Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

MATURITY INDICES FOR HARVESTING QUERCUS ROBUR (ENGLISH OAK) ACORNS UNDER TEMPERATE CONDITIONS OF KASHMIR VALLEY

Gh. Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, M.A. Khan and A.H, Mughal

Abstract

A study was conducted at Srinagar Kashmir (j&K) to evaluate the proper stage of harvesting acorns of Quercus robur using the physical characteristics of acorns as criteria. Results showed that proper stage of harvesting acorns is when colour of the acorns changes from green to chocolate brown along with a decline in the moisture content, reaching to an optimum level (38.11%). Germination percentage of acorns recorded an increase from 12.0 per cent in Ilnd fortnight of September to 75.0 per cent in the first fortnight of November, which is adjunct to any successful nursery/afforestation programme, thereby indicating that middle October to middle November may be considered as the right time when acorns are fully mature and fit for harvesting under temperate conditions of Kashmir.