Annual variation in non-timber forest product yield in the Western Ghats, Karnataka, India (original) (raw)
Abstract Non-timber forest products are a significant source of income and an integral part of development. The contribution of NTFPs to economy is unknown and could be higher than that of timber products, still retaining the significant biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, there is limited data on the production, yield and harvest levels and techniques of NTFPs. To be sustainable, harvest levels need to be based on a sound knowledge of the reproductive biology, distribution and abundance of the NTFP species, their yields and production. Assessment of NTFP resources in the tropics is relatively new and has received little attention. In this study, we determine the productivity levels of 9 NTFP yielding species in the Western Ghats over a 13-year period and attempt to understand the supra annual yield patterns of species and their implications to management and conservation. This study demonstrates that species yield patterns differ over years and there are cyclic patterns of yield and fruiting pattern varies significantly among species. Therefore, while planning to procure or process the fruits of different NTFP yielding species, this knowledge is essential. NTFP yield and production data per tree and per hectare will assist in planning and designing processing and marketing facilities. Such information needs to be provided to FDAs to plan their resource harvest, processing and benefit sharing. Keywords Harvest; Monitoring; NTFPs; Western Ghats; Yield
Agro-metrological investigation of bumper apple productivity in Himachal Pradesh, India
Journal of Applied and Natural Science
The study aimed to investigate the productivity and weather relationship for the apple growing areas of Himachal Pradesh viz., Kalpa, Bhuntar and Shimla in district Kinnaur, Kullu and Shimla, respectively. The results revealed that pre bloom period (November to February) in the year 2009-10 remained cooler. The minimum temperature of 0.4 to 0.9, 1.0 to 1.1°C and 1.9 to 2.2°C and maximum temperature of 6.7, 1.0 to 1.1 and 1.7°C were lower in Shimla, Bhuntar and Kalpa region, respectively compared to 1995-2009.. The maximum temperature for the chill accumulation months of November, December, January and February during 2009-10 showed 13 to 19 per cent lower compared to 1995-2009. The average pre bloom rainfall during 2010 was 39 to 57 per cent higher than 1995-2009 indicating sustainable bloom period. The 3 to 4°C temperature rise during March 2010 (19 to 24°C) as compared to 1995-2009 (16 to 21.4°C) coupled with 52 per cent higher precipitation benefited the crop in profuse flo...
STUDIES ON PHENOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT FOREST TREES OF SOUTH GUJARAT, INDIA
Phenology has been defined as the study of the timing of recurring biological events, the causes of their timing with regard to abiotic and biotic forces and the interrelation among phases of the same or different event. The role of phenology in forest ecosystems has been discussed for several decades. Recently, understanding of tree phenology is quantitatively related to environment is even more important because of anticipated global environmental climate change. The present study describes the phenology such as leaf drop, leaf flush, vegetative growth, fruit formation and seed maturation of different tree species of South Gujarat. Random sampling of the site to assess the abundance of individuals was followed by tagging / marking the individuals with five adult individuals (>20 cm girth over bark) was selected. Four major branches (one in each direction) were marked and observations were taken at fifteen days interval. Vegetative growth which started with leaf flushes in March to April was completed by May in 72.4% of the species studied. For most species studied, leaf drop and simultaneous leafing occurred during warm-day period of the year. About 68.0% of species showed multiple leafing. In deciduous trees, flower (17.2%) and fruit formation (3.4%) occurred in March, a month earlier than evergreen trees. Fruit maturation between March and June was again ahead by one month in deciduous species. In all fifteen observations viz., leaf flush initiation, leaf flush completion, leaf fall initiation, leaf fall completion, leaf less condition, initiation of flowering, flowering (full bloom), completion of flowering, time lag between start of vegetative (first leaf flush) and reproductive (first visible flower), initiation of fruiting, time of fruit ripening, completion of fruiting, fruit fall initiation, completion of fruit fall and any pest and diseases incidence were recorded. The overall purpose of such study is to provide base line data for those working on tree improvement, silviculture and to initiate a progressive step to establish co-relation of climate change with phenograms.
