title: Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya, India.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Post Box No. 51, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal 246174, Uttarakhand, India. sharmacmin@gmail.com
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Sumeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gairola
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Baduni
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ghildiyal
authors.forename: Sarvesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suyal
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D028203:Cedrus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005843:Geography; D007194:India; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D029963:Quercus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon