Fine root biomass production and turnover in evergreen forests of Central Himalaya, India
Abstract
Fine root biomass, net primary production and turnover in two evergreen Central Himalayan forests viz., Quercus leucotrichophora and Pinus roxbutghii forest are described here. The fine root biomass and fine root net primary production decreased with increasing soil depth. The total annual fine root biomass was 2,071 kg ha-1 in chir pine forest and 3,236 kg ha-1 in banj oak forest. The fine root net production was 3,428 kg ha-1 yr-1 in oak forest which was higher then the fine root pioduction of pine forest (2,459 kg ha-1 yr-1). In banj oak forest the fine root turnover rate (0.826) was maximum at 40-60 cm soil depth and in chir pine forest the turnover rate was maximum at 0-20 cm soil depth (0.730).The percent contribution of live root biomass to tolal root biomass ranged from 63-68 percent. The maximum fine root biomass and net primary production was recorded in rainy season followed by summer and winter season in both the forests. The nitrogen (%) concentration decreased with increasing soil depth and ranged from 0.48-0.68% in chir pine forest and 0.60-0.76% in oak forest.
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