STUDIES ON PLANT BIODIVERSITY, BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND CARBON DENSITY OF COL. SHER JUNG NATIONAL PARK IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2019-10
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on Plant Biodiversity, Biomass Production and Carbon Density of Col. Sher Jung National Park in Himachal Pradesh” was carried out in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2018-19 with the aim to assess floristic composition, biomass production, carbon density and soil physicochemical properties of major forest communities. Eight different major forest communities were selected viz., Shorea robusta forest, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Syzygium cumini forest, Shorea robust + Terminalia tomentosa forest, Shorea robusta+ Eucalyptus tereticornis forest, Shorea robusta+ Syzygium cumini fores, Shorea robusta+ Diospyros melanoxylon forest and Mixed forest. 90 plant species were recorded in these forests of which 6 were trees, 37 shrubs and 47 herbs. Shannon Weiner index for trees, shrubs and herbs in different forests varied from 0.00-1.60, 2.27-2.83 and 2.74-3.38, respectively. Simpson index for trees, shrubs and herbs in different forests ranged from 0.24-1.00, 0.06-0.10 and 0.37-0.70, respectively and Margelef’s species richness for trees, shrubs and herbs in different forests varied from 0-0.78, 1.10-2.03 and 1.41-2.71, respectively. Phytosociological attributes i.e. density and basal area of trees in different forests varied from 590 (Mixed forest) to 507 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) trees/ha and 52.61 (Sal forest) to 43.59 (Jamun forest) m2/ha, respectively, in shrubs from 4633 (Sal forest ) to 3333 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) plants/ha and 9.30to 6.63 m2/ha, respectively and in herbs from 2,86,000 (Sal+ Tendu forest) to 1,58,000 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) plants/ha and 120.33 to 57.6 cm2/m2, respectively. Total biomass production of trees in different forests varied from 231.62 (Jamun forest) to 753.2 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) t/ha. Carbon stock in different forest communities varied from 374.64 (Jamun forest) to 536.54 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) t/ha. Soil bulk density, Soil organic carbon, pH and EC in soil at 0-20cm depth in different forests varied from 1.17 (Mixed forest) to 1.49 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) g/cm3, 2.52 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) to 2.81 (Jamun forest) % , 5.28 (Sal+ Jamun forest) to 6.84 (Sal+ Eucalyptus) pH, 0.17(Eucalyptus tereticornis) to 0.23(Sal+ Sain and Sal+ Eucalyptus) dSm-1 respectively whereas, in 20-40 cm depth of soil their values were: 0.14 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) to 0.20 (Sal+ Tendu forest) g/cm3, 2.34 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) to 2.67 (Jamun forest) %, 6.08(Jamun forest) to 7.67 (Eucalyptus tereticornis) pH, 0.14(Eucalyptus tereticornis) to 0.20 (Sal+ Tendu forest) dSm-1. The per cent organic carbon and EC showed a decr
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