UTTAR BANGA KRISHI VISWAVIDYALAYA

PG Courses

Department of Agricultural Entomology

Semester I

CORE COURSES

Course No	Course Title	Credit hours
ENT 500	Insect Morphology	1+1
ENT 501	Insect Taxonomy	1+1
ENT 502	Insect Anatomy and Physiology	2+1
ENT 503	Ecology and Insect Behaviour	3+1
ENT 504	Host-plant Resistance in Insects	1+0

 

Semester II

CORE COURSE

Course No	Course Title	Credit hours
ENT 550	Embryonic and Post Embryonic Development	1+1
ENT 551	Insecticide Toxicology	1+1
ENT 552	Insect Vectors of Plant Pathogens	1+0
ENT 553	Non-insect Pests	1+1
ENT 554	Biological Control of Pests	1+1

 

 

 

 

COURSE FOR STUDENTS ADMITTED IN M. Sc. WITHOUT TAKING ENTOMOLOGY AS ADVANCE IN UG LEVEL

 

ENT 490         Introductory Entomology                                         2+1

            History of entomology; origin of insects in animal kingdom; position of insects in animal kingdom, their dominance, structural perfections and developmental characteristics.

 

                        ENT 491         Crop Entomology                                                      2+1

            Distinguishing characters of insects, mites and nematodes, their classification and importance; major pests of cereals, sugarcane, cotton, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, fruits, stored grains and their control; principles of insect pest control; pest control appliances; diseases caused by nematodes.

 

 

CORE COURSES

 

                        ENT 500         Insect Morphology                                                    1+1

            Integument; details of insect structure- cuticular, ultra structure; types of cuticle; colouration- hemochromes; cuticular out growths; special integumentary structures- invagination and evagination of cuticles i.e. apodemes, apophyses, furca, tentorium, cuticular sensory organs; modification of integument in relation to insecticide penetration.

            Body regions- evaluation of body regions and their segmentation, sclerites i.e. segmental and inter-segmental, variation in sclerite arrangements and their significance.

            Head- segments; theories of head segmentation; structure of head and its appendages; antennae- variation in structure of antenna and functional significance; eyes and oceli; mouth parts and their adaptive modification.

            Thorax- sclerites; prothorax; pterothorax- structure of pterothoracic segments in wingless and winged adults; appendages of thorax; wing, its structure and modification of wing venation, wing coupling and flight mechanism; legs- its segmentation and adaptive modifications, mechanism of leg movement; muscular structure of wing and leg.

            Abdomen- segmentation and various degrees of fusion of segments; appendages of abdomen- external genetalia, different modifications of external genetalia and their sexual dimorphism.

            Sense organs- mechanism and chemoreceptors, structure and function.

 

                        ENT 501         Insect Taxonomy                                                       1+1

            History and development of entomology; introduction to class insecta and its position in phylum arthropoda; relationship with other arthropods; history of classification of insects including evolution; international code of zoological nomenclature with special reference to concepts of types, law of priority, synonymy and homonymy.

            Names of all orders under each sub category as per Imms and revised by Richards and Davies; phylogenetic relationships among orders of insects; salient taxonomic characters; special and peculiar morphological features; number of known species; geographical distribution and biological peculiarities of agriculturally important orders- Isoptera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Thysanoptera, Mallophaga, Siphunculata, Neuroptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera. Coleoptera, Strepsiptera and Siphonaptera.

            Infra ordinal classification with salient characters above super family level of the above mentioned orders; taxonomic characters of the agriculturally important families/super families with examples of economically important species under each family/super family.

 

                        ENT 502         Insect Anatomy and Physiology                               2+1

            Animal cell characteristics with special reference to insect; Biochemical phenomena in living organisms (metabolism) and overview; history and growth of insect physiology as a science; insect physiology as related to applied entomology.

            Digestive system; modification of digestive system in relation to food habits; salivary gland- filter chamber, fore, mid and hind gut; predigestion or extra intestinal digestion; basic food substrates; enzymes for digestion; factor influencing digestion; process of food digestion- absorption and assimilation of digestive foods; extra and intra cellular micro organisms.

            Respiratory system; terrestrial and aquatic respiratory system- structure and their arrangements; transport of gases; role of trachaea, air sacs and trachaeoles in respiration; ventilation and ventilation control; cutaneous respiration; artifacts for aquatic respiration- oxygen supply from air and water; respiration in endoparasitic insects; rhythm and control of gases in insects.

            Circulatory system; structure and physiology; mechanism of blood circulation; variation in circulatory system in aquatic, parasitic and blood sucking insects.

            Excretory system; basic structure and modification in terrestrial and aquatic insects; excretion of nitrogenous waste products; storage excretion; regulation of electrolytes and water in terrestrial, aquatic and endoparasitic insects.

            Nervous system; neural elements- nerve sheath, glial cells, neurophile and synapse; central nervous system; peripheral nervous system; nerve impulse; conduction through axon; biochemical transmission through synapse and conduction through neuro muscular junction; cholinergic system.

Sense organs; receptors organs- photoreceptors, mechano-receptors, chemoreceptors, striadulation and auditory organs; types of stimuli; biochemical basis of reception and response; light production in insects.

            Reproductive system; male system and its variations; spermatogenesis- process and control; female system and its variations; oogenesis and ovulation- process and control; kinds of reproduction in insects.

            Hormones and phenomones; neurosecretory cells- corpora cardiaca and allata; prothoracic gland; synthesis- nature of hormone, transport, storage, distribution, function and control; role in metamorphosis, reproduction and other activities.

            Pheromones- definition and types; production; release; transmission and perception; hormonal control of pheromones; diapause and pheromoregulation.

            Physiology of moulting in insects- formation of new cuticle; structure and location of endocrine glands; significance of endocrine glands on growth and metamorphosis; role of vitamins in growth and metamorphosis; neurosecretions on growth and metamorphosis.

            Musculature; structure of muscles and variations; musculature of head, thorax and abdomen; muscle associated with legs and wing movement.

 

ENT 503         Embryonic and Post embryonic Development       1+1     

 

            The egg, embryonic development- fertilization, development of oocyte, cleavage and blastoderm, germ band formation, blastokinesis, organogenesis; variation in development- viviparity, polyembryony, parthenogenesis, paedogenesis; post embryonic development- hatching and shedding of embryonic cuticle, growth and moulting, number and duration of instars, types of larva, pupa and metamorphosis, types and significance of pupa, metamorphosis to adulthood and development of organs.

