Carbon stock variation of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. Forest along altitudes of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in Pinus roxburghii forest along three different altitudes i.e., 1100, 1300 and 1500 meter above mean sea level of Garhwal Himalaya to understand the effect of altitudes on carbon stocks (live trees and soil) in Pinus roxburghii forest. Tree density of this forest ranged between 590 tree ha−1 (upper altitude) to 640 tree ha−1 (lower altitude). The highest total carbon density (TCD) of above and belowground carbon was 66.33 ± 29.92 Mg ha−1 at lower altitude followed by 57.64 ± 16.75 Mg ha−1 in middle altitude and 52.92 ± 6.52 Mg ha−1 in upper altitude. Soil organic carbon was highest (33.20 ± 2.77 Mg ha−1) at lower altitude followed by middle (22.61 ± 7.17 Mg ha−1) and upper altitude (12.65 ± 6.10 Mg ha−1). Total carbon stock (trees + soil) of Pinus roxburghii forest was maximum (99.53 Mg ha−1) at lower altitude and minimum (65.57 Mg ha−1) at upper altitude.