Head of the Faculty
Dr. J. C. Kaushik
Professor & Head

Faculty (Designation & Specialization)

Teaching

Dr. Ravi Kumar, Professor, Specialization: Forest Soils (Presently working as AD (REL))
Dr. K. S. Bangarwa, Professor, Specialization: Tree Breeding/Forestry
Dr. Bimlendra Kumari, Professor, Specialization: Silviculture/Forestry

Research

Dr. D. P. S. Nandal, Senior Scientist, Specialization: Agroforestry
Dr. J. C. Kaushik, Senior Scientist, Specialization: Forest Pathology
Dr. R. S. Dhillon, Scientist, Specialization: Tree Improvement/ Agroforestry
Dr. Rajender Singh Beniwal,  Scientist; Specialization: Forestry
Dr. Manoj Kumar Singh, Asstt. Scientist ; Forestry
 

senior Technical Assistant
Dr. Sushil Kumari

Regional Research Stations/KVKs

Dr. Naresh Kaushik, Scientist, RRS, Bawal
Dr. Raj Pal Singh Deswal, Scientist, RRS, Bawal
Dr. Ashok Kumar Deswal, Sr. DES (Forestry), KVK, Faridabad
Dr. Ramesh Chander Verma, Sr. DES (Forestry), KVK, Kaithal
Dr. Sunil Kumar Dhanda, Sr. DES (Forestry), KVK, Sadalpur
Dr. Balwan Singh Mandal, Sr. DES (Forestry), KVK, Panchkula
Dr. Jitender Singh Bamel, Sr. DES (Forestry), KVK, Sonipat
Dr. Sandeep Arya, DES (Forestry), KVK Yamuna Nagar
Dr. Karan Ahlawat, DES (Forestry), KVK Kurukshetra
 

Location
Forestry Building

Mailing Address
Department of Forestry
College of Agriculture
CCS HAU, Hisar-125004, India

Telephone No.: +91-1662-289255

 Salient achievement

       Cultivation of agricultural crops in the interspaces of poplar had beneficial effect on the growth of poplar.

       Growing of poplar at wider spacings (10 m x 2.5 m and 15 m x 2.5 m) produce higher volume of wood and also provide insurance against reduced total income (crops + poplar) in the event of crash of poplar prices.

       Adverse effect of poplar on the associated crops decreased with increasing tree spacing.

       Different spacings of poplar had no adverse effect on the yield of associated crops during the first year of plantation. However, the yield of all crops started decreasing from 2nd year onward.

       The quality and yield of medicinal plants (Aloe, Shatawari, Giloe and mulhati) increased in close spacing of poplar as compare to wide spacings.

       Magnitude of yield reduction was higher during the rainy season than winter season.

       Among various rainy and winter season crops tried under different spacings of poplar, turmeric was found most compatible crop.

       Cultivation of rainy season crops (sorghum, cowpea, dhaincha) in the intraspaces of poplar after two years of poplar plantation was not found economical. However, cultivation of winter crops (wheat and berseem) was found economical till the end of rotation.

       Sorghum-Berseem crop rotation and wider spacings of 10 m x 2.5 m and 15 m x 2.5 m gave maximum net returns in poplar based agroforestry system.

       At farmers field also the discounted income from poplar based agroforestry system has been recorded at Rs.6827/acre/year even with lowest market rates (Rs.100-125/qtl.) of poplar prevailing during 2005.

       Among wheat varieties tested in the interspaces of poplar, durum wheat variety WH-896 was found most suitable for agroforestry as its seeds were not eaten by squirrel at the time of germination and by parrots at seed maturity.

       Pest studies in sorghum grown under 10 m x 2.5 m and 15 m x 2.5 m spacings revealed that per cent shoot fly dead hearts, per cent stem borer dead hearts, per cent stem tunneling and per cent plant infection was about 50 under poplar as compared to control.

       Weed control and fertilizer studies in poplar nursery revealed that for getting healthy ETPs of poplar, it should be fertilized with 200 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 /ha or 20 t/ha FYM and weed can be effectively controlled with chemical weeding [Glyphosate @1.0 % solution on product basis (round up/glycel) 60 days after bud sprouting].

       Growth and yield of crops in association with Melia start decreasing from 4th year of planting. Maximum yield decrease (85%) has been observed during the rainy season (Dhaincha). During the winter season yield decrease was minimum (26%) in Berseem followed by Barley (39%) and Wheat (40%).

       Dhaincha-Berseem crop rotation was found most economical followed by Dhaincha-Wheat in Melia based agrisilviculture system.

       Planting of Melia in saline soil and cultivation of Dhaincha during the rainy season and Berseem during the winter season results in better reclamation than planting of trees alone.

       Among the winter season crops, Barley was found most compatible crop with eucalypts. The average yield reduction in Barley, Berseem, Wheat and Lentil over the last 4 years (3 to 6 years old) was 47, 52, 63 and 65 per cent, respectively.

