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Annals of Botany 89: 41-54, 2002
© 2002 Annals of Botany Company

Structure and Function of Shisham Forests in Central Himalaya, India: Dry Matter Dynamics

NEELU LODHIYAL1, L. S. LODHIYAL*,2 and Y. P. S. PANGTEY1

1Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital Pin-263002, Uttaranchal, India and 2Department of Forestry, Kumaun University Campus, Almora, Pin-263601, Uttaranchal, India

 * For correspondence. Fax (91) 05942-35576, e-mail lslodhiyal{at}yahoo.com  Present address: c/o Sri P.S. Rautela, M.P. Niwas, Stoneleigh Compound, Tallital, Nainital-263002, Uttaranchal, India.

Received: 6 February 2001; Returned for revision: 3 April 2001; Accepted: 14 September 2001.

The biomass and net primary productivity (NPP) of 5- to 15-year-old Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) forests growing in central Himalaya were estimated. Allometric equations were developed for all above- and below-ground components of trees and shrubs for each stand. Understorey forest floor biomass and litter fall were also estimated in forest stands. The biomass (dry matter), forest floor biomass (standing crop litter), tree litter fall and NPP of trees and shrubs increased with increasing age of the forest stand, whereas the dry matter and herb NPP decreased significantly (P < 0·001) with increasing age of the forest. Total forest biomass and NPP ranged from 58·7 (5-year-old stand) to 136·1 t ha–1 (15-year-old stand) and 12·6 (5-year-old stand) to 20·3 t ha–1 year–1 (15-year-old stand), respectively. Of these values, tree biomass accounted for 85·7 (5-year-old stand) to 90·1 % (15-year-old) of total forest biomass, and tree NPP for 72·2 (5-year-old) to 82·3 % (15-year-old) of total forest NPP. The biomass accumulation ratio (BAR) of the bole component (bole wood + bole bark) increased with increasing age of the forest stand. The bole BAR was 5·8 (5-year-old stand) to 7·9 (15-year-old stand). However, total BAR of the forest stand ranged from 5·5 (5-year-old) to 7·5 (15-year-old).

Key words: Dalbergia sissoo Roxb, biomass, net primary productivity, litter input, forest floor biomass, turnover rate, Tarai belt, Central Himalaya, India.


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