Carbon estimation in the undershrub layer and the soil of a dry deciduous forest of West Bengal (eastern India)

Abstract

In the present context of global warming, it is essential to estimate the entrapped carbon in biomass and soil. In India, the dry deciduous forest is the premier forest type. However, in such forest type of West Bengal, there has not been estimation of the carbon contents at any vegetation layer. This article describes the carbon contents in biomass, litter and soil of the undershrub layer as well as its species composition-diversity. Five distinct sites–dry nullah (S1), forest clearing (S2), forest middle (S3), forest edge (S4) and foot track (S5) were identified. The above ground biomass (AGB) and litter were estimated through harvest and forest floor sweeping, respectively. For the measurement of below ground biomass (BGB), soil monoliths were dug out. The total biomass (AGB + BGB + Litter) across the forest ranged between 3.15 t ha− 1 and 37.58 t ha− 1 (av. 18.39 t ha− 1). The AGB-carbon ranged between 0.59 t C ha− 1 and 3.63 t C ha− 1 (av. 1.97 t C ha− 1), the BGB-carbon ranged between 0.51 t C ha− 1 and 12.92 t C ha− 1 (av. 4.91 t C ha− 1) and the litter-carbon ranged between 0.32 t C ha− 1 and 2.39 t C ha− 1 (av. 1.40 t C ha− 1). The organic carbon in acidic sandy soil of the forest ranged between 12.47 t ha− 1 and 17.31 t ha− 1 (av. 15.14 t ha− 1). Of the total entrapped carbon in the forest, the AGB-carbon contributed 8%, the BGB-carbon 21%, while the litter-carbon 6%. The balance pool of 65% was supplied by the soil organic carbon. Seventeen undershrub species were identified with density of 6690 individuals ha− 1 and the average indices of diversity and concentration of dominance was 0.77 and 0.22, respectively. Thus, to contribute in understanding the carbon stocking potential in a specific forest type and also to add to the inventory of carbon budget in the Indian forests, this micro level study was carried out in a dry topical forest (of eastern India).