Research Article | Published: 22 March 2017

Photosynthesis and Water use Efficiency of Important Species of Cold Desert Of Himachal Pradesh, India

Poonam, Rajan Bawa, Avnish  Sharma and Hari Paul Sankhyan

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 40 | Issue: 1 | Page No. 41-46 | 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2017-7S7P79 | Cite this article

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Goshal, one of the largest villages of cold desert district of Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh, India, during 2010 to 2013 to carry out photosynthetic study and water use efficiency of various species growing in the cold deserts. We classified the study area into three major ecosystems viz; Forest Ecosystem, Alpine Pasture Ecosystem and Agro- ecosystem and found that in Forest Ecosystem Salix alba was most water use efficient tree with maximum photosynthetic rate of 36.61µ mol/m2/sec However in case of Alpine Ecosystem Podophyllum peltatum (0.014534) and Artemisia brevifolia in Agroecosystem was most water use efficient species. Thus we recommend these species for Agroforestry and aforestation purpose in the cold desert area as dry land cultivation is not possible in Agro-ecosystem and for cultivated area the only source of water is through glacial melts from the upper mountain reaches.

Keywords

Cold Desert Ecosystem, Photosynthesis, Water Use Efficiency, Forest Ecosystem, Alpine Pasture Ecosystem, Agroe-cosystem, Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul

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How to cite

Poonam, Bawa, R., Sharma, A. and Sankhyan, H.P., 2017. Photosynthesis and Water use Efficiency of Important Species of Cold Desert Of Himachal Pradesh, India. Indian Journal of Forestry, 40(1), pp.41-46. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2017-7S7P79

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 22 March 2017

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