Research Article | Published: 01 June 1996

Relative Growth, Fuel-Wood Yield, Litter Accumulation and Conservation Potential of Seven Acacia species and an Understorey Grass on a Sloping Bouldery Soil

S. S. Grewal, Kehar Singh, M. L. Juneja and Shiv Charan Singh

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 19 | Issue: 2 | Page No. 174-182 | 1996
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-1996-RHHNVL | Cite this article

Abstract

Deforestation, soil erosion, poor crop yields, fuel-wood and forage scarcity are the common features of the agro-ecosystem of foothill north India The performance of seven Acacia re-species was compared in a long term (1976-1992) field study conducted on a 35-40% sloping eroded boulder soil (Udic Ustocrept). The species were planted at 3 m x 3 m spacing in contiguous blocks on the berms of 150 x 45 x 45 cm size staggered contour trenches made against the over-land slope. Subsequently a sod forming perennial grass (Eulaliopsis binata Retz., used for paper pulp) was uniformly planted at 75 cm, x 75 cm spacing in the understorey.

Acacia suma recorded the maximum height (1413 cm) and dbh (26.3 cm) after 16 years of growth; followed by Acacia lenticularis (1263 cm height, 21.6 cm dbh). The fuel-wood yield from poles followed the order: Acacia nilotica (39.34 t/ha.), Acacia tortilis, (36.36), Acacia Senegal (26.94), Acacia modesta (20.81), Acacia lenticularis (19.11) and Acacia suma (14.64). The highest net returns of Rs. 32,121 and 23,972 ha. were given by Acacia nilotica and Acacia tortilis. The 10 years (1983-1992) mean annual Bhabar grass yield was highest under Acacia Senegal (3.51 t/ha.) followed by Acacia tortilis (3.07 t/ha.) and average of all species as 2.49 t/ha. The 4 years (1989-1992) mean runoff from a representative block of Acacia tortilis and grass was only 1.75% and soil loss 0.21 t/ha.yr. with the mean monsoon rainfall of 904 mm. The leaf litter accumulation varied from 6.73 under A. suma to 10.0 t/ha. under Acacia lenticularis with a mean of 8.67 t/ha. These results indicated that the eroded boulder slopes can be best managed under Acacia nilotica and Bhabar grass association.

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How to cite

Grewal, S.S., Singh, K., Juneja, M.L. and Singh, S.C., 1996. Relative Growth, Fuel-Wood Yield, Litter Accumulation and Conservation Potential of Seven Acacia species and an Understorey Grass on a Sloping Bouldery Soil. Indian Journal of Forestry, 19(2), pp.174-182. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-1996-RHHNVL

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 June 1996

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