Leaf chlorophyll (Chl) content, net photosynthetic rate (P^) and biomass production were estimated at monthly intervals in Chukrasia tabularis, Dolichandrone atrovirem, Eugenia Jambolana, Gmelina arborea, Lannea coromandelica, Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia bellerica from September 1990 to August 1991. The leaves of all the seven tree species showed significantly higher Chl content during summer than in winter, when it was expressed on area and/or fresh mass basis. Chl concentration showed marked variations from month to month and these differed from one plant species to the other. Clear positive correlations were found between Chl content and and/or biomass production in all the seven deciduous forest tree species studied. The scope for screening and selecting the right type of tree species prospective for energy plantations can be based on a simple technique such as estimation of leaf Chl content and PN.