Assessment of Carbon Stocks in Dominated Forest of Palash of the Malwa Plateau Region of the India

Author: Vivechana Rajpoot, Sulekha Joshi and Bhuri Singh

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Abstract

The present study was carried out to estimate the C-stocks in the dominated palash forest of the Malwa plateau region of the India through forest inventory. Stem density (ha−1), tree height (m), diameter at breast height (DBH) (m), basal area (m2. ha-1), tree volume (m3. ha-1), total biomass (Kg.ha-1), and total C-stock (Kg. ha-1), were determined. Stem density varied between 34.00 to 39.00 trees ha-1, with a mean value of 36.25 tress ha-1. The average tree height (m), DBH (m), basal area (m2. ha-1) and tree volume (m3. ha-1) were 5.96, 0.28,0.03 and 0.53 respectively. The estimated total biomass (Kg. ha-1) was ranging 127.00 to 150.00 with an average value of 139.25. The calculated Carbon stock (Kg. ha-1) in the dominated forest of palash ranged from 57.00 to 67.00 and the mean Carbon stocks was 62.50. Semi interquartile range (SIQR) and Interquartile range (IQR) values of Stem density (ha−1), tree height (m), DBH (m), basal area (m2. ha-1), tree volume (m3. ha-1), total biomass (Kg. ha-1), and total C-stock (Kg. ha-1) are 0.56 and 1.06, 1.50 and 2.84,0.06 and 0.11,0.02 and 0.03,0.08 and 0.16,2.51 and 4.77 and 1.13 and 2.15. A significant Polynomial cubic positive (R2 = 0.999) relationship was observed between total biomass with basal area. The results of the study confirmed that the dominated forest of palash acts as a valuable sink of carbon, but this valuable storage factory of carbon faced the problems of excess uses of wood for domestic purpose and no scientific management. Proper utilization and scientific management of the forest can be significant measures to enhance the potential of the forest to stored and sink more carbon.

Keywords

Biomass, Carbon stocks, Jhalawar forest, Palash and Tree girth

Conclusion

The present study was aimed to find out the growing stock, biomass and carbon stock in the dominated palash forest of Malwa plateau region of India. The palash forest belongs to the local community. The local community used the forest for the purposes of fuel wood and for forage for their livestock. The finding of the study that the palash forest stored about 57.0 to 67.0 Kg∙ha−1 of carbon in their total biomass. The study confirmed that the dominated palash forest of Malwa plateau region of India is valuable sink of carbon. But this valuable storage factory faced threats in terms of excess use of wood, forage, domestic uses and unscientific management. The proper scientific management and proper utilization of the forest, rehabilitation of degraded forest and afforestation and reforestation can be significant measures to enhance the potential of the forest to stored and sink more carbon. Furthermore, this study also frames a working plan and forest protocol regarding growing stock, biomass and carbon stock assessed in the dominated forest of palash of Malwa plateau region of India for future.

References

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How to cite this article

Vivechana Rajpoot, Sulekha Joshi and Bhuri Singh (2023). Assessment of Carbon Stocks in Dominated Forest of Palash of the Malwa Plateau Region of the India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(4): 1004-1011.