FLORAL DIVERSITY AND CARBON STOCK ASSESSMENT OF HIMALAYAN DRY TEMPERATE AND ALPINE FOREST OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorBHARDWAJ, D R
dc.contributor.authorKUMAR, RAKESH
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-22T05:57:49Z
dc.date.available2018-12-22T05:57:49Z
dc.date.issued2018-11
dc.description.abstractABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Floral diversity and carbon stock assessment of Himalayan dry temperate and alpine forest of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2015-16 with the aim to assess floristic diversity, regeneration status, carbon stock and soil physico-chemical properties in dry temperate and alpine forests area of Kinnaur (H.P.). Nine different forest types were selected viz., dry broad-leaved and coniferous forests (Quercus ilex – Pinus gerardiana), neoza pine forest (Pinus gerardiana), dry deodar forest (Cedrus deodara), west Himalayan high level dry blue pine forest (Pinus wallichiana), west Himalayan sub- alpine birch forests , west Himalayan sub- alpine fir forests , birch-rhododendron scrub forest, alpine pasture and dry alpine scrub. In every forest types 9 quadrates of size 20 m × 20 m for trees were laid out randomly across the slope distributed along the elevation gradient (lower, medium and high). Within each quadrate (20 m×20 m), three sub-quadrates of size of 5 m ×5 m for shrubs and 1 x 1 m for herbs were laid out. To study the regeneration status of dominant forest species, 9 sub-quadrat of 2 m×2 m within each quadrat of size 20 m x 20 m were laid out. To estimate the biomass, quadrat size was same as floristic diversity studied. To converted biomass into carbon it was multiplying with a factor of 0.5 (IPCC default value). Surface litter was collected in nine quadrates of 1 m × 1 m. Samples were weighed, sub-sampled and oven dried at 65 + 5oC to a constant weight, grounded and ashes. Corrected dry ash was assumed to contain 50 per cent of carbon.These forest types comprise of comprised of 139 species out of which 7 tree species, 26 shrub species and 106 herbs species were recorded that belong to102 genera and 44 families. The plant species (Trees + shrubs + herbs) found under different types were recorded maximum in dry deodar forest (40) followed by dry broad-leaved and coniferous forests (34), dry blue pine forest (33) , sub alpine fir forest and neoza pine forest (32), alpine pasture (23), sub-alpine birch forest (22), birch-rhododendron scrub (16) and dry alpine scrub (15). The Regeneration success was recorded maximum in dry deodar forest (58.33 %) whereas, it was minimum for neoza pine forest 27.78 per cent. Total vegetation carbon density varies significantly among different forest type. The maximum value is reported in dry deodar forest (126.12 t C ha-1) followed by dry blue pine forest (75.55 t C ha-1), sub alpine fir forest (65.05 t C ha-1), dry broad-leaved and coniferous forests (64.82 t C ha-1 ), neoza pine forest (48.96 t C ha-1), birch-rhododendron scrub forest ( 39.49 t C ha-1), sub alpine birch forest (24.43 t C ha-1), dry alpine scrub (0.65 C t ha-1) and alpine pasture (0.29 t C ha-1). Total detritus carbon density varied significantly among different forest type. While, maximum detritus carbon is found in birch-rhododendron scrub forest ( 3.00 t C ha-1) followed by sub alpine fir forest (2.62 t C ha-1), dry broad-leaved and coniferous forests (2.03 t C ha-1 ), sub alpine birch forest (1.54 t C ha-1), dry deodar forest (1.29 t C ha-1), dry blue pine forest (1.20 t C ha-1), neoza pine forest (0.82 t C ha-1) , alpine pasture (0.08 t C ha-1), and dry alpine scrub (0.06 t C ha-1).Total soil carbon density (humus+ soil (0-40 cm layer) varied significantly in different forest type. birch-rhododendron scrub (130.39 t C ha-1) showed maximum carbon density followed by dry broad-leaved and coniferous forests (111.18 t C ha-1 ), dry deodar forest (84.81 t C ha-1), sub alpine birch forest (74.76 t C ha-1), sub alpine fir forest (73.56 t C ha-1) , dry blue pine forest (56.55 t C ha-1 ), alpine pasture (51.06 t C ha-1), neoza pine forest (45.62 t C ha-1) and dry alpine scrub (37.73 t C ha-1). However, total ecosystem carbon density varied significantly among different forest type. The highest ecosystem carbon density was displayed by dry deodar forest (212.21 t C ha-1) followed by broadleaved and coniferous forests (178.02 t C ha-1 ), birch-rhododendron scrub forest ( 172.87 t C ha-1), dry sub alpine fir forest (141.22 t C ha1), dry blue pine forest (133.29 t C ha-1), sub alpine birch forest (100.72 t C ha-1), neoza pine forest (95.40 t C ha-1) , alpine pasture ( 51.42 t C ha-1), and dry alpine scrub (38.43 t C ha-1). pH in different forest type followed the trend dry broad-leaved and coniferous forests > dry deodar forest > sub alpine fir forest > neoza pine forest > alpine pasture> dry blue pine forest> dry alpine scrub>birch-rhododendron scrub forest>sub alpine birch forest. The maximum concentration of soil nutrient (N, P, K, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) was reported for birchrhododendron scrub forest whereas, minimum was reported in dry alpine scrub.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810086227
dc.keywordsFloral diversity, carbon stock assessment, alpine forest,Himalayan dry temperateen_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.pages157+XVIIen_US
dc.publisherUHF, NAUNIen_US
dc.subSilviculture and Agroforestryen_US
dc.subjectnullen_US
dc.themeFloral diversity, carbon stock assessment, alpine forest,Himalayan dry temperateen_US
dc.these.typePh.Den_US
dc.titleFLORAL DIVERSITY AND CARBON STOCK ASSESSMENT OF HIMALAYAN DRY TEMPERATE AND ALPINE FOREST OF HIMACHAL PRADESHen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
PDF Ph.D. Thesis Rakesh Negi (2018).pdf
Size:
3.58 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
SILVICULTURE AND AGROFORESTRY
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Theses