“Forest composition, regeneration status and carbon stock variation in relation to soil health status at different altitudes of Loital beat forest of Tehri Forest division”
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Forestry, Ranichauri
Abstract
Title:“Forest composition, regeneration status and carbon stock variation in relation to soil health status at different altitudes of Loital beat forest of Tehri Forest division”
The present study was carried out in the Loital beat forest of Tehri, Garhwal Himalaya at three different zones between altitudinal range of 1300 m.a.sl. and 2300 m.a.s.l. The study was conducted under three different zones (Lower zone-1300-1600m, middle zone 1700-2000mand upper zone-2100-2300m). The analysis of vegetation parameters was done by randomly laying 30 quadrates of 10×10m sizeat each altitudinal zone. The results of the study revealed that the total number of 7 tree species belonging to 4 families and 9 shrub species belonging to 7 families were recorded in all altitudinal ranges. The density of tree species ranged from 460 trees/ha in lower zone (1300-1600 m.a.s.l.), 290 trees/ha in middle zone to 810 trees/ha in upper zone (2100-2300 m.a.s.l.). Maximum percentage of population structure was recorded in the middle zone for medium diameter classes while maximum population percentage was recorded in the upper zone for higher diameter classes. Regeneration status of tree species was good or fair at all the sites. Seedling density, sapling density and tree density ranged from 940 to 1030, 400 to 580 and 460 to 810, respectively in all the three zones. The AGBD ranged from 428.1 mg/ha in middle zone (1700-2000 m.a.s.l.) to 505.4 mg/ha in upper zone (2100-2300 m.a.s.l.) and BGBD ranged between 98.55 in middle zone (1700-2000 m.a.s.l.) zone to 107 mg/ha in lower zone (1300-1600 m.a.s.l.). Total carbon density of tree species ranged from 262.9 in middle zone (1700-2000 m.a.s.l.)to 305.4 mg/ha in upper zone (2100-2300 m.a.s.l.). The results of the soil health status revealed that all the zones have good soil nutrients. Soil pH ranged from 5.79 to 6.32. Soil organic carbon ranged from 2.15 to 3.43%. Soil available nitrogen, available phosphorous, available potassium and available sulphur ranged from 249.3 to 445.3kg/ha, 21.91 to 50.20 kg/ha, 189.7 to 268.8 kg/ha and 20.37 to 58.16 mg/kg soil, respectively.Dehydrogenase activity ranged from 1.377 to 10.80 µg TPF/g/h. Soil moisture percentage ranged from 38.92 to 64.23% in all three zones.
Present study concluded that the tree species in the upper zone shows good growth than other two zones because anthropogenic pressure and fire was less in the upper zone. Tree species like Cedurs deodara, Pinus roxburghii and Pinus wallichiana have good potential of carbon storage.Soil health status was good at the upper zones and the soil nutrients decreased with increase in the depth of soil in all the zones. These forests should be protected from over exploitation and thus management practices to be followed to the other forests for carbon reservoir and reducing the carbon impact in the atmosphere.