 

                        ENT 504         Non insect Pest                                                          1+1

            Role of mites in agriculture; external morphology and internal anatomy of phytophagous mites; broad outline of classification up to genera; symptoms of damage and control of important mite pests; distribution and adaptation of rodent to different environments; population dynamics; development and growth; role of biotic and abiotic factors; social and feeding behaviour; burrowing pattern; economic losses; survey and control techniques; importance, distribution, habitats, biology, ecology, nature of damage of non insect pests like birds, snails, slugs, millipedes and other animals and their control.

                        ENT 550         Ecology and Insect Behaviour                                 3+1

            Definition; division and development of ecology as a modern science; concept of ecosystem; diversity; biosphere and ecosystem; components of ecosystem; trophic structure and ecological efficiencies; fundamental concepts related to energy and its flow in ecosystem; influence f abiotic and biotic factors on distribution and abundance of insects; abiotic factors- physiographic, edaphic, climatic and biotic factors; inter and intra specific relationships; biogeochemical cycles and their relationship with energy flow; characteristics of population; ecology of community- terrestrial and aquatic; euryoccious and stenoecous organisms; Gloger’s rule; Bergman’s rule; Allen’s rule.

            Evolution and inheritance of insect behaviour; adaptive behaviour in relation to environmental stimuli- orientation, taxes, kinesis, sign stimuli, token stimuli, feeding, mating and oviposition behaviour, dispersal, migration, swarming and aggregation behaviour; communication and social behaviour in insects; mimicry- adaptive colouration and protective mechanism.

 

                        ENT 551         Insecticide Toxicology                                               1+1

            History and development of insecticides; physico-chemical properties of insecticides; classification of insectides based on action, toxicity, structure activity relationship, chemical nature; mode of action of organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, synthetic pyrithroids and botanicals, newer molecules and miscellaneous compounds; insecticidal formulations and their use- principles, properties, additives, shelf life and ISI standard; compatibility; synergism selectivity and antagonism phytotoxicity; fate of insecticide in environment; effect on non target organism, soil flora and fauna, aquatic flora and fauna; limitation of insecticidal control; pesticide formulations.

            Persistence, degradation and bioconcentration; bioassay and its use in toxicological investigation- probit analysis and dose, mortality relationship; pesticidal rules, act and Indian policy; precautions in the handling of insecticides; insecticide poisoning; antidotes and their use; factor affecting toxicity of insecticides; hazards of pesticides to human and domestic animals; productive insects; pollinators and wildlife; insect resistance to insecticides and its management; resurgence; role of chemical insecticides for sustainable IPM.

 

                        ENT 552         Insect Vectors of Plant Pathogens                           1+0

            Important insect vector and their characteristics; aphids; leaf-hoppers; plant hoppers; white flies; thrips; grass-hoppers; mites; bacterial, viral, fungal and mycoplasma diseases and their transmission; feeding process of important insect vectors; role of insects and mites in the transmission of plant pathogens; vector pathogen relationships; vector specificity; factors affecting transmission by vectors; toxicogenic insects and phytotoxemia; management of vectors.

 

                        ENT 553         Host Plant Resistances to Insects                             1+0

            Introduction; history of development of host plant resistance to insects; importance of resistance varieties in IPM; host selection by phytophagous insects- factors, steps in host selection process, theories of host plant selection; types of resistance- ecological and genetic; terms used in resistance- definitions; bases of resistance- biophysical and biochemical; factors affecting expressions of resistance; programme for host-plant resistance to insect- component and steps; insect biotypes- identification, methods to detect biotypes and to overcome biotic problems; genetics of resistance; stability of resistance; resistance of key pests of cereals, sugarcane, cotton, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables; achievements in the development of resistance to varieties for major pests- future opportunities and direction in plant resistance; biotechnological approaches in host-plant resistance.

 

                       

ENT 554         Biological Control of Pests                                       1+1

            History, principles and scope of biological control; potential biocontrol agents- parasitoids, predators and pathogens; characteristics of entomophagous insects; introduction, culture, establishment, conservation and augmentation of natural enemies of insect pests and factors governing introduction, culture, establishment, conservation and augmentation; mass production techniques and economics of representative biocontrol agents; field release and evaluation; host-parasitoid relationship; group of entomopathogens; symptoms of major infection disease of insects and their dynamics; use of pathogenic microbes and their toxins in pest control- mode of action, mass production, formulation and field application; interaction of biocontrol agents with other components of pest management; impact of pesticides on natural enemies.

 

                        ENT 555         IPM in Agriculture                                                   2+0

            History and origin; trends in the development of IPM at national and international level; IPM theory and practice, concept and philosophy, ecological principles, economic threshold concept and economic considerations, sampling and monitoring, tactics and strategies; use of system analysis integration of different pest management methods.

            Modeling in pest management; IPM systems for important crops like rice, cotton, sugarcane, pulses, vegetables, fruits etc; cultural, physical, mechanical, biological, plant resistance, chemical, legal and modern approaches in pest management.

            Information regarding:

1.      Crop: type and nature of crop, duration and season, foliage character and canopy, stages of crop and nature of consumption and utilization of produce.

2.      Pests: identity of pests, biology and seasonal history, habit and habitat.

3.      Environment: weather factors, forecast of weather, surrounding of the crop field.

4.      Kind of pests: definition, biological strategy and classification.

5.      Assessment of pest population: direct, indirect, sampling requirements and methods.

6.      Assessment of crop losses: decision making for pest control.

 

MINOR AND SUPPORTING COURSES

 

ENT 556         Pests of Spices and Condiments                               1+1

            Detailed account of systematic position, identification, distribution, host range, life and seasonal history, nature and extent of damage, natural enemies and management of pests of turmeric, ginger, chilies, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander, fennel, nut meg, betel vine.

 

                        ENT 557         Pest of Ornamental Plants                                        1+1

            External chewing insects that eat leaves, buds or stems: grass hoppers, flea beetles, leaf rollers, cutworms, ants etc; pests that suck sap from leaves, bud and stem: thrips, scales, mealy bugs, mites, aphids; insects that bore in the stems of the flowers: stalk borers; insects that make galls or mine in the leaves: midge, miner; insects that attack the root or bulb: white grub, wire worms, bulb fly, bulb mite, millipedes, centipedes, snails and nematodes.

 

           

 

            ENT 558         Storage Entomology                                                  1+1

            Storage losses due to insects, mites, rodents, birds and moulds; pests of stored grain and other agricultural products; their systematic position, identification, host range, biology, ecology and nature and extent of damage and natural enemies; sources of infestation; significance of temperature and moisture migration in the development of moulds and insect population; biochemical changes in stored commodities due to pest infestation; principle of grain storage; storage structure- domestic and commercial; management of pest infestations in store- preventive and curative measures; precautions in handling chemicals and fumigants and safe use of pesticides in stored commodities.

