L. S. Lodhiyal , Neelu Lodhiyal , Sanjay K. Singh

Abstract

This paper deals with forest floor biomass of 5-9 years old pure Poplar plantations litter fall and nutrient content return through the litters of poplar plantations in moist plain area (Tarai belt) of Central Himalayas. The tree density was 400 trees ha^-1 for each stand. However, the basal area of stand ranged from 18.8 (5-yrs) to 34.2 m ha^-1 (9-yrs). The total mean forest floor biomass ranged from 3.44 t ha-1 in the 5-yrs old to 5.43 t ha-1 in the 9 yrs-old poplar plantations. In different seasons, it was in order: winter (5.70-8.74 t ha^-1) > summer (3.91-6.05 t ha^-1) > rainy season (0.72-1.51 t ha^-1). However, the forest floor biomass across seasons increased with increase in age of poplar plantations. The total litter fall was 6.38 t ha^-1 yr^-1 in the 5 yrs old to 9.87 t ha^-1 yr^-1 in the 9 yrs-old plantations. Of this, leaf litter had maximum 79 (9-yrs) to 81 % (5 yrs-old) stand. The annual replacement of forest floor litter biomass ranged from 89% (in 9-yrs) to 94% (in 5-yrs-old). However, the turnover rate ofnutricnts (NPK) was 71-89%. The total amount of nutrient return through litter was 79-117 kg ha^-1yr^-1 N, 9-17 kg ha^-1 yr^-1 P and 46-61 kg ha ^-1 yr^-1 K. It was increased with increase in plantation age because of higher amount of litter. The nutrient use efficiency ranged from 81-84 for N, 694-723 for P and 138-162 for K.

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L. S. Lodhiyal , B. S. Rana , R. P. Singh

Abstract

Biomass and net primary productivity estimates of eight year poplar (Populus deltoides D-121 clone) plantation are described. Of the total biomass (176.4 t ha^-1) and net primary productivity (24.5 t ha^-1yr^-l) trees accounted for 96.4% and 89% respectively. Present estimates of biomass and NPP are higher than other fast growing poplar and Eucalyptus species of the region. Therefore, it is suggested in the favourable conditions of the Central Himalayan Tarai the trees of P. deltoides D-121 clone should be harvested in eight year short rotation period.

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B. S. Rana , L. S. Lodhiyal , R. P. Singh

Abstract

Cuttings obtained from one year old poplar plants or stool shoots gave better nursery stock than the cuttings obtained from older trees. Longer cuttings (35 cm length) gave better growth as well as survival of plants than smaller cuttings. Thicker cuttings (2.5 cm diameter) proved better than thinner cuttings (1-2 cm diameter). Best time of planting was January and in no case planting of cuttings beyond February is advisable. Of the various a pre-treatments, the soaking of cuttings in water for 12 hours before planting gave better results. Different spacings tried had no significant effect on survival of plants in nursery. The 40 × 60 cm spacing is recommended for best height and diameter growth.

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C. S. Bohra , B. S. Jina , L. S. Lodhiyal

Abstract

Rates at which CO₂ is being sequestered in two different forest types of Himalaya was computed. For comparative study degraded and non-degraded sites of pine and oak forests in Kumaun Central Himalaya were selected. The Van Panchayats (VPs) or community forests are managing the nondegraded forest sites for centuries. It was found that the sequestration of CO₂ in non-degraded forests is significantly greater than the degraded forests. On the basis of present study significance of community forests in both Uttarakhand and the world is recommended and advocated to fight against the global warming as forests ultimately become the sink for increased CO₂ worldwide. The 'carbon trading' will indeed evolve as the panacea the war against global warming.

Keywords

Carbon Sequestration, Community Forests, Van Panchayats, Green House Gases, Carbon
Trading

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