Informatics Publishing Limited

Bilal A. Khaki ¹, V. R. R. Singh ², Akhlaq A. Wani ³, Raj. K. Thakur ⁴

Affiliations
1 Silviculture Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 006, IN
2 Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer Campus, Panthaghati, Shimla, HP 171 009, IN
3 Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (Campus Wadura) Sopore J&K-193 201, IN
4 Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Badodra, Gujarat-388 306, IN

Abstract

Forest fire is recognized as one of the major natural disaster, damaging huge forest and grassland areas worldwide. Fire can change plant composition, devastate biomass, alter soil physical and chemical properties and decrease nutrient pools. In recent years, Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiana) forests in South Kashmir are experiencing a heavy loss due to fire with respect to damage to undergrowth and disturbance in soil nutrient status. An assessment of damage in terms of ecological and economic attributes due to fire is deemed to be much. The frequency of fire is rising as biotic pressure on forest resources. This study demonstrates assessment of soil macro-nutrient alteration on sites on burnt with unburnt sites. The study sites are in South circle of Kashmir division in Jammu and Kashmir State of India. Our samples show 60% less soil carbon at 0-30 cm depth in burnt sites against their respective unburnt sites, Available soil nitrogen concentration was 35.28% lower on burnt sites, Available soil phosphorus was 38.89 % higher in burnt than unburnt sites and available soil potassium was 29.66 % higher on burnt sites in comparison to unburnt sites. Some implications of these results for forest managers are discussed. Organic carbon and nitrogen decreased in burnt areas while as potassium and phosphorus concentration witnesses an increase in burnt sites.

Keywords

Fire, Soil Nutrients, Blue Pine, Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium.

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Akhlaq A. Wani ¹, P. K. Joshi ², Ombir Singh ³, Asif A. Gatoo ¹, Amarjeet Singh ¹, Rafiq A. Mir ¹, Bilal A. Khaki ³, Shah Murtaza ¹

Affiliations
1 Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Benhama-Watlar Ganderbal J&K, IN
2 School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University. New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi, IN
3 Silviculture Division, Forest Research Institute (FRI) Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IN

Abstract

Realizing the importance of carbon monitoring and reporting in climate change, it becomes imperative to assess the contribution of less significant but equally important forest carbon sub-pool of shrubs and herbs in mitigating the atmospheric carbon. The present study was conducted to calculate the strata wise biomass carbon of undergrowth (herbs and shrubs) in the coniferous forests of Western Himalayan region. Quadrates of 0.1 ha were laid in six forest types and within these plots, shrub plots (5m X 5m) were laid at the opposite corners. Herb plots (herbs including freshly fallen litter) (1m X 1m) m were laid inside the shrub plots at the opposite corners for undergrowth measurements. Shrub and herb measurements were taken by total harvest method and sub-samples weighing 200 g packed tight were transferred to the laboratory and oven dried at 65 ± 5 °C to a constant weight. The estimated biomass from these plots was extrapolated to one ha. The total herb biomass hence calculated was converted into carbon equivalent using a factor of 0.50. The entire results were subjected to statistical tools using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed that shrub biomass carbon was found to be highest under Deodar (closed) strata 0.65 t ha^-1 ( ±σ 0.48) and minimum under Deodar (open) 0.17 t ha^-1 ( ± σ 0.20) with p<0.05. For herb biomass carbon the highest values were observed under Fir-Spruce (closed) 1.32 t ha-1 ( ± σ 0.46) and minimum under Blue Pine (open) 0.59 t ha ( ± σ 0.49) with p<0.05. The open forests were subjected to a high biotic interference as a result of uncontrolled grazing, fuel wood and fodder collection that led to the lower values for undergrowth biomass carbon. However these strata were found to have a promising potential to fix atmospheric carbon into herbs and shrubs once the conservative interventions are brought into practice.

Keywords

Biomass, Carbon, Herbs, Shrubs, Temperate, Kashmir, Himalaya.

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