International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 2019
during the year 2015-16. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications. The observations were recorded on various parameters of tree growth, flowering, fruit set and yield. Among different cultivars Oregon Spur II recorded maximum increment in the trunk girth (8.10 %) and tree height (22.37 %). Tree spread (1.74 m) and tree volume (2.13 m 3) was highest in Gale Gala while, minimum tree spread (0.35 m) and tree volume (0.35 m 3) was recorded in cultivars Oregon Spur II and Scarlet Spur II respectively. Date of pink bud, first flowering and full bloom was early in cultivar Gale Gala (18 th March, 20 th March and 27 th March) while, it was late in cultivar Gibson Golden (24 th March, 28 th March and 1 st April). The highest fruit set (93.19 %) was recorded in Golden Delicious and least in Early Red One (44.05 %). Highest yield (9.91 kg/tree) was recorded in Gale Gala and lowest (0.65 kg/tree) in Oregon Spur II.
Assessment of Trees Outside Forests in Rural Region of Varanasi District in U.P
2021
A study has been undertaken to assess the number of important tree species outside forests in rural areas of district Varanasi. Varanasi is a commercial center and a consumption center for the tree based needs. The species selected were Teak, Mango, Shisham, Mahua, Neem, Aonla and Eucalyptus. These species are very common species as Trees outside Forests (ToF) in rural area of the district. Mango, Neem and Shisham are most demanded species of the region. The district Varanasi has 1277 villages, out of which 12 villages (1 %) were taken for the study. The number of trees on the basis of girth classes was recorded in selected villages of respective blocks. In case of Teak, a total of 272390 trees, in Mango species, a total of 86648 trees, a total of 53116 trees in Neem, in case of Shisham, a total of 23917trees, in Eucalyptus species, a total of 24851 trees, in case of Aonla, a total of 8795 and for Mahua, 16556 trees were enumerated in different girth classes. It was found that Mahua and Aonla trees were very less as compared to other species. Thus, introduction of these species in large areas / private land of farmer may be a viable option for minimizing demand supply gap as well as to increase the tree cover.
Assessment of trees outside forests in Ballia District of eastern Uttar Pradesh, India
Journal of Tree Sciences, 2019
A study was undertaken to assess the number of important tree species outside forests in rural areas of district Ballia, which is a commercial center and a consumption center for the tree based needs. The species selected were Teak (Tectona grandis), Mango (Mangifera indica), Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Mahua (Madhuca longifolia), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Aonla (Emblica officinalis)) and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.). These species are very common species as Trees Outside Forests (TOF) in rural area of the district and out of six, Mango, Neem and Shisham are most demanded species of the region. The district Ballia has 2372 villages, out of which 23 villages (1 %) were taken for the study. The number of trees on the basis of girth classes was recorded in selected villages of respective blocks. In case of Teak, a total of 578351 trees, in Mango species, a total of 433320 trees, a total of 522848 trees in Neem, in case of Shisham, a total of 454319 trees, in Eucalyptus species, a total of 359395 trees, in case of Aonla, a total of 78202 and for Mahua, 86295 trees were enumerated in different girth classes. It was found that Mahua and Aonla trees were very less as compared to other species. Thus, introduction of these species in large areas / private land of farmer may be a viable option for minimizing demand supply gap as well as to increase the tree cover.
2014
2014): Farm-level tree growth characteristics, fruit phenotypic variation and market potential assessment of three socio-economically important forest fruit tree species, Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, Tropical forests contain many nutritionally and socio-economically important fruit tree species. Farm-level tree growth characteristics, fruit phenotype and market potentials of Chrysophyllum albidum, Irvingia gabonensis and Garcinia kola in rainforest and derived savanna ecosystems of Nigeria were assessed. Growth measurements were made on 100 trees of each species from 10 villages. Questionnaires were used to obtain information from farmers and marketers of the species at farm-gate, urban and rural markets. Mean tree age varied from 19.5 to 43.5 years, with trees in rainforest being older than those in derived savanna. Between 40% and 80% of the species in derived savanna were planted by farmers, whereas only 2 -6% of the species were planted in rainforest. C. albidum and I. gabonensis trees in rainforest were significantly older, taller and larger with deeper crowns than those in derived savanna. Although farming of fruit trees is male dominated (76.2-92.3%), marketing of their products is female dominated (60-100%). Annual income from sale of the species ranged from 300 to 1300 US$, with income lowest and highest at farm-gate (farmers) and urban market (traders), respectively. The income contributes 20 -60% to annual family income. The old age of most of the trees and the high income derived from their products underscores the necessity for domestication, which should be farmer driven.