 

                        ENT 559         Pest of Tea and Other Plantation Crops                 1+1

            Detailed account of systematic position, identification, distribution, host range, life and seasonal history; nature and extent of damage, natural enemies and management of pests of tea and other plantation crops like coconut, areca nut, cashew nut, cocoa, rubber, palmyrah, cinchona.

 

                        ENT 560         Insect Nutrition and Metabolism                             1+1

            Dietary requirements- in phytophagous, stored product insect and carnivorous insects; dietary deficiency and effects on growth and reproduction; synthesis, storage and transmission of essential nutrients; microorganisms; synthesis of nutrients; mycetocytes; metabolism- anabolism and catabolism; respiratory metabolism- source, release and utilization of energy; intermediate metabolism- metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins; rate and control of metabolism; end product of metabolism.

 

                        ENT 561         Seed Entomology                                                       1+1

            Seed losses in storage; causes of seed losses- insects, mites, fungi and rodents damaging seeds of important agricultural crops; safe storage of seeds; chemical treatment; seed fumigation; packaging and storage of seeds in different regions of India; preservation of seeds on long term basis; seed and seed health law; quarantine laws; role of insect pollinators in seed pollination.

 

 

ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY

 

ENT 600         Field Crop and Storage Entomology                       3+1

            Detailed account of systematic position, identification, distribution, host range, life and seasonal history; nature and extent of damage; natural enemies and management of insect pests of: cereals- paddy, wheat, barley, maize, sorghum, millets, sugarcane; pulses- Phaseolus spp., pea, red gram, lentil; oilseed crops- mustard, groundnut, sesame, linseed, castor, sunflower, safflower; fibre crops- jute, cotton, mesta, sunhemp, ramie; stored product pests; studies on the important pests of stored grains; general account of the pests of the commodities other than grains; detection and estimation of infestation; role of different physical factors in storage hygiene and measure to counteract them; different storage structures; preventive and curative measure against the storage pests.

 

           

 

            ENT 601         Horticulture Entomology and Polyphagous Pests  2+1

            Detailed account of systematic position, identification, distribution, host range, life and seasonal history; nature and extent of damage; natural enemies and management of insect pests of: vegetable- brinjal, tomato, potato, cucurbits, ladies finger, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet potato; spices- ginger, turmeric, onion, garlic, chilies, cardamom; fruits- mango, citrus, banana, guava, litchi, jackfruit, pineapple, apple, pear, peach, grape; plantation crops- coconut, coffee, tea, cashew nut, cocoa; narcotics- tobacco, betel vine; Polyphagous pests- locusts, termites, white grubs, hairy caterpillars and cut worms.

 

                        ENT 602         Industrial Entomology                                              1+0

            Sericulture: Silkworm species of commercial values; systematic position and distribution of silkworm species; wild, semi domesticated and domesticated species- their host plants and types of silk production; species rearing techniques of non-mulberry silk worm species.

            Mulberry silk production: Moriculture- species, variety and strains of mulberry and their propagation, cultivation methods and picking of leaves; important pests and diseases of mulberry.

Mulberry silkworm rearing: Requisites for local and scientific methods of rearing; essential requirement for silkworm rearing; rearing procedures for commercial cocoon; pests and diseases of silkworm.

            Apiculture: Honey bee species occurring in India; morphology for identification of honey bee species; colony organization; life history; behaviour and activities of honey bee.

Bee keeping: Selection of apiary site; bee keeping equipments; bee keeping and its equipments (including seasonal management).

            Queen rearing and bee improvement, diseases and enemies of honey bees; bee forage and role of honey bees in crop pollination; bee products; saving honey bees from pesticidal hazards.

            Lac culture: Systematic position of lac insect; strains of lac insect and their host plants; life history and biological peculiarities of lac insect; cultivation of lac- pruning of host plants, coupe system, inoculation and harvesting; natural enemies of lac.

 

ECOLOGY AND PEST MANAGEMENT

 

                        ENT 603         Principles of Ecology                                                            3+1

            Principles pertaining to ecosystem; food chain; energy flow and biogeochemical cycles; concept of limiting factors; concepts of biological productivity and energy subsidy; characteristics of population- age distribution and survivorship curves; population n theories; biotic potential; environmental resistance; life table and key factors; population regulation; biotic and abiotic factors- its influence on distribution; community dynamics- species diversity, dominance, ecological stratification, stability, ecotone and edge effect; ecological niches; guilds; ecological equivalents; ecological succession; environmental pollution- causes and effects; natural resources; insect biodiversity- their conservation, management and recycling; global warming and its impact on agriculture.

 

                        ENT 604         Ecological Approaches in Pest Management          2+1

            Ecological process; insect out breaks- causes; selected pest out break of agricultural, horticultural and forest crops; survey and surveillance of pest out breaks in space and time; pests- definition and classification; ecology of pest control- nature and origin of pest status in insects; appreciation of pest situation and reduction in pest numbers; generalized way of determination of insect numbers; sampling and measuring for crop loss and economic levels of damage; analysis and modeling for pest management; disruption of diversity and stability of insect species due to pesticide application; pest management in major crops like sugarcane, cotton, rice, sorghum and maize; decision making in pest control and cropping systems.

                        ENT 605         Behavioural Controls of Insect Pests                       1+0

            Role of semiochemicals in insect behaviour; hormonal control of insect behaviour; production, release, transmission and perception of pheromones; regulation of insect population through behavioural manipulation; antifeedants; repellants; attractants; chemosterilant; sterile male release- mode of action, chemical nature and their utility in IPM; dispersal- short and long distances, causes; case studies with locusts/BPH/aphid/butterfly.            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADVANCES COURSES FOR Ph. D.

 

ENT 700            Advances in Ecological implications in Crop Pest    Management                                                     3+1

            Life system approach to the study of insect populations; key factors in population dynamics and their manipulation; influence of changing environment on pest population; pesticide application and its impact on diversity and stability of insect species; predictive models and forecasting of pest out breaks; sequential sampling; ecological aspects of pest management of important pests.

 

                        ENT 701         Advances in Crop Pest management                       3+1     

            Study of important insect and non-insect pests of cereals, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, spices and plantation crops with special reference to the bio-ecology, feeding habit, nature and assessment of damage and integrated management; IPM components for rice, cotton, sugarcane, groundnut, coconut, citrus, grapevine, cardamom, coffee, cucurbits, cole crops, tuber crops and temperate fruits; changing scenario in rice, sugarcane and cotton pest complex and IPM; pest of national and international importance; management of some introduced pests.         

