ASSESSMENT OF FLORAL DIVERSITY AND CARBON STOCKS OF HIMALAYAN MOIST TEMPERATE FOREST IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2018-08
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present study was done to identify distribution of nine forest types viz., Quercus leucotrichophora
(FT-1), Quercus semecarpifolia (FT-2), Cedrus deodara (FT-3), western mixed coniferous (FT-4), moist
temperate lower deciduous (FT-5), Pinus wallichiana (FT-6), Quercus floribunda (FT-7), upper Abies-Picea
(FT-8) and moist temperate upper deciduous (FT-9) forests, their structural and functional characteristics in
Himalayan moist temperate forest of Shimla district of HP. 303 plant species were recorded in these forests of
which 34 were trees, 96 shrubs and 173 forbs. The total number of plant species in different forests varied
from 181 (FT-6) to 123 (FT-9). Shannon Weiner index for trees, shrubs and forbs in different forests varied
from 0.97-1.57, 0.21-0.59 and 0.64-0.70, respectively. Simpson index for trees, shrubs and forbs in different
forests ranged from 2.68-3.12, 0.05-0.09 and 0.40-0.45, respectively and Margelef’s species richness for trees,
shrubs and forbs in different forests varied from 3.32-3.93, 0.02-0.05 and 0.32-0.37, respectively.
Phytosociological attributes i.e. density and basal area of trees in different forests varied from 315.20 (FT-8) to
514.26 (FT-7) trees/ha and 48.59 (FT-2) to 66.44 (FT-3) m2/ha, respectively, in shrubs from 10.34 x103 (FT-5)
to 7.46 x103 (FT-9) plants/ha and 14.74 to 19.12 m2/ha, respectively and in forbs from 1.95 x105 (FT-6) to 2.57
x 105 (FT-4) plants/ha and 42.12 (FT-2) to 113.29 (FT-3) m2/ha, respectively. Total biomass production of trees
in different forests varied from 205.21 to 468.81 t/ha, total biomass production of shrubs ranged from 14.38
(FT-8) to 23.89 (FT-1) t/ha and total biomass production of forbs ranged from 204.00 to 409.16 g/m2. Carbon
stock in trees of in different forests varied from 102.60 (FT-6) to 234.41 (FT-8) t/ha, in shrubs from 7.34 (FT-8)
to 11.94 (FT-1) t/ha and in forbs from 102.00 to 189.30 g/m2. All the characteristics of vegetation in forests
showed declining trend with increase in elevation. Soil bulk density, Soil organic carbon and carbon tock in soil
at 0-15cm depth in different forests varied from 0.88 ( Ft-7) to 1.06 (FT-1) g/cm3, 1.14 (FT-5) to 1.42 (FT-1) %,
15.20 (FT-5) to 22.68 (FT-1) t/ha, respectively whereas, in 15-30 cm depth of soil their values were: 0.94 (FT-6)
to 1.15 (FT-1) g/cm3, 0.95 (FT-5) to 1.22 (FT-1)% and 13.84 (FT-6) to 21.36 (FT-1) t/ha, respectively It is
concluded that Oak forests in Himalayan moist temperate zone has slightly better potential in carbon
sequestration than conifers. Both the types of forests should be given preference for any management plan.
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