Biomass and productivity in sal and miscellaneous forests of Satpura plateau (Madhya Pradesh) India

Abstract

The paper deals with the biomass and productivity of sal (SF) and miscellaneous forests (MF) of Satpura plateau (Madhya Pradesh) India. These forest types were divided into four sites namely open miscellaneous (OMF, site-I), closed miscellaneous (CMF, site-II), open sal (OSF, site-III) and closed sal (CSF, site-IV). The degree of disturbance followed the order: III (0.70) < I (0.12) < II (0.054) < IV (0.018) while considering total trees as measure. OSF (III) and CSF (IV) were most and least disturbed sites among the four. The percent allocation of above ground tree biomass followed the order: 85.08 (II) < 85.51 (I) < 81.31 (III) < 78.09 (IV). The higher above ground tree biomass was produced by MF than of SF. Closed canopy forests produced higher above ground tree biomass than of the open forests. OMF produced 9.5% less biomass than of the CMF whereas, OSF has 39.91% less biomass than of the CSF. The contribution of above ground biomass of shrubs (%) are as follows: 8.3 (IV)< 32.72 (I) <33.77 (III) <52.63 (II). The percent contribution of root biomass was higher for closed sites as compared with open and sites. The root: shoot ratio was ranged between 0.169-0.249. NPPtree (kg ha-1yr-1) was highest for site –IV (38094.79), followed by III (33384.29), II (12374.89 and I (9736.52). NPPshrub followed the order: 204 (IV) > 109 (III) > 79.80 (I) > 52.69 (II), while for NPPherb, the order of importance was, 109.50 (IV) > 73.27 (I) > (II), 71.75 (III) > 55.71 (II). NPPtotal was highest for closed forest stands than of the open ones. NPPteak was lower for high-disturbed site than of the less disturbed site. Photosynthetic/ non - photosynthetic ratio follows the order: 0.067 (II) > 0.030 (III) > 0.026 (IV) > 0.018 (I). Open forests showed lower values for this ratio. NEP was higher for SF than of the MF. Further closed forests showed higher values of NEP. OSF showed lower values of NEPsal than of the CSF. Disturbances in open forests not only reduced stand biomass of tree species, dominant species in particular, but also declined the tree productivity. So, gap filling plantation in side the forest is suggested to improve the productivity of open forests.