Research Article | Published: 01 September 2014

A Comparative study of Carbon Stocks in Shorea Robusta and Schima-Castanopsis Forests in Siwalik and Lesser Himalayan Zone Nepal

Ram Prasad Sharma, Yajna Prasad Timilsina, Arjun Prasad Bastola and M. K. Gupta

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 37 | Issue: 3 | Page No. 259-266 | 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2014-9H03G9 | Cite this article

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate the of above ground and below ground carbon stocks in trees, shrubs, herbs/grasses and leaf litter in Kankali community forest of Chainpur Village Development Committee (VDC), Chitwan district and Tibrekot community forest of Hemja Village Development Committee (VDC), Kaski district of Nepal. The tree volume was calculated by using allometric equation with the help of height and diameter (non-destructive method). Herbs/grasses, shrubs and leaf litters biomass were estimated in laboratory by oven dry method and some conversion and unitary methods. Carbon stocks of vegetation as well as other category were estimated by considering default value as 0.43 of the total biomass. The total forest biomass was estimated 147.01 t/ha and 98.28 t/ha in Shorea robusta and Schima- Castanopsis dominated forests respectively. S. robusta dominated forest has occupied the carbon stocks of 63.22 t/ha, and out of this above ground carbon stock was 48.93 t/ha (77%) and below ground carbon stock was 14.29 t/ha (23%) followed by Schima-Castanopsis dominated forest having total carbon stock 42.26 t/ha, which contain in above ground 30.60 t/ha (72%) and in below ground 11.66 t/ha (28%). The total carbon content in S. robusta dominated forest including all categories was 20 % higher as compared to the Schima-Castanopsis forest. Kankali community forest was having higher tree density, dbh and height of trees as compared to Tibrekot community forest.

Keywords

Community forest, Village Development Committee (VDC), Allometric equation, Biomass, Unitary methods, Forest stand, Afforestation/ Reforestation (A/R)

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How to cite

Sharma, R.P., Timilsina, Y.P., Bastola, A.P. and Gupta, M.K., 2014. A Comparative study of Carbon Stocks in Shorea Robusta and Schima-Castanopsis Forests in Siwalik and Lesser Himalayan Zone Nepal. Indian Journal of Forestry, 37(3), pp.259-266. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2014-9H03G9

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 September 2014

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