       Wheat grown with eucalypts does not need extra dose of fertilizer. However, wheat requires more number of irrigations under eucalypts than control sown wheat.

       The higher irrigation requirement of wheat raised in association with 4-5 years old eucalypts was due to about 30 per cent higher soil moisture depletion from 0-90 cm soil layer in agroforestry than sole wheat.

       Among different genotypes of jojoba, local genotypes performed best in comparison to Israeli genotypes.

       Vegetative propagation techniques in neem have been standardized using different growth regulators.

       Mahaneem was found sensitive to high salinity (EC more than 2.5 dS m-1). However, it showed luxirant growth in sandy soil.

       Prosopis cineraria is a cross fertilizing species. Polycross population was found best for both plant height and dbh.

       Genetic diversity in Prosopis cineraria and P. juliflora has been determined through electrophoresis of total seed protein.

       Air layering in P. cineraria was found successful when treated with IBA and talcum powder in ratio of 1:1.

       Seven species of Prosopis viz. P. cineraria, P. juliflora, P. alba, P. chilensis, P. flaexuosa, P. velutina and P. levigata have been established in the species collection block for further breeding programme.

       Fodder nutritive value of different Prosopis species was analysed. In P. cineraria hybrid, values of crude protein and IVDMD were found maximum in comparison to other species.

       Germplasm of Jatropha (489 CPTs), Mahua (86 CPTs), Karanj (68 CPTs), Jal (36 (CPTs), Jojoba (6 genotypes), Paradise tree (11 CPTs) has  been  collected from diverse ecogeographical regions of India.

       Five species of Jatropha viz., J. curcas, J. gossypifolia, J. integerrima, J. multifida and J. podagrica have been established in the field for genetic improvement of jatropha through inter and intraspecific hybridization.

       Clonal propagation techniques of different TBOs have been standardized using different growth regulators.

       In tree borne oilseeds, the complete burial of the seed in soil results in poor germination. Therefore, to get higher germination, half of the seed should remain exposed to air.

       Damping off/root-rot of shisham is a devastating and widely spread disease in nurseries. Seed treatment of shisham with Bavistin or Dithane M-45 effectively checked damping off disease in nurseries. Similarly, seed treatment with biocontrol agent i.e. Pseudomonas maltophylla and Bacillus subtilis prevent the disease and support growth of the seedlings.

       Acacia tortilis has shallow root system so it should not be planted on field boundaries in agroforestry. If planted, then a trench of 0.5 m x 1.0 m size should be dug 2 m from the tree trunk.

       Planting of tree seedlings in the month of October in arid environment has been found most suitable for establishment of tree species as compared to February and July season planting.

       Use of brackish water for life saving irrigation up to 20 dS m-1 water can be used for Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, Azadirachta indica and Prosopis cineraria without any apparent detrimental effect on their growth. A. indica was found more resistant to salinity.

 Research Priorities

      Introduction of tree borne oilseeds (TBOs) species in agroforestry

      Development of agroforestry models by selecting compatible tree-crop combination.

      Domestication and breeding of unexploited trees and shrubs.

      Biomass estimation and nutrient cycling in agroforestry system.

      Development of suitable techniques for afforestation in fragile environmental conditions.

      Development of Improved nursery technology for multiplication of quality planting stock
 

 Academic Programmes

Post-graduation programs in M.Sc. and Ph.D. Forestry

 Teaching: 

• M.Sc. and Ph.D. degree programme in the discipline of FORESTRY
• Offers courses to UG and PG students of the University.

COURSE CATALOGUE

 Manual on Environmental  Studies ( ES - 200)

Extension 

• Dissemination of standardized techniques to the farmers
• To solve the problems of the farmers relating to forestry/agroforestry

 Research Schemes funded by State/ICAR/Other Agency 

Future Plan of Forestry Department

       Studies on tree-crop interaction in agroforestry systems.

       Different spacings of poplar and eucalypts will be tested for higher income from agroforestry.

       Compatible medicinal and aromatic plants will also be identified in poplar based agroforestry system

       Germplasm centre of Jatropha and important multipurpose trees and shrubs will be established.

       Seed orchard of important tree species such as jatropha, karanj, shisham, khejri, kikar, neem, eucalypts and poplar will be established for the distribution of quality reproductive material.

       Emphasis will be given on domestication and breeding of unexplored forest trees and shrubs.

       Nursery technology for unexploited tree species will be developed for production of quality planting stock.

       Production technology of forest tree species for different situations including fragile environmental conditions will be developed.

       Tree mortality, its causes and their management.

       Biomass estimation and nutrient cycling in agroforestry systems

       Package of practices for production of important agroforestry tree species will be developed in Hindi and English both for the benefit of Farmers, Agriculture Officers, Forest Officers and Students.

       Agroforestry model plantations will be established at different KVKs for demonstration and research.