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Estimation of tree biomass, carbon pool and net primary production of an old-growth Pinus kesiya Royle ex. Gordon forest in north-eastern India

  • Original Paper
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Abstract

• Background

The data on carbon pool and biomass distribution pattern of old-growth Pinus kesiya Royle ex. Gordon forests are not available.

• Methods

The forest carbon pool and annual net primary production (NPP) were assessed in three old-growth P. kesiya forest stands in north-eastern India, using biomass equations developed from 40 harvested trees between 9 and 63 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH) range.

• Results

Regression models of the form Log(Y) = a + b logD + c (logD)2 + d (logD)3 were the best fits for biomass estimation of total tree and its various components. The total forest biomass (which includes live and dead compartments of trees, shrubs, and herbs) was 460.5 Mg ha−1, of which 91.2% was in the aboveground and 8.8% in the belowground compartment. P. kesiya contributed 77%, broad-leaved tree species 13.5%, shrubs 0.12%, herbs 0.03% and litter 0.5% to the total forest biomass. The total ecosystem carbon content of the forest including soil organic carbon pool was 283.1 Mg C ha−1. The annual net primary production (NPP) of the forest was 17.5 Mg ha−1 yr−1.

• Conclusion

The estimated total forest biomass and carbon pool of the P. kesiya forest were greater than for the other pine forests studied world-wide.

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Acknowledgements

The first author is thankful to CSIR-UGC, Government of India, for financial assistance in the form of UGC-NET (SRF) fellowship. The authors are thankful to the Forest Department, Government of Meghalaya for giving permission to conduct the study in the reserved forest. The support received from Dr. Krishna Upadhaya, Dr. Dibyendu Adhikari, Dr. Nigyal John Lakadong and Mr. Arun Chettri during the field study is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Ratul Baishya

  2. Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, School of Life Sciences, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, 793022, Meghalaya, India

    Saroj Kanta Barik

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  1. Ratul Baishya
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  2. Saroj Kanta Barik
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Correspondence to Saroj Kanta Barik.

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Baishya, R., Barik, S.K. Estimation of tree biomass, carbon pool and net primary production of an old-growth Pinus kesiya Royle ex. Gordon forest in north-eastern India. Annals of Forest Science 68, 727–736 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0089-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0089-8

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