Aspects of productivity and nutrient cycling of poplar (Populus deltoides Marsh) plantation in the moist plain area of the Central Himalaya

  • L.S. Lodhiyal Department of Forestry, Kumaon University, Nainital - 263002 (U.P.), India
  • N. Lodhiyal Department of Botany, Kumaon University, Nainital - 263002 (U.P.), India
Keywords: Biomass, net primary productivity, nutrient use efficiency, Populus deltoides, clone D121, Tarai, plantation

Abstract

We studied the productivity and nutrient cycling in a 9-year-old poplar plantation raised m Tarai belt (low lying lands with high water table) of the Central Himalaya. The total vegetation biomass and net primary productivity was 195.4 t ha-1 and 23.4 t ha-1 yr-1, respectively. Of the total biomass and NPP, tree layer accounted for 96.6% and 88.5%. respectively. The concentration of nutrients (NPK) in P. deltoides was highest (0.18-2.24%) in foliage and lowest (0.02-0.18%) in bole wood component. The standing state of nutrients (NPK) ranged from 82 to 845 kg ha-1. The forest floor was maximum 9.7 t ha-1 in winter and minimum 2.8 t ha-1 in the rainy season. The annual litter fall was 83 t ha-1 yr-1. The mean nutrients returned annually to soil in litter fall was 148.2 kg N. 15.6 kg P and 86.3 kg K year-1. Of these nutrients, tree litter fall accounted for about 71 to 88%. The turnover rate and turnover rime of nutrients (NPK) in the forest floor of poplar plantation ranged from 0.71 to 0.77 and 1.30 to 1.41 years, respectively.
Published
1997-12-01
How to Cite
Lodhiyal, L., & Lodhiyal, N. (1997). Aspects of productivity and nutrient cycling of poplar (Populus deltoides Marsh) plantation in the moist plain area of the Central Himalaya. Oecologia Montana, 6(1-2), 28-34. Retrieved from https://om.vuvb.uniza.sk/index.php/OM/article/view/93
Section
Standard articles