 

                        ENT 702         Advances in Biological Control of Insect Pests       3+1

            Role of entomophages and entomopathogens in natural and applied control; ecological basis and assessment of biological control; pesticide syndrome; diagnosis and suggested prophylaxis; concept and significance of natural control- theory of biological control; effect of biotic and abiotic factors on natural enemies; the adaptability of introduced biocontrol agents; culture and nutrition of entomophagous insects; techniques for evaluation of the effectiveness of natural enemies; the conservation and augmentation of natural enemies; environmental modification relevant to increased effectiveness of natural enemies.

            Important microbial agents- microorganisms as a source of biopesticides for pest management; interaction between pathogenic microbes and other pesticides; use of life tables for the assessment of biological pest suppression; integration of biocontrol with other methods- biocontrol agents utilization for IPM in rice, cotton, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane and vegetables.

 

ENT 703         Biotechnologies in Pest Management                      1+1

            Role of biotechnology in pest management; development of biotechnological approaches in pest management in India and World; biocontrol and biotechnology areas of importance- potentials; microbial control of insects and applications; entomopathogens- mass production, molecular approaches; insect cell line culture- significance in pest management; genetic improvements of natural enemies of insect pests- scope and utilization, limitations; genetic engineering in baculoviruses- potentials and case studies, current trends; genetic engineering with Bt techniques and exploitation- future scopes; recombinant DNA technology- application in sericulture and other beneficial insects, limitations; genetic control of insect pests- examples in different countries; transgenic plants with Bt toxin gene; cowpea trypsin inhibitor gene, alpha amylase inhibitor- lectins, other proteins, recent approaches; entomopathogenic fungi- exploitation, scope for improvement with biological methods; transgenic plants- limitation, ethical and social implications; peptides, neuropeptides- scope for exploitation in pest management; strategies of management of resistance in transgenic plants- transgenic insects, emerging trends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORE COURSES

 

FOR 500         Principles of Silviculture                                           2+0

Introduction to silvics and silviculture, its scope and objectives; forest distribution and composition in West Bengal and India; importance of forest; vegetation classification; cover types, association and continuum concepts; classification of forest types of India.

Ecophysiology of tree, effect of radiation, water relation, mineral nutrients, wind and temperature, tolerance; forest composition and stand development; growth and growing stock relationship; thinning and its application in forest stands.

 

            FOR 501         Utilization of Non-timber Forest Products             2+0

Introduction and importance of NTFP and their contribution towards the Indian economy; present status and suitability of Indian timber for agricultural implements, railway slippers, furniture and other allied industries ; utilization of NTFP- fibre and flosses, bamboos and canes, gums, resins and oleoresins, essential oils, tans and dyes; distribution, chemical constituents and parts of plants used for medicinal and aromatic values; poiseness, insecticidal and insect repellant plants; outlines of wild fruits and seeds possessing economical values; rubber, lac and shellac; sericulture.

           

FOR 502         Growth and Development in Forest Trees             1+1

Growth, development, differentiation and morphogenesis; cambial growth, its control and variation; vegetative growth- root, leaf and stem; reproductive growth- fruit, cone and seed development; internal and external factors affecting growth.

Practical: Measurement of growth, application of growth regulators in relation to the growth.

                       

FOR 503         Principles and Application of Agroforestry           2+1

            History and concept of agroforestry, scope, advantage and disadvantage; criteria for selection of MPTs and NFTs; different land use system related to agroforestry; classification and composition of agroforestry systems; diagnosis and design of agroforestry system, compatibility between annuals and perennials; economics of agroforestry system; application of designs in agroforestry research.

            Production and protective benefits of agroforestry systems; use of agroforestry biomass for rural and industrial products as well as energy; 

Practical: Layout of agroforestry systems; survey of the traditional and modern agroforestry systems; D & D exercise; analysis of resource sharing in different agroforestry systems; cost-benefit analysis of agroforestry systems.

 

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR 504         Forest Genetic Resources                                         2+0

            Introduction and importance of genetic resources; forest resources of India with references to north-eastern Himalayas; classification of genetic resources-timber, fodder, fuel, food, fruit, pulp and paper, medicinal and aromatic plant products; identification of endemic and endangered forest genetic resources; strategies for conservation of forest genetic resources- gene bank, biosphere reserves, in vitro conservation; importance of herbaria and arboreta and role of various national and international agencies in forest genetic resources handling, conservation, preservation and exchange of genetic materials.

 

                        FOR 550         Silvics of Forest Trees of India                                2+0

            Distribution, phenology, growth behaviour, silvicultural characteristics, regeneration techniques of the following tropical, sub-tropical and temperate forest trees:

            Shorea robusta, Tectona grandis, Terminalia spp., Gmelina arborea, Santalum album, Bombax ceiba, Toona ciliata, Bamboo spp., Eucalyptus spp., Swietenia mahagonii, Casuarina equisetifolia, Diospyros melanoxylon, Lagerstromia spp., Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia nilotica, A. catechu, Chukrassia tabularis, Melia azaderach, Populus spp., Cedrus deodara, Pinus roxburghii, P. gerardiana, Picea smithiana, Abies pindrow and Quercus spp.

 

                        FOR 551         Wood Anatomy                                                         1+1

            Identification of timber; importance of the timber; gross features of wood- bark, heartwood, pith, growth rings, early wood, late wood, discontinuous and false rings; planes of wood- cross section, tangential longitudinal and radial longitudinal section; general features of wood- colour, hardness, weight, odour, taste, luster, grain, texture, figure; anatomical features of hardwood- pores, tyloses, enclusions, rays, fibres, ripple marks, intercellular canals and included phloem; anatomical features of softwood- annual rings, resin canals, parenchyma rays and cross field pitting.

Practical: Identification and collection of timbers; identification of sapwood, heartwood, early wood, late wood, compression wood and tension wood; study of gross features of wood and microscopic structure of woof by section cuttings.

 

                        FOR 552         Forest Genetics and Tree Improvement                 2+1

            Chromosome size, structure and function; chromosome number in Indian forest trees; Hardy-Weinberg’s equilibrium; selection for genes with additive effects; methods of increasing selection pressure- genetical and statistical consideration with reference to trees; mass versus family selection; half sib versus full sib progeny testing and family selection; estimation of heritability and genetic gain; geographic variation and provenance testing; provenance nomenclature and genetic history; polyploidy, aneuploidy, haploidy in soft and hard woods.

            Role and concept of tree improvement in Forestry; tree selection; propagation of superior phenotypes; seed orchard establishment, management and superior seed production; seed stands; seedling versus clonal seed orchard, its merits and demerits; plus tree selection- criteria and constraints; hybrids and their role in tree improvement.

Practical: Study of chromosome size; mutagenic treatments to seed lots; colchicines treatment; provenance study; plus tree selection; progeny testing; management of seed orchards.

