DYNAMICS OF ABOVEGROUND VEGETATION BIOMASS AND CARBON STOCKS ALONG THE ALTITUDINAL GRADIENTS AND OVERSTOREY COMPOSITION TYPES IN THE TEMPERATE REGION OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2023-10-11
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present study entitled “Dynamics of above ground vegetation biomass and carbon
stocks along the altitudinal gradient and overstorey composition types in temperate region of
Himachal Pradesh” was conducted in the temperate region of Himachal Pradesh, The main objective
of the study was to determine the distribution pattern of above ground biomass and carbon stocks along
the altitudinal gradients and dominant overstory types. Biomass of the total and individual vegetation
components differed significantly along the altitudinal gradients and among different overstorey type,
with significant interaction effects of altitude and overstorey types. Across all altitudinal gradients and
dominant overstorey composition types, total, tree, shrub, herb and bryophytes biomass and carbon
stocks on average were 372.7, 369.1, 2.76, 0.77 and 0.10 Mg ha−1, and 177.1, 175.3, 1.31, 0.37 and 0.05
Mg ha−1, respectively. The total and tree aboveground biomass and carbon stocks exhibited a gradual
and consistent increase along the altitudinal gradients and decreased thereafter at higher altitudes. The
study also emphasized that the role of dominant overstorey composition types in biomass and carbon
stocks distribution in the temperate Himalayan region. However, shrub, herb and bryophyte biomass
production responded differently for dominant composition types. The mixed wood stands were found
to be more productive and had higher biomass and carbon stocks at higher altitudes. Therefore
management interventions should aim at maintaining diverse range of overstory composition types for
promoting the ecosystem functions and services of temperate Himalayan forest ecosystems. The study
also found a weak but positive correlation between total and tree above ground biomass production to
the availability of soil resources, which indicated that the relationship between local topography and
forest vegetation structures might have played a major role in distribution of biomass than the soil
resource availability along the altitudinal gradients in temperate Himalayan Region.