FLORISTIC COMPOSITION, CARBON DENSITY AND NUTRIENT STATUS UNDER NATURAL AND PLANTATION FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN MID HILL CONDITIONS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2023-01
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigations entitled “Floristic composition, carbon density and nutrient status under natural and
plantation forest ecosystems in mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh” were carried out through independent experiments
at different forest ecosystems of Kunihar forest division, Solan district, HP which lied between 76º40′35″ to 76º55′10″ E
longitude and 30º53′15″ to 31º14′25″ N latitude 300-2100 a.m.s.l. The present investigations were conducted to assess the
status of floristic composition, biomass, carbon storage, nutrient status and soil microbial properties under different
ecosystems of Kunihar Forest Division. The results revealed that the selected forest ecosystems of the study site comprised
of 141 plant species, including 34 tree species, 30 shrub species, and 77 herb species from 102 genera and 44 families. In the
presents study tree density was recorded range from 16 (Sub tropical euphorbia scrub forest)-1445.33 N ha-1 (Dry bamboo
brakes) and basal area ranged from 0.26 (Sub tropical euphorbia scrub forest)- 69.52 m2 ha-1 (Shiwalik chir pine forest)
across the study sites. The shrubs density and basal area ranged from 1950-13150 N ha-1 and 1.19-44.18 m2 ha-1 attaining
maximum shrub density in Northern dry mixed deciduous forests and minimum in Chir pine plantation. The shrubs density
and basal area ranged from 1950-13150 N ha-1 and 1.19-44.18 m2 ha-1 attaining maximum shrub density in Northern dry
mixed deciduous forests and minimum in Chir pine plantation. The results of the experiment have revealed that maximum
vegetation biomass, vegetation carbon density and ecosystem carbon density was recorded in Lower Western Himalayan
Ban-Oak forest with value of 456.52 Mg ha-1, 228.26 Mg C ha-1 and 382.07 Mg C ha-1, respectively. Shiwalik chir pine
forest had the highest nitrogen concentration (13226.33 kg ha-1). Lower Western Himalayan Ban-Oak had the highest
phosphorus concentration (2989.19 kg ha-1). The highest potassium concentration (5335.87 kg ha-1) was found in the
Leucaena leucocephala plantation. Lower Western Himalayan Ban-Oak had the highest calcium content (37499 kg ha-1).
Soil organic carbon (2.35%), available nitrogen (519.44 kg ha-1), available potassium (575.01 kg ha-1) and exchangeable
calcium were highest in the northern dry mixed deciduous forest (1683.82 mg kg-1). Whereas Lower Western Himalayan
Ban-Oak had the highest available phosphorus (23.31 kg ha-1) and CEC (17.38 mg kg-1) and Natural grasslands had the
highest exchangeable magnesium (934.68 mg kg-1). The highest bulk density (1.49 g cm-3) and soil pH (7.17) was found in
Natural grasslands. The maximum soil EC (0.22 dsm-1) was recorded under Dry bamboo brakes. Lower Western Himalayan
Ban-Oak (T7) showed significantly faster rate of surface litter decomposition in comparison with other forest ecosystems.
Northern dry mixed deciduous forest had the highest soil microbial activity (0.26 CO2 evolution g-1 soil), microbial biomass
(1094.49 μg g-1 soil) and bacterial count (195.21 x105 cfc g-1 soil). This study concluded that the Lower Western Himalayan
Ban-Oak forest has greater potential for carbon density and can add nutrient rapidly to the soil through litter decomposition
as compared to other forest ecosystem. Among the plantation ecosystem Leucaena leucocephala plantation can sequester
more carbon than other plantation ecosystem and such plantation should encourage for climate change mitigation strategies.
Lantana camara is heavily infested in this forest division so proper management practices should be taken up to eradicate
this invasive spp. Based on findings of the study assessing the biomass and carbon density is recommended to prioritize tree
species-specific land use practices, and to ensure climate change mitigation.