 

                       

 

FOR 600         Forest Management                                                  2+0

            Principles of forest management; development of forest management in India; growth, yield and stand structure; site index and quality evaluation; stand density; classical approach to forest regulation; developing models for predicting growth and yield; forest evaluation; recent trends in decision analysis in forest management.

                        FOR 601         Wood Based Industries                                             2+0

            Introduction, scope and importance of wood based industries in relation to Indian economy; brief description of types of wood based industries in India; pulp and paper industry- types of paper and raw material; pulp- mechanical, chemical and semi-chemical; beating, bleaching, sizing and sheet formation; description about rayon and other cellulose derived products; composite wood- plywood, laminated wood, core board, sand witch board, particle board and their manufacturing processes, properties and uses; principles of destructive distillation of hardwood and softwood; preparation of wood alcohol, acetic acid, acetone, charcoal and allied chemicals; scarification of wood- chemistry and processes; production of wood molasses, alcohol yeast and other by products from wood hydrolysis.

 

                        FOR 649         M. Sc. Seminar I                                                        1+0

 

                        FOR 650         Practical Field Forestry                                            0+1

            Forest ecology tour covering vegetations of different geographic areas in the state; visit to different forest types of West Bengal and India; visit to various altitudinal zones of West Bengal for field identification of medicinal and aromatic plants.

Activity: Comprehensive tour report submission and presentation of the report by the student.

 

                        FOR 698         M. Sc. Seminar II                                                      0+1

 

                        FOR 699         Research Work                                                         0+15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAJOR COURSES

 

                        FOR 602         Seed Technology of Forest Tree Seeds                    2+1

            Introduction to seeds- its formation and its importance in afforestation program; pollinators of trees; role of pollinators on seed yield and viability; fecundity and function of nectar production and seed predation; principle and methods of seed production in self and cross pollinated trees in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate forests; factors affecting seed production; types of seeds; improving seed quality- seed deterioration and longevity and increasing longevity of the seeds; seed borne disease and fungi; seed dormancy- types and factors affecting it.

            Importance and historical background of seed collection and storage; different equipments and methods used for seed harvesting and collecting; maturity indices and artificial ripening; seed processing- conditioning, extraction, drying, cleaning up, grading, packaging and handling of seeds; seed storage- containers and others; pre and post storage treatments; longevity of seeds (viability) in different storage methods; seed certification; seed legislation in relation to forestry; Indian Seed Act and Rules.

Practical: Identification, collection and handling of forest tree seeds; visit to seed testing laboratory; seed testing- germination, moisture, weight and viability; methods of breaking dormancy; determination of moisture content of seeds.

 

                        FOR 603         Principles and Practices of Forest Nurseries          2+1

            Definition, importance and objectives of forest nursery; types of nursery; site selection; layout; soil composition and mixture; types of media; sowing of seeds- time and methods; management of nursery- shading, watering, manuring, fertilization, weed, insect pest and disease control; nursery structure; recent techniques in production, harvesting and out planting of bare root and container seedlings; wrenching, pruning and thinning practices in forest nursery; recent trends in biotechnology for production of better seedlings; techniques of seedling production in different ecological zones and problematic soils; application of biofertilizers in forest nursery and their significance

           

Practical: Nursery layout and raising of plants; quantitative estimation of seeds and seedlings for sowing and out planting; field layout and planting.

 

                        FOR 604         Forest Biometry                                                         2+1

            Measurement of trees and stands- diameter, girth, height, volume, form, bark thickness, crown width and crown length; determination of age and volume of trees- felled and standing; volume and yield tables; increment; forest inventory; yield of stands; canopy density and its importance; stand table and its application; simulation techniques and application in growth models.

Practical: Measurement of diameter, girth, height, age, bark thickness, crown area, stem and stump analysis; computation of local volume tables; sample plot layout and measurements.

 

FOR 605         Trees for Agroforestry                                             2+0

            Criteria foe selection of trees for agroforestry; role of NFTs and MPTs for enhancing productivity; selection of tree species, shrubs, herbs, for fuel, fodder, small timber, fibre, fruits and timber production; shelterbelt and windbreaks; screening of trees against acid rains, air and noise pollution, avenue, road side and railway track plantations; choice of species for tropical, sub-tropical, temperate and highland area.

 

                        FOR 606         Logging and Wood Processing                                2+1

            Definition; development of logging in India and world; fundamental consideration in logging; logging hand tools; felling, cross cutting and delimbing; land and water transportation; storage depot needs and types.

            Wood processing- its importance, saw milling, seasoning and preservation; types of saw and saw machinery; principles and factors influencing drying rate of wood; progressive and compartmental seasoning; seasoning defects and its precaution and cures; kilns; wood preservations and their characteristics- importance, natural durability of timbers and factors affecting natural durability; factors influencing the effectiveness of preservative systems; agencies of wood deterioration of composite and manufactured wood products; future of wood preservation.

Practical: Identification of logging tools, types of wood and preservatives; exercise on timber logging; visit to timber depot, saw mill or wood workshop; determination of moisture content of wood.

 

                        FOR 607         Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants       2+1

            Origin; history; importance and uses; distribution, climate, soil, cultural practices, propagation, planting and after care, harvesting, storage and marketing of some important medicinal and aromatic plants of north eastern region; export and import potential of medicinal and aromatic plants; strategies for protecting endangered and threatened medicinal and aromatic plants.

Practical: Identification; planting methods and cultural practices of some important medicinal and aromatic plants.

 

                        FOR 608         Wood and Energy                                                     2+0

            Importance of wood as a non-conventional source of energy; comparison of wood energy with other sources of energy; characteristics        of firewood- calorific value, moisture and ash content; various methods of wood energy conversion; gasification of wood- types of gasifiers, direct heat system; conventional method of charcoal production; improved and efficient techniques of charcoal making; energy from forest waste including saw dust; improved cooking stoves- design and efficiency; introduction to other non-conventional sources of energy- solar, wind, geothermal and ocean.

 

            FOR 609         Tree Physiology                                                         1+1

            Tree- structure and function; pattern of growth and differentiation in trees; concept of tree metabolism- respiration, photosynthesis and dry matter production; physiology of bud initiation; nutrition and tree growth; growth regulators and their importance; physiology of wood formation; manipulation of flowering in forest trees; vegetative propagation and its application in forest regeneration; dormancy; senescence and death of trees.

Practical: Extraction and separation of chlorophyll; measurement of rate of photosynthesis; methods of breaking seed and bud dormancy; rooting of cuttings of important forest trees.

