AFOR 5111 – Introduction to Forestry
Theory
1. Introduction – definitions of basic terms related to forestry,
Objectives of silviculture,
Forest classification,
Salient features of Indian Forest Policies.
2. Forest regeneration, Natural regeneration – natural regeneration from seed and vegetative parts, coppicing, pollarding, root suckers;
3. Artificial regeneration – objectives, the choice between natural and artificial regeneration, essential preliminary considerations.
4. Crown classification.
5. Tending operations weeding, cleaning, thinning mechanical, ordinary, crown, and advance thinning.
6. Forest mensuration – objectives, diameter measurement, instruments used in diameter measurement;
7. Non-instrumental methods of height measurement -shadow and single-pole method;
8. Instrumental methods of height measurement geometric and trigonometric principles, instruments used in height measurement; tree stem form, form factor, form quotient, measurement of the volume of felled and standing trees, age determination of trees.
9. Agroforestry-definitions, importance, criteria of selection of trees in agroforestry, different agroforestry systems prevalent in the country, shifting cultivation, taungya, alley cropping, windbreaks, and shelterbelts, home gardens
10. Cultivation practices of two important fast-growing tree species of the region.
Practical
1. identification of tree species.
2. Diameter measurements using calipers and tape, diameter measurements of forked, buttressed, fluted, and leaning trees. Height measurement of standing trees by shadow method, single-pole method, and hypsometer.
3. Volume measurement of logs using various formulae.
4. Nursery layout, seed sowing, vegetative propagation techniques.
5. Forest plantations and their management.
6. Visits of nearby forest-based industries.
