Assessment of biomass production and carbon stock in Moist deciduous and Semi- evergreen forest types of Hulekal Range, Sirsi forest division

Le résumé fourni par la source

The present study was conducted to assess biomass production and carbon stock in moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests of Hulekal Forest Range. The study area is located in the central Western Ghats. Field data were collected using quadrat sampling with 61 randomly selected quadrats measuring 20 m×20 m. All trees with a girth at breast height (GBH) of ≥30 cm was enumerated and their girth and height were recorded. Basal area and stand volume were estimated from field measurements. Aboveground biomass was calculated using tree volume and wood specific gravity, while belowground biomass was estimated as 27 per cent of aboveground biomass. Total carbon stock was estimated by considering 47 per cent of total biomass as carbon content. The results revealed that marked differences in forest structure, biomass accumulation and carbon storage between the two forest types. The semi-evergreen forest recorded higher basal area (50.20 m² ha⁻¹) and stand volume (523.26 m³ ha⁻¹) than the moist deciduous forest, which recorded 34.02 m² ha⁻¹ and 343.30 m³ ha⁻¹, respectively. Aboveground biomass was also higher in the semi-evergreen forest (349.27 Mg ha⁻¹) as compared to moist deciduous forest (244.03 Mg ha⁻¹). Similarly, belowground biomass and total biomass were higher in the semi-evergreen forest, with values of 94.30 and 443.57 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively, as compared with 65.89 and 309.92 Mg ha⁻¹ in the moist deciduous forest. Carbon stock was higher in the semi-evergreen forest (208.48 Mg ha⁻¹) than in the moist deciduous forest (145.66 Mg ha⁻¹). The findings indicated that semi-evergreen forests possess greater biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration potential.

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