Growth Characteristics, Biomass and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Variation of Garhwal Himalaya’s Fodder and Fuel Wood Tree Species at the Nursery Stage

Azamal Husen

Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

DOI: 10.4236/ojf.2013.31003                

Abstract

Fodder and fuel wood deficiency in the Himalayan region is well recognized. Rural inhabitants are exploiting these forest resources for their livelihood for generations which leads to severe deforestation. The aim of this study was to identify the fast growing fodder and fuel wood tree species of Garhwal Himalayas at nursery stage with wider relevance and great potential for extensive afforestation programmes. Seed of Bauhinia purpurea L., Bauhinia retusa Roxb., Bauhinia variegate L., Celtis australis L., Ficus nemoralis Wall., Ficus roxburghii Wall., Grewia optiva Drummond, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, Melia azedarach L., Ougeinia oojeinensis (Roxb.) Hochr., Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus, Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth. and Toona ciliate M. Roem. were collected from the superior trees and seedlings were raised. After one year and one month of establishment at the nursery, the growth characteristics, biomass and chlorophyll fluorescence (dark-adopted F_v/F_m) of each species were also recorded. G. optiva had shown the highest growth in terms of height, basal diameter increment and number of branches, while production of leaves was more on O. oojeinensis. Biomass and chlorophyll fluorescence (maximum quantum yield or photochemical efficiency of PSII) was found highest in Q. leucotrichophora which indicates photosynthetically this species was most active among the studied fodder and fuel wood tree species. The information in this communication could be utilized for developing various conservation and sustainable strategies in the Garhwal Himalayas to mitigate the<

Keywords

Scarcity; Fodder and Fuel Wood Species; Screening; Growth; Biomass; Chlorophyll

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Anonymous (1991). Census data of Garhwal region of Uttar Pradesh.
[2]	Barbagallo, R. P., Oxborough, K., Pallett, K. E., & Baker, N. R. (2003). Rapid, noninvasive screening for perturbation of metabolism and plant growth using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging. Plant Physiology, 132, 485-493. doi:10.1104/pp.102.018093
[3]	Bhatt, B. P., & Sachan, M. S. (2004). Firewood consumption along an altitudinal gradient in mountain villages of India. Biomass and Bioenergy, 27, 69-75. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2003.10.004
[4]	Bhatt, B. P., & Verma, N. D. (2002). Some multipurpose tree species for agroforestry systems. Umiam: ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region.
[5]	Bindroo, B. B., Tiku, A. K., & Pandit, R. K. (1990) Variation of some traits in mulberry varieties. Indian Forester, 106, 320-323.
[6]	Hardacre, A. K., & Greer, D. H. (1989). Differences in growth in response to temperature of maize hybrids varying in low temperature tolerance. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 16, 181-187. doi:10.1071/PP9890181
[7]	Husen, A. (2009). Growth, chlorophyll fluorescence and biochemical markers in clonal ramets of shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) at nursery stage. New Forests, 38, 117-129. doi:10.1007/s11056-009-9141-z
[8]	Husen, A. (2010). Growth characteristics, physiological and metabolic responses of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.) clones differencing in rejuvenation capacity subjected to drought stress. Silvae Genetica, 59,124-136.
[9]	Husen, A., & Nautiyal, S. (2004). Growth performance of some fuelwood and fodder tree species at the three altitudes of Garhwal Himalayas. International Conference on Multipurpose tree in the tropics: Assessment, Growth and Management, Jodhpur, 22-25 November 2004.
[10]	Husen, A., Khali, R., & Nautiyal, S. (2004a). Altitudinal variation in chlorophyll fluorescence/photosynthetic efficiency in seedlings of some indigenous fodder species. Indian Forester, 130, 89-94.
[11]	Husen, A., Khali, R., & Nautiyal, S. (2004b). Chlorophyll fluorescence in relation to diurnal changes of three Ficus species. Indian Forester, 130, 811-818.
[12]	Janssen, L. H. J., Von Overen, J. C., Van Hassett, P. R., & Kuiper, P. J. C. (1995). Genotypic variation in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, photosynthesis and growth of tomato grown at low temperature and low irradiance. Photosynthetica, 31, 301-314.
[13]	Khoshoo, T. N. (1987). Strategies for meeting the fire wood needs in the hills. In T. N. Dhar, & P. N. Sharma (Eds.), Himalayan energy system (pp. 11-19). Nainital: Nainital Gyanodaya Prakashan.
[14]	Krause, G. H., & Somersalo, S. (1989). Fluorescence as a tool in photosynthesis research: Applications in studies of photo inhibition, cold acclimation, and freezing stress. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 323, 281-293. doi:10.1098/rstb.1989.0010
[15]	Mohammed, G. H., Binder, W. D., & Gillies, S. (1995). Chlorophyll fluorescence: A review of its practical forestry application and instrumentation. Scandia Journal Forestry Research, 10, 383-410. doi:10.1080/02827589509382904
[16]	Parker, W. C., & Mohammed, G. H. (2000). Photosynthetic acclimation of shade grow red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait) seedlings to a high light environment. New Forests, 19, 1-11. doi:10.1023/A:1006668928091
[17]	Perschel, R. T. (1991). Pioneering a new human/nature relationship. Journal of Forestry, 89, 18-22.
[18]	Salazar R. (1989). Genetic variation of 16 provenances of Acacia mangium at nursery level in Turrialba Costa Rica. Commonwealth Forestry Review, 68, 263-272.
[19]	Shah, S. L. (1982). Ecological degradation and future of agriculture in the Himalaya. Indian Journal of Agriculture Economics, 37, 1-22.
[20]	Singh, B., Bhatt, B. P., & Prasad, P. (2006). Variation in seed and seedling traits of Celtis australis, a multipurpose tree, in Central Himalaya, India. Agroforestry Systems, 67, 115-122. doi:10.1007/s10457-004-2948-x
[21]	Singh, N., & Pokhriyal, T. C. (2000). Biomass distribution pattern in relation to seed source variation in Dalbergia sissoo seedlings. Annals of Forestry, 8, 238-249.
[22]	Singh, R. V. (1982). Fodder trees in India. New Delhi: Oxford & IBH Publication Co.
[23]	Singh, S. P. (1998). Chronic disturbance, a principal cause of environmental degradation in developing countries. Environmental Conservation, 25, 1-2. doi:10.1017/S0376892998000010
[24]	Sniezko, R. A., & Stewart, H. T. L. (1989). Range wise provenance variation in growth and nutrition of Acacia albida seedlings propagated in Zimbabwe. Forest Ecology and Management, 27, 179-197. doi:10.1016/0378-1127(89)90106-0
[25]	Vidaver, W. E., Binder, W. D., Brooke, R. C., Lister, G. R., & Toivonem, P. M. A. (1991). Assessment of photosynthetic activity of nursery grown Picea glauca seedlings using an integrated fluorometer to monitor variable chlorophyll fluorescence. Canadian Journal of Forestry Research, 19, 1478-1482. doi:10.1139/x89-224
[26]	Wright, W. J. (1976). Introduction to forest genetics. New York: Academic Press.