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Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya, India

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Abstract

The present study was undertaken in seven major forest types of temperate zone (1500 m a.s.l. to 3100 m a.s.l.) of Garhwal Himalaya to understand the effect of slope aspects on carbon (C) density and make recommendations for forest management based on priorities for C conservation/sequestration. We assessed soil organic carbon (SOC) density, tree density, biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) on four aspects, viz. north-east (NE), north-west (NW), south-east (SE) and south-west (SW), in forest stands dominated by Abies pindrow, Cedrus deodara, Pinus roxburghii, Cupressus torulosa, Quercus floribunda, Quercus semecarpifolia and Quercus leucotrichophora. TCD ranged between 77.3 CMg ha−1 on SE aspect (Quercus leucotrichophora forest) and 291.6 CMg ha−1 on NE aspect (moist Cedrus deodara forest). SOC varied between 40.3 CMg ha−1 on SW aspect (Himalayan Pinus roxburghii forest) and 177.5 CMg ha−1 on NE aspect (moist Cedrus deodara forest). Total C density (SOC + TCD) ranged between 118.1 CMg ha−1 on SW aspect (Himalayan Pinus roxburghii forest) and 469.1 CMg ha−1 on NE aspect (moist Cedrus deodara forest). SOC and TCD were significantly higher on northern aspects as compared with southern aspects. It is recommended that for C sequestration, the plantation silviculture be exercised on northern aspects, and for C conservation purposes, mature forest stands growing on northern aspects be given priority.

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Abbreviations

AGBD:

aboveground biomass density

BEF:

biomass expansion factor

BGBD:

belowground biomass density

FRI:

Forest Research Institute

FSI:

Forest Survey of India

GSVD:

growing stock volume density

IPCC:

International Panel on Climate Change

NE:

north-east

NW:

north-west

SE:

south-east

SOC:

soil organic carbon

SW:

south-west

TBD:

total biomass density

TCD:

tree C density

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, India, for providing financial support vide its Project No. SP/SO/PS-52/2004.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University, Post Box No. 51, Srinagar, Garhwal, 246 174, Uttarakhand, India

    C M Sharma, Sumeet Gairola, N P Baduni, S K Ghildiyal & Sarvesh Suyal

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  1. C M Sharma
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  2. Sumeet Gairola
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  3. N P Baduni
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  4. S K Ghildiyal
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  5. Sarvesh Suyal
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Correspondence to C M Sharma.

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Corresponding editor: R Geeta

[Sharma CM, Gairola S, Baduni NP, Ghildiyal SK and Suyal S 2011 Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya, India. J. Biosci. 36 701–708] DOI 10.1007/s12038-011-9103-4

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Sharma, C.M., Gairola, S., Baduni, N.P. et al. Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya, India. J Biosci 36, 701–708 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-011-9103-4

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