NUTRIENT DYNAMICS OF A LOWER SIWALIK BAMBOO FOREST IN THE GARHWAL HIMALAYA, INDIA.

Abstract

Nutrient dynamics of N, P and K were studied for a bamboo forest in the Garhwal Siwalik Himalaya, India. Bamboo culms are felled once in every fourth year and this felling cycle is continued to last one century. Most of the culms of bamboo had attained an age of 2 to 4 y in the forest studied. The relative contribution of various components to the standing state of biomass is in the order: bamboo culms > branches > leaves > herbs. Nutrient concentrations were higher in leaves than any other plant components. Among nutrients K showed the highest concentration, followed by N and then by P. About 63, 16and 73 kg ha^-1 of N, P and K, respectively was recorded in standing biomass, out of which 5, 1 and 2 kg ha^-1 of the respective element was returned to the soil. Lower standing state of nutrients, lower uptake and return in the studied forest can be attributed to lower age of bamboo culms, and to existing management practices. It was concluded that removal of bamboo culms in every four years for commercial purpose impoverished the soil nutrient status and thus the fertility of soil is poor under bamboo in the Garhwal Siwalik Himalaya.