Estimation of Biomass and Soil Carbon Stock in Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora Forests of District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate the biomass and soil carbon stock in various sites of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. (Chir pine) and Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus (Ban oak) forests of district Shimla, Himachal Pradesh during the year 2015-2016. In case of chir pine forests, the amount of carbon stock in Guma site for above ground, below ground, under storey and litter was 80.05, 16.01, 3.24 and 1.55 tC/ha, respectively. Whereas, values of carbon stock at Dhami site were 192.92, 38.58, 1.71 and 1.57 tC/ha, respectively. The biomass as well as the carbon stock was higher at Dhami site than Guma site. The soil organic carbon stock (tC/ha) at 10-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm was 22.45, 19.99 and 12.36, respectively at Guma site. Whereas, these values at different depths were 23.23, 20.17 and 15.59 tC/ha, respectively for Dhami site. The value of total soil carbon stock was more (58.98 tC/ha) at Dhami site than Guma site (54.80 tC/ha) upto 45cm depth. In case of Ban oak forests, the amount of carbon stock in Taradevi site for above ground, below ground, under storey and litter was 151.27, 37.82, 3.04 and 1.52 tC/ha, respectively. Whereas, values of carbon stock at Koti site were 74.25, 18.56, 1.24 and 1.26 tC/ha, respectively. Total biomass as well as the carbon stock was higher at Taradevi site than Koti site. The soil organic carbon stock (tC/ha) at 10-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm was 42.07, 29.70 and 14.78, respectively at Tardevi site. Whereas, these values for three depths were 36.60 , 27.72 and 18.72 tC/ha, respectively for Koti site. The value of total soil carbon stock was more at Tardevi site (86.55 tC/ha) than Koti site (83.04 tC/ha).