 

 

                        FOR 610         Production Forestry                                                  1+1

            Concepts of productivity; types- primary, secondary and net; factors affecting economic and biological productivity of forests; techniques for increasing productivity; use of NFTs and their role in increasing productivity; production potential of man made forests compared to natural forests; manipulation of silvicultural, biological and utilization techniques for increasing productivity; integrated land use system for increasing productivity.

Practical: Estimation of biomass through destructive and non destructive sampling; comparison of growth and productivity of man made and natural forest.

 

                        FOR 611         Applied Forest Ecology                                            2+1

            Concepts of forest ecology;  biotic and abiotic components of forest ecosystem and their interaction; continuum concept; forest community- structure, classification, dominance, stratification, fluctuation, ecotone, inter and intra specific relation; succession and climax; functional aspects of forest ecosystem.

            Ecology of forest farming systems under various climatic zones and soil types of West Bengal Natural Forest as land use system; successional and regenerational problems; major protuberance- biotic, abiotic and their control through biological and mechanical means; genecology and population differentiation.

Practical: Study of forest community structure and its successional status; estimation of productivity of forest ecosystem; field trips to different regions of the state for forest vegetation; collection and preservation of specimen.

 

FOR 612         Wildlife Ecology and Management             2+1     

            Structure and function of ecosystem; population and community ecology; types and causes of environmental deterioration; terrestrial ecosystem and their phyto geographical distribution; animal-habitat interaction and pattern of habitat utilization; habitat evaluation; concept of productivity; feeding ecology of wild animals; human impact on wildlife.

            Definition, scope and historical perspective of wildlife management; principles and strategies of wildlife conservation; general management plan for wildlife; endangered. Threatened and endemic species; protected area and zones; concept of biosphere reserves; wildlife conservation – acts; extension and public participation; minimum viable population size; extinction study; insularizations; fractional and island population; edge effect; inbreeding and heterogeneity; management of desert, raverine, marine and migratory animals; management of zoos, aquarias, sanctuaries and national parks; management of harmful and nuisance wildlife species; appraisal of project tiger, lion and crocodiles.

Practical: Visit to national parks, sanctuaries, zoos, aquarias and biosphere reserves; study of population size of wildlife species.

 

                        FOR 651         Regeneration of Forest Trees                                   2+0

            Definition; problems of regeneration in different forest types; prospects of regeneration in nature; factors affecting regeneration; role of biotic and abiotic factors in plant succession and evolution; ecological basis of natural regeneration and techniques; types of regeneration and their problems and prospects; choice of species to various sites in reference to their ecological status; regeneration versus forest ecosystem.

 

                       

FOR 652         Afforestation Techniques in Problematic Soils      2+1

            Definition, objective and its importance; afforestation versus reforestation; different techniques of afforestation; soil amendments- organic and inorganic; choice of species; afforestation in problematic soils- saline, sodic and acidic, laterite and lateritic soils, mined areas, denuded and eroded hill slopes, shifting sand dunes, wet and water logged soils, gullied and ravenous land, and abandoned cultivated lands.

Practical: Study about growth performance of species in different problematic soils; visit to different problematic areas.

 

                        FOR 653         Management of NTFPs                                            1+0

            Introduction; production and inventories of NTFP; management of some important NTFPs; availability and utilization, collection and marketing, value addition activities and possibility of NTFPs; environmental impact of NTFP; exploitation on forest; impact of NTFP on rural economy and tribal life; role of state forest development corporation (SFDC) for regulating NTFP; economic policy issues for NTFP in India.

 

                        FOR 654         Wood Technology                                                     2+1

            Properties of wood- physical, thermal, electrical and mechanical; method of determination of density and specific gravity of wood; effect of growth on density of wood; moisture content of wood and its determination; effect of sound on wood resonance; conductivity and diffusivity; conductivity, di-electric constant and current resistivity; permeability; elasticity and plasticity; factors affecting strength properties; modulus of elasticity; Hook’s law; Poissions ratio; shear stress in simple beams, supported beams and cantilevers; standard tests of timber specimen- compression, tensile strength, abrasion, brittleness and hardness; effect of environment on mechanical properties.

Practical: Determination of density, strength, hardness, modulus of elasticity, thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity.

 

                        FOR 655         Wood Identification                                                  1+1

            Importance of wood identification in forestry; cell types- their sorting and arrangement in soft and hard woods; tracheids- ray tracheids, parenchyma and vessels; fibre and inter cellular canals including resin canals of conifers; gross features of wood- pith, olburnam, duramen, early and late wood, annual rings, compression and tension wood rings, double and multiple rings; formation of wood and bark in trees- meristematic tissues, permanent tissues, secondary and anomalous growth in thickness.

Practical: Identification of sap and hard wood, early and late wood and compression and tension wood; microscopic structures of wood by section cuttings. 

 

                        FOR 656         Breeding Methods in Forest Trees                          1+1

            Requirement of breeding in forestry; selection, migration and population size; individual tree selection and selective breeding; prospects of selective breeding in forest trees; genetic gain; species and racial hybridization; heterosis breeding; pollination mechanisms; controlled pollination- pollen handling, manipulation of flowering through hormones; biochemical methods in tree breeding; breeding for disease, pest and drought resistance.

Practical: Emasculation; collection and storage of pollens; estimation of some biochemical parameters; breeding techniques.

 

                        FOR 657         Biometrical Approach in Tree Improvement         2+0

            Genetic constitution of tree population; correlation and interaction between genotypes and environment; heritability estimation in forest trees; tree response to selection; criteria for selection index and multiple environment selection; threshold character and correlation character; inbreeding and cross breeding changes of variance; estimating genetic parameters; design of experiments in forestry; components in ANOVA; unbalanced design analysis; errors of estimation of genetic variances; Eberhardt and Research’s model.

                       

FOR 658         Wasteland Ecology                                                    2+0

            Wasteland- definition and types; ecological characteristics of wasteland; causes of formation- physical and biological; physical- earthquakes, land slides, soil erosion, drought, water logging, salinity, flood and fire; biological- deforestation, grazing, shifting cultivation and faulty agricultural practices; reclamation of wastelands- scientific land use practices, afforestation, agroforestry, soil conservation practices and improvement of water catchment area; development of recreational and amenity area.

 

                        FOR 659         Forest Policy and Legislation                                   2+0

            Forest policy- definition, necessity and scope; legal and institutional approaches to forest resource management; National Forest Policy- 1897, 1952 and 1988; Forest Law- legal definition; application of Indian Penal Code on forests; general principles of criminal law; legal principles of punishment; criminal procedure code; Indian evidence act applied to forestry matters; objects of forest law; Indian Forest Act- general provision and detailed study; legal organization of forest service; West Bengal State Forests Acts and Rules.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINOR COURSES

 

FOR 505         Environmental Conservation                                   2+0

            Environment- introduction, definition and importance; pollution- its definition and types; effect of pollution on forests of India and world; global warming; ozone depletion; sewage eutrophication; acid rain- causes and control; impact of different pollutants on humans, other organisms and environment; conservation of environment; pollution monitoring; environmental policy; legislation for environmental conservation; national and international agencies involved in environmental conservation; recommendation of Earth Summit and others and their implication.

