Dynamics of carbon storage and status of standing vegetation in temperate coniferous forest ecosystem of north western Himalaya India

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Research Articles | Published:

Print ISSN : 0970-4078.
Online ISSN : 2229-4473.
Website:www.vegetosindia.org
Pub Email: contact@vegetosindia.org
Doi: 10.1007/s42535-021-00265-3
First Page: 822
Last Page: 833
Views: 1030


Keywords: Carbon status, Coniferous forests, Variation, Western Himalaya


Abstract


Natural ecosystems, which operate as a sink, play an important role in determining the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and have a large storage capacity, assisting in mitigation of problem that has a negative impact on the human population. Forests are one of the most important carbon sinks in the terrestrial ecosystem, with the best example being the Western Himalaya, where healthy and sustainable vegetation is prized. Standard methodology was adopted for assessing the different parameters of carbon related information to enumerate the status of carbon storage and its trend in sustaining the ecosystem of the area. The current research displays the annual increment and carbon dynamics in various vegetation components and levels. Trees, shrubs, and herbs help to fix atmospheric carbon in a variety of forms, including AGC, BGC, and TC. The concentration of carbon-fixing potential was measured on an annual and seasonal basis, with herbs having the highest mean annual increment, followed by shrubs and trees. Pinus wallichiana had the largest annual carbon stock change among trees, followed by Cedrus deodara, Picea smithiana, and Abies pindrow. P. wallichiana topped the increase percentage with 60.58%, followed by C. deodara 33.35%, P. smithiana 5.61%, and A. pindrow 0.45%. Litter was also investigated as a potential source of mitigation, with the best results observed during the autumn months. Natural coniferous forests provide a regulating ecological service in the region by maintaining carbon dioxide levels in the form of biomass, according to the study.



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Acknowledgements


The authors acknowledge with gratitude the divisional forest officer Anantnag and Lidder division for permission. The range officers along with foresters and forest guards are highly acknowledged for their support, cooperation and assistance during the research work. School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, Gwalior is also acknowledged for providing the necessary laboratory facilities to carrying out the research work. Dr. Mehraj Ahmad Sheikh, DFO Jammu and Kashmir forest department, Imtiyaz Ahmad Wani, Department of Geo informatics, University of Kashmir for supporting in mapping of the study sites. Mr. Altaf Ahmad Bhat and Javaid Ahmad Ganie, School of Mathematics, Dr. Nisar Ahmad Dar, Department of English, Jiwaji University, Gwalior are acknowledged for their help, cooperation and suggestions in editing the manuscript.


Author Information


Sheikh Muzamil Ahmad
School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India
muzamiljabbar11@gmail.com
Tiwari Avinash
School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India


Anjum Jasra
School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India


Sharma Sangeeta
School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India