Regeneration status of bhojpatra (Betula utilis) forest in north western Himalayas of Kashmir valley, India

Abstract

The regeneration status of bhojpatra or Himalayan birch (Betula utilis D. Don) was assessed in the two forest divisions of Kashmir with the major focus on regeneration status pertaining to the poor recruitment and seedling establishment in north western Himalayas along the different altitudinal gradient. The regeneration in both the forest divisions was poor and decreased further with increasing altitude but did not show any definite trend along the altitudinal gradient. Density-diameter and regeneration success curve for Betula utilis was not continuous and displayed typical reverse J-shaped structure depicting un-sustainable regeneration success along the altitude. Density of recruits was greater than the density of seedlings (un-established regeneration) indicating anthropogenic interference in terms of grazing and lopping of mature trees for fodder and other uses. The overall regeneration successes varied between 3.38-10.95% on south eastern aspect and 4.47 to 11.16% on south western aspect in Sindh forest division and between 4.84-11.53% in Tangmarg forest division. The diversity index (H/) Betula utilis decreased within the upper diameter classes with maximum diversity in lower diameter (0-25 cm). The correlation between soil parameters, viz. pH, EC, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus depicted the significant positive as well as negative trends with regeneration parameters.