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Impact of rainfall gradient on aboveground biomass and soil organic carbon dynamics of forest covers in Gujarat, India

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Ecological Research

Abstract

Alterations in precipitation are affecting forest ecosystems’ soil carbon cycling. To understand how shifts in rainfall may alter these carbon pools, above-ground biomass (AGB), soil organic carbon (SOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) of tropical forest covers were measured across a rainfall gradient (543–1590 mm) in Gujarat (India), a state falling under semi arid to tropical dry–wet conditions. Species diversity, tree density and soil texture were also measured. Field visits and data collection were carried out for 2 years (2009–2011) in 95 plots of 250 × 250 m in the forest covers across four distinct rainfall zones (RFZs). Data analysis showed that differences seen in the values of the measured parameters across the RFZs are statistically significant (P < 0.05). Positive correlations were observed between mean annual precipitation (MAP) and tree density, species diversity, AGB, SOC, and MBC. Across the RFZs, AGB ranged between 0.09 and 168.28 Mg ha−1; SOC values (up to 25 cm soil depth) varied between 2.94 and 147.84 Mg ha−1. Soil texture and MBC showed a significant impact on the dynamics of SOC in all the RFZs. MBC is more influenced by SOC rather than AGB. Both vegetation type and MAP have an important role in the regulation of SOC in tropical soils. Together, these results reveal complex carbon cycle responses are likely to occur in tropical soils under altered rainfall regimes.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), NRSC, Dehradun, INDIA for financial assistance through ISRO-Geosphere Biosphere Programme (NVCPA project). Authors are thankful to the State forest department, Gujarat, India for logistics and, to UGC-DRS & DBT-ILSPARE programmes for infrastructure facilities. We like to offer our thanks to Dr. Ankur R. Desai (University of Wisconsin) for his valuable suggestions and language editing. We are thankful for the critical and valuable suggestions of anonymous reviewers.

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  1. Ecology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, 390 002, India

    Nirav Mehta, Neeta R. Pandya & N. S. R. Krishnayya

  2. Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, 390 002, India

    V. O. Thomas

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  1. Nirav Mehta
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Correspondence to N. S. R. Krishnayya.

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Mehta, N., Pandya, N.R., Thomas, V.O. et al. Impact of rainfall gradient on aboveground biomass and soil organic carbon dynamics of forest covers in Gujarat, India. Ecol Res 29, 1053–1063 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-014-1192-8

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