CARBON PARTITIONING IN SUBTROPICAL <em>PINUS</em> <em>ROXBURGHII</em> FOREST, SOLAN, INDIA

Abstract

SHAH S, SHARMA DP, TRIPATHI P & PALA NA. 2014. Carbon partitioning in subtropical Pinus roxburghii forest, Solan, India. This study was carried out in subtropical chir pine forests covering 33 compartments in two forest ranges of Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Non-destructive method for biomass estimation was adopted for trees whereas harvest method was used to determine the biomass of understorey vegetation, i.e. herbs and shrubs. The total ecosystem carbon density was 247.87 t ha-1. Carbon partitioning in
different components of the chir pine forest ecosystem were ranked in the order of soil layer (190.89 t ha^-1) > vegetation layer (51.13 t ha^-1) > detritus (5.85 t ha^-1). More carbon was recorded in soil than vegetation with a soil: vegetation ratio of 4.4. Less carbon stock in vegetation and detritus may be attributed to the fact that in the Indian Himalayan region, the dependency of communities on forests is causing their over exploitation and degradation. This emphasises the need for the conservation of these forests as a potential contender for carbon credit claims under ongoing international conventions and protocols.