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Characterization and ranking of subtropical trees in a rural plantation forest of Uttar Pradesh, India, as fuel wood using fuel wood value index (FVI)

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Abstract

The present study investigate fuel wood characteristics on the basis of fuel wood value index (FVI), a proximate and ultimate analysis of 12 subtropical tree species of rural areas of Uttar Pradesh in northern India, to sort out the tree species commonly used by the rural communities and examine their energy properties. The FVI was determined on the basis of calorific value (CV), bulk density (BD), and ash content (AC). The highest CV (22.56 MJ/kg) and BD (0.80 g/cm3) were found in Prosopis juliflora, and the lowest CV (17.32 MJ/kg) and BD (0.32 g/cm3) were found in Streblus asper. The AC was found maximum in Pithecellobium dulce (2.81%) and minimum in S. asper (0.83%). Moisture content was ranged between 38.70 and 58.67%. Investigation of elemental composition in fuel wood revealed that carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen (CHN), and sulfur value ranged from 40 to 46% C, 4.80 to 6.80% H, 0.03 to 1.40% N, and sulfur was defected only in some species and its maximum value (0.012) was found in species of Tectona grandis, T. arjuna, and Ficus benghalensis. This study revealed that only the single basic parameter is not sufficient for identifying the suitable tree species for fuel wood. On the basis of FVI and other fuel wood properties species, P. juliflora, T. grandis, F. benghalensis, Alstonia scholaris, and Holopetelea integrifolia are the most preferred fuel wood species among the 12 trees studied. To enable choice of plant species for future energy plantation program may help the local people to take maximum benefit to be used as bioenergy if electricity and alternative energy sources are not available in such remote areas.

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Acknowledgements

Firstly the author is grateful to UGC, New Delhi, for providing the national fellowship for higher education for conducting the research smoothly. The authors are thankful to U.S. Singh, IFS, and ranger of the selected plantation forest for providing necessary facilities during the field visits. We would also like to thank Prof. B.C. Yadav, Department of Physics, BBAU (Lucknow), and Dr. S.K. Tyagi, Associate professor, Centre for Energy Studies, IIT Delhi, for their cooperation and constant help during the laboratory analysis.

Funding

Funding was provided by national fellowship for higher education (Grand No. F1-17.1/ 2016-17/NFST-2015-17-ST-JAM-671/(SA-III/Website) dated on 05-04-2016).

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Correspondence to Rana Pratap Singh.

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Baqir, M., Kothari, R. & Singh, R.P. Characterization and ranking of subtropical trees in a rural plantation forest of Uttar Pradesh, India, as fuel wood using fuel wood value index (FVI). Environ Dev Sustain 21, 763–776 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-017-0057-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-017-0057-z

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