Structure of Himalayan moist temperate cypress forest at and around Naini Tal, Kumaun Himalayas
Abstract
The paper deals with the structural features of a subsidiary edaphic and seral type of Himalayan moist temperate cypress (Cupressus torulosa Don.) forest that occurs between 2,100 - 2,325 m elevation in the exposed sites in Nairn Tal, Kumaun Himalaya. The tree density ranged from 270 (ridge top) to 510 trees/ha (mid-hill slope) and total basal cover from 26.6 to 51.5 m2/ha (both mid-hill slopes) The total tree layer phytomass ranged from 237 to 400 t/ha (both mid-hill slopes), of which dominant species accounted for about 41 to 89% (both on ridge top). The natural catastrophes (snowfall or heavy windstorms) lead to the distribution of tree density and phytomass of present study forests. The root: shoot ratio ranged from 0.114-0.434 and photosynthetic:non photosynthetic ratio from 0.027-0.140. The total phytomass of present study forests ranged from 239 to 433 t/ha. The comparison of present studied cypress forests with other coniferous forests, viz., Pinus, Abies, Picea and Pseudotsuga has also been discussed.
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