Biomass and net primary productivity in Central Himalayan forests along an altitudinal gradient

Abstract

This paper deals with plant biomass and net primary productivity of a series of forests located along an altitudinal gradient (300–2200 m) in the Central Himalaya. The climate in most of the area is humid with the monsoon patttern of rainfall. The biomass ranged between 199 and 787 t ha −1, the lower values being for early successional forests, such as chir pine ( Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) forest. The net primary productivity was in the range 12.8–27.9 t ha −1 year −1 and was not related to the elevation. In fact the entire elevational range seems to have the potential to support high biomass and productivity values.