Biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration potential of dry deciduous forests
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: The present study aimed to calculate the biomass and carbon density from different forest types including sal (Shorea robusta) dominated dry deciduous forest of Doon valley (a part of western Himalaya). Volume equations with variables like DBH and tree height were found to be the best for biomass calculation and are hence used in the present study. The maximum total sal biomass was recorded from Lachhiwala forest (346.46 Mg ha-1) but the total tree biomass was recorded from the forests of Rajpur (426.75 Mg ha-1) with carbon density of 213.37 MgC ha-1. The maximum contribution in forest biomass and carbon accumulation was from the sal tree however the co dominant species like Miliusa velutina (Dunal) Hook. f. and Thomson, Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Muell.-Arg, Anogeissus latifolia Wall., Ehretia laevis Roxb., also contributed a substantial amount to determine the forest carbon inventory. The SOC was within the range of 39.34 MgC ha-1–65.98 MgC ha-1 and was recorded maximum from dry deciduous forests of Lachhiwala. The highest Nitrogen was calculated from the soil of degraded forests of Golatappar and moist deciduous forests of Thano. The present study therefore concluded that dry, moist and degraded deciduous forests of Doon valley have enormous carbon sequestration potential and can help the policy makers and researcher understanding the regional and global CO2 cycle.
Authors: Goutam Mandal, S. P. Joshi
Language: English
Subfield: Forestry
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Climate action, Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2233024235