyllus, Emblica and Paraserianthes are perhaps unsuitable for intensive mixing and close planting in agroforestry as they possess shallow and highly spreading root system. Ailanthus is perhaps a better candidate species for the above purpose as it possess relatively lower lateral root spread and at the same time having a deep tap root system. Root activity paatern of Artocarpus hisrsutus revealed that more than 75% of fine roots responsible for water nutrient absorption is concentrated in the 75 cm radius around the base of the tree. Recovery of 32P declined as depth of application increased. The combination of lowest lateral distance (75 cm) and depth (30 cm) accounted for more than 30% root activity.Item Performance of selected medicinal herbs under rubber and cashew plantations(Department of silviculture and agroforestry, College of forestry, Vellanikkara, 2015) Mir Faizan Anwar; Jamaludheen, VA field experiment was conducted at Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala to assess the understorey productivity of three herbaceous medicinal crops viz. Zingiber officinale (ginger), Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) and Kaempferia galanga L. (Lesser galangal) under mature rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg,) and cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) plantations. The biophysical attributes influencing the productivity of the land management systems and the biochemical changes in the products of understorey crops were studied. Additionally, soil carbon sequestration in both the given land use systems and the treeless open plot was estimated. Mean mid day (12–1p.m) understorey photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) levels were more in cashew (1275 μ moles m-2sec-1) than rubber (1072.5 moles μ m-2sec-1) with respective understorey PAR transmittance of 56.62percent and 44.1percent of full sunlight. The stand leaf area index (LAI) values in rubber and cashew were 1.98 and 1.43 respectively. Growth parameters of understorey crops varied noticeably among land use systems. Plant height and pseudostem length of ginger were greater in rubber and that of turmeric was in cashew. Leaf spread of galangal was higher in rubber. Root length of all crops was maximum in treeless open plot followed by cashew and rubber plantations. Ginger and turmeric exhibited highest tiller and leaf production in treeless open plot followed by cashew and rubber. However, higher tiller and leaf production in galangal were in rubber. Rhizome yield varied appreciably among the land use systems over the growth period. Rhizome yield at final harvest for ginger and galangal was maximum in treeless open (3.46 and 3.06 Mg ha-1 respectively) while that of turmeric was in the cashew plot (7.63 Mg ha-1) explicating the influence of PAR on understorey productivity. Regression equation relating PAR rhizome yields showed statistical reliability with high coefficient of determination (R2) values. Total chlorophyll content of understorey crops was highest in rubber followed by cashew and open. Oleoresin also showed such a trend with highest 148 percent of 10.68, 4.49 and 2.60 for turmeric, ginger and galangal respectively under rubber. However, nutrient accumulation in the above and below ground parts of all the crops was higher in cashew compared to rubber. With respect to carbon sequestration, soil organic carbon stocks in the upper most layer (0-20 cm) were higher in rubber (18.38 Mg ha-1) followed by cashew (18.28 Mg ha-1) and treeless open plot (15.07 Mg ha-1) validating the influence of trees in improving the soil through addition of organic matter. This zone being important from intercropping point of view, relevance of wooded land use systems for understorey productivity is emphasised. The total carbon stocks in 1m soil depth, were highest in cashew (68.70 Mg ha-1) followed by rubber (64.74 Mg ha-1) and open (52.04 Mg ha-1). It may be thus deduced from the present study that in terms of yield attributes, ginger, turmeric and galangal have better prospects in wooded land use system in general and the specific advantage of cashew over rubber was also obvious. This may be attributed to relatively better PAR transmission, higher nutrient accumulation and lesser root competition in cashew. Further, the better quality of rhizomes under comparably higher shade levels suggests their suitability in tree-based land use systemsItem Soil productivity changes under selected indigenous forest tree species with special reference to beneficial microflora(Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2014) Lakshmy, A; Jamaludheen, VItem Soil productivity changes under selected exotic forest tree species with special reference to beneficial microflora(Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2014) Tejkaran Patidar; Jamaludheen, V