PRODUCTION AND DECOMPOSITION OF FINE ROOTS IN CENTRAL HIMALAYAN FOREST SPECIES

Abstract

The present paper investigates the decomposition and production rate
of fine roots in broad-leaved and needle-leaved forests of central Himalayas. Fine root growth was measured using the ingrowth core method and decomposition of three root litter classes for both tree species was estimated using the litterbag technique. Fine root production decreased with increase in soil depth and it was inversely proportional to soil bulk density. The maximum fine root production occurred during the rainy season followed by summer and winter. The rate of fine root decomposition was maximum in the rainy reason and decreased with increased root diameter. The percentage contribution of live root across the months varied from 58 to 75%. During the sampling period, dead root biomass peaked in August and declined abruptly during winter while live root biomass peaked in September and October.