 

                        FOR 506         Remote Sensing Techniques in Forestry                 2+1

            Introduction, history, scope and uses of remote sensing; fundamentals of remote sensing; techniques of remote sensing; aerial photography- types and quality; specifications, procurement and storage of aerial photographs; principles and techniques of photo interception; application of photo interpretation in forestry; satellite systems; satellite imageries- techniques, uses and limitation; future prospects of remote sensing in India; soft wares used in remote sensing; GIS versus remote sensing.

Practical: Uses of various photogrammetry instruments; recognition and identification of objects on photography; compilation of maps and their interpretation.

                       

                        FOR 507         Watershed Management                                          2+0

            Definition, characteristics and role of watershed; history and background of watershed; criteria for watershed size determination; watershed planning and management; plans and activities for watershed development; approach for rehabilitation of watershed- biological and engineering; quantification of benefits and effectiveness of package and practices adopted for management of watershed; evaluation of watershed program; some case studies of watershed management.

 

                        FOR 508         Grassland Management                                           1+1

            Definition, scope and importance; grassland types in India with special reference to West Bengal; grassland components; improvement and management of grasslands; factors influencing yields and quality of forage; rotational and deferred grazing; introduction of legumes in grasslands; carrying capacity of grasslands; difference between grassland, pasture and range; establishment and management of pastures, range and grasslands- species selection, plantation, liming, fertigation, burning, weed control and protection, grazing and cutting intensity; improvement of range productivity; storage of grasses.

Practical: Identification of important grasses, legumes and fodders; grassland improvement practices.                

 

                       

 

 

 

 

FOR 509         Management of Shade Tree in Tea Garden           1+0

            Historical prospective of shade problem; the genesis of shade problem; effect of shade; criteria for selecting shade trees; choice of shade trees on basis of locality factors; silviculture of shade trees; mixture of shade trees- orientation and design; spacing of shade trees; propagation of shade trees; effect of shade tree for improving tea productivity and quality; effect of shade trees on soil fertility; ecology and management of tea pests through shade tree.

 

                        FOR 553         Livestock Management                                             1+1

            Importance and scope of livestock in forestry; types of livestock related to forest; common terms pertaining to different species of livestock; common feeding and management practices of different categories of livestock- cattle, sheep and goat; problems of livestock in forest production and management; principles and practices of livestock grazing.

            Importance of grasslands, pastures and range lands and their classification and management; evaluation of forage quality; forage, hay and silage making; types of forest fodder and factors affecting their quality; conservation of forest fodders; forest laws and policies related to livestock.

Practical: Collection of common forest feeds and fodders; feeding of fodder and feeds to livestock; conservation of fodder, silage and hay making; approaching and handling of farm animals; common management practices; estimation of weight and age; computation of balanced ratio for different livestock- cattle, sheep and goat.

 

                        FOR 554         Biotechnology in Forestry                                        2+0

            Historical development of biotechnology; scope of biotechnology in forestry; different methods of biotechnology related to forestry; plant tissue culture and response pattern; application of plant tissue culture in tree improvement; invitro selection and micro propagation in forestry for conservation; gene regulation, genetic engineering techniques; basis of operation in DNA manipulation; transgenic plants; molecular markers and its application in forestry; modification of plant species to practically desired products; biodegradation  of forestry wastes through genetically engineered microbes.

 

                        FOR 555         Introduction to Forest Valuation                             1+1

            Valuation of forest resources; even-uneven aged harvest optimization; elementary harvest scheduling and forest regulation; economics of forest conservation; protection and multiple use; impact of forest management and policy decision on public welfare; locational impact of forest production and manufacturing.

Practical: Exercise on forest valuation and economics on conservation analysis of locational impact.

 

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFICIENCY COURSES

(For M. Sc. forestry students from non-forestry background)

 

FOR 402         Fundamental of Silviculture and its Application    2+1

Introduction to silvics and silviculture; scope and objectives; relation of silviculture to other branches of forestry; brief history of Indian forestry; extent of forestry in West Bengal and India; classification of forestry and forests; importance and role of forests; factors of locality- definition and classification, climatic factors, topographic factors, edaphic factors and biotic factors; forest types- definition, objectives, bases for classification, system of classification, revised classification; tending operation; silvicultural systems- definition, scope, classification, clear felling system, uniform system, selection system, shelterwood system coppice system; conversion; silvics of some important Indian trees- teak, sal, melia, eucalyptus, albizia, lagerstromia, kadam.

Practical: Identification of forest trees in the campus and nearby; study of stand structure and composition; study of tending operations; visit to nearby forest area; visit to forest industries; mapping to show distribution of types of India and West Bengal.

 

                        FOR 403         Forest Product Utilization                                        2+0

            Definition, scope and importance of forest products; contribution of forest products towards Indian economy; classification; importance and utilization of MFP- fibre and flosses, bamboo and canes, gums and resins, tans and dyes, essential oils, medicinal plants, paper and pulp, cutch and katha, lac and shellac, charcoal and others.

            Logging; conversion and transportation of timber; saw milling; nature and properties of wood; defects and abnormalities; wood seasoning and preservation; composite wood.

 

                        FOR 404         Propagation of Forest Trees                                                1+0

            Regeneration of forest; afforestation; reforestation; methods of propagation; pollination and fertilization; fruit and seed development; seed collection, disposal, extraction, storage, transportation, pre sowing treatments, germination, viability, dormancy, stratification, scarification and testing.

            Tree improvement- introduction, history, scope and problems of forest tree improvement; forest genetics- concepts in tree breeding; seed production areas and seed orchards; exotics- problems and prospects.

 

                        FOR 405         Forest Mensuration and Management                    2+0

            Forest Mensuration- definition, scope and importance; measurement of growth parameters, volume of standing and felled trees; form of trees; determination of age and growth of trees; enumeration of growing stock; measurement of crops; enumeration of growth and yield of stands.

            Forest management- introduction and objectives; forest organization; normal forests; sustained yield; rotation; increment; growing stock; yield regulation and working plans.

 

                       

 

FOR 406         Introduction to Wildlife and Forest Ecosystem      1+0

            Definition and importance of wildlife; geographical distribution of Indian animals; extinct, endangered, threatened and rare species- their causes and effect; principles of wildlife conservation; wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and biosphere reserves; role of national and international organization in wildlife conservation; wildlife protection act- 1977, 1984.

