Research Article | Published: 22 June 2017

Estimation of Biomass and Soil Carbon Stock in  Mixed Forest of Abies pindrow Royle - Picea smithiana (Wallich) Boiss. and Betula utilis D.Don Forests of District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

R. K. Verma and K. S. Kapoor

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 40 | Issue: 2 | Page No. 117-120 | 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2017-7EL3VP | Cite this article

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate the biomass and soil carbon stock in various sites of Abies pindrow (Silver fir) - Picea smithiana (Spruce) and Betula utilis (Bhojpatra) forests of district Shimla, Himachal Pradesh during the year 2014-2015.  In Fir-Spruce  mixed forests, the amount of carbon stock at Larot site for above ground, below ground, under storey and litter was 287.39 tC/ha, 57.48 tC/ha, 2.22 tC/ha and 0.92 tC/ha respectively. Whereas, values of these components at Khirki site were 267.31 tC/ha, 53.46 tC/ha, 3.65 tC/ha and 0.85 tC/ha respectively. The biomass as well as the carbon stock was higher at Larot site than Khirki site. The soil organic carbon stock (tC/ha) at 10-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm was 27.05, 24.91 and 18.35 respectively at Larot site. Whereas, these values for different depths were 27.36 tC/ha, 22.02 tC/ha and 19.01 tC/ha respectively for Khirki site. The value of total soil carbon stock was little more (70.31 tC/ha) at Larot site than Khirki site (68.39 tC/ha). In case of Bhojpatra forests, the amount of carbon stock at Larot site for above ground, below ground, under storey and litter was 75.32 tC/ha, 18.83 tC/ha, 11.38 tC/ha and 1.57 tC/ha respectively. In Bhojpatra forests, understorey i.e. biomass of shrubs and herbs contribute about 11.63% to the total biomass in the forest. The soil organic carbon stock (tC/ha) at 10-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm was 19.54, 15.43 and 11.88 respectively for this site. The soil organic carbon stock decreased with increasing the soil depth.

Keywords

Biomass, Soil Carbon Stock, Above Ground, Below Ground, Under Storey, Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh

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How to cite

Verma, R.K. and Kapoor, K.S., 2017. Estimation of Biomass and Soil Carbon Stock in  Mixed Forest of Abies pindrow Royle - Picea smithiana (Wallich) Boiss. and Betula utilis D.Don Forests of District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Forestry, 40(2), pp.117-120. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2017-7EL3VP

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 22 June 2017

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