            Forest ecosystem- introduction; concept; structure and function; succession in different forest ecosystem; ecological zones of India.

 

                        FOR 407         Forest Protection                                                       1+0

            Definition, history and kinds of forest protection ; sources of injury; classification of protection measures; protection against deforestation, illicit felling, forest fire, animals, insect pests, diseases and adverse climatic factors; principles of IPM; legislation control.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ph. D Forestry Syllabus

 

 

MAJOR COURSES

 

                        FOR 700         Quantitative Silviculture                                           2+0

            Growth functions- empirical, exponential, allometry and Backman’s growth function; growth and increment curve; growth cycle and phases; correlation between size and plant population; probability of individual tree mortality; models of mortality; yield of unthinned forest stands; dynamics of uneven aged forests; competition for space, light and nutrients in forest stands and their effect on population; plant geometry; self thinning; stand structure and allometry of trees during self thinning of pure stand; interpretation of self thinning rule; detailed concepts of 3/2 power law of self thinning and its revaluation and modifications.

 

                        FOR 701         Advances in Forest Product Utilization                  2+0

            Ultra structure and composition of soft and hard woods; wood-water relationship- green wood, fibre saturation point; equilibrium moisture content; transverse, volumetric and longitudinal shrinkage.

            Wood as source of energy and its comparison with other sources; energy forecasting- diagnosing failures and examining criteria for the future; production of chemicals from forest biomass- lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose; important wood extractives; wood plastics; future of forest product utilization.

 

                        FOR 702         Production and Certification of Forest Tree Seed 2+0

            Pollinators of trees; fecundity as function of nectar production and seed predation; seed production and collection; physiological basis of seed collection- maturity index and artificial ripening; seed stand and seed orchard- historical review, planning, management and protection; design of seed orchards; advanced generation seed orchards; seedling versus clonal seed orchard; seed storage- historical background, seed physiology, seed viability, germination, vigour and loss during storage; essentials of seed testing and certification of forest tree seeds.

 

                        FOR 703         Operational Research in Agroforestry                    2+0

 

            Agroforestry systems in India; D & D analysis in agroforestry system; case studies of agroforestry systems in different climatic regions in India; project planning; research methods for management in agroforestry system- pruning, spacing, crown architect, shade manipulation; tree-crop interaction; improvement of agroforestry trees; economics of agroforestry systems; recent research undertaken in different countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINOR/SUPPORTING COURSES

 

 

                        FOR 704         Advances in Forest Regeneration and Productivity   2+0

            Principles and methodology of forest regeneration; regeneration sampling- pattern and intensity; factors affecting natural and artificial regeneration; problems of regeneration in important species.

            Concepts of productivity; forest productivity and succession; nutrient input and budget; energy flow accumulation and storage; productivity and community structure; influence of canopy architecture on stand productivity and efficiency; natural ecosystem versus monoculture; methods of assessing forest site quality.

 

                        FOR 705         Advances in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants          2+0

            Chemical studies of important pharmaceutical and insecticidal compounds of plant origin; chemical convergence of some plant products to useful drugs; nature of post harvest degradation of active principles.

            Biotransformation of different compounds to medicinally useful compounds; effect of plant growth regulators, precursors and nutrients; environmental and biological factors on regulation of production of medicinal compounds.

 

                        FOR 706         Research Methods                                                     1+1

            Principals and utilization of research instruments- gas liquid chromatography, HPLC, amino acid analyzer, CHN analyzer, AAS, IR, UV, NMR and mass spectrophotometer; chemical analysis of pulp; physical strength properties of paper- breaking length, stretch, tear index and burst index.

Practical: Use of above said instrument for analysis.

 

                        FOR 750         Advanced Agroforestry                                            2+0

            Importance and classification of agroforestry system and their potential in production sustainability; sustenance of soil fertility and regulated supply of multiple products; agroforestry modals; basis for experimental designs on agroforestry research; appraisal of research findings on different agroforestry systems; scope of agroforestry in amelioration of different ecosystem and pollution control.

 

                        FOR 751 Operational Research in Forest Management               1+1

            Case studies on regulation  of even and uneven aged stands; project planning; operational research methods  in forest management; application of programming- linear and dynamic; network analysis- PERT and CPM; inventory models and simulation technique.

Practical: Application of above techniques through a case analysis using forest inventories.

 

                        FOR 752         Range Management                                                  2+0

Principles and practices of range land management; improvement of range productivity by vegetation manipulation through control of undesirable vegetation- burning, fertilization, soil and water conservation and protection; range land versus grass land versus pastures; range improvement and livestock management; feeding habits and grazing behaviour of range livestock; optimal livestock and range use; fodder from trees and shrubs and their nutritive values.

 

                        FOR 753         Forest Biomes of the World                                     2+0

            Definition of biome; distribution and phytogeography of forest ecosystems; major forest ecosystems of the world; structural and functional aspects; effects of perturbation.     

 

                        FOR 754         Improved Techniques of Timber Utilization          2+0

            Various techniques of improvement of timber properties; physical principles of strength improvement; cohesion, adhesion and inter molecular forces; use of natural and synthetic adhesives; strength improvement and stresses in glued joint; solid modified wood.

            Principles of impregnation- flow through capillaries and diffusion in wood; densified timber- impregnation and compression; plasticizing wood; use of gamma radiation to improve physical and mechanical properties of timber and wood composites; plywoods- manufacturing and its properties, durability and resistance; metalized timber.  

 

                        FOR 755         Advances in Tree Improvement                              2+0

            Cytological characteristics and chromosomal systems of forest trees; colchiploid; mutation breeding for forest trees; forest tree improvement- past and present; physiological basis of tree improvement; pollution responses of trees; pollen handling techniques in forest genetics.

            Tissue culture of trees; inheritance of monoterpene composition in conifers; indirect selection for improvement of desired traits; role of provenance testing in tree improvement; progeny test designs; selection practices in forest trees and their commercial utilization; inter and intraspecific hybridization in trees; juvenile traits and their role in genetic evaluation in tree improvement programs; geographic variation in trees; exploration and conservation of genetic resources of trees; dioecism and monoecism in trees.

 

                        FOR 756         Genetics of Forest Ecosystems                                 2+0

            Change in gene frequencies- selection theory, conservation of genetic variance and inbreeding; forest as a biological community; amplification of conceptual and quantitative models of variation in trees; polymorphism; gene flow and genetic drift.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEXURE IV

 

 

Guidelines for the Preparation

Of Plan of work/synopsis and Thesis/Dissertation

 

 

 

For Postgraduate Students

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya

Pundibari- 736 165, Cooch Behar

 West Bengal, INDIA

2007