Assessment of biomass and net primary productivity of a dry tropical forest using geospatial technology

This study quantifies biomass, aboveground and belowground net productivity, along with additional environmental factors over a 2-3 year period in Barnawapara Sanctuary of Chhattisgarh, India through satellite remotesensing and GIS techniques. Ten sampling quadrates20×20, 5×5 and 1×1 m were randomly laid for overstorey (OS), understorey (US) and ground vegetation(GS), respectively. Girth of trees was measured at breast height and collar diameters of shrubs and herbs at 0.1 m height. Biomass was estimated using allometric regression equations and herb biomass by harvesting. Net primary productivity (NPP) was determined by Ssumming biomass increment and litter crop values. Aspect and slope influenced the vegetation types, biomass and NPP in different forests. Standing biomass and NPP varied from 18.6 to101.5 Mg ha^(-1) and 5.3 to 12.7 Mg ha^(-1) a^(-1), respectively,in different forest types. The highest biomass was found in dense mixed forest, while net production recoded in Teak forests. Both were lowest in degraded mixed forests of different forest types. OS, US and GS contributed 90.4, 8.7and 0.7%, respectively, for the total mean standing biomass in different forests. This study developed spectral models for the estimation of biomass and NPP using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and other vegetation indices.The study demonstrated the potential of geospatial tools for estimation of biomass and net productivity of dry tropical forest ecosystem.

Land-use,biomass and carbon estimation in dry tropical forest of Chhattisgarh region in India using satellite remote sensing and GIS

A study was conducted to characterize the land use,biomass and carbon status of dry tropical forest in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh,India using satellite remote sensing data and GIS techniques in the year of 2001-2002.The main forest types observed in the area are Teak forest,mixed forest,degraded forest and Sal mixed forest.The aspect and slope of the sites influenced the forest vegetation types,biomass and carbon storage in the different forests.The standing volume,above ground biomass and carbon storage varied from 35.59 to 64.31 m^3·ha^-1,45.94 to 78.31 Mg·ha^-1,and 22.97 to 33.27 Mg·ha^-1,respectively among different forest types.The highest volumes,above ground biomass and carbon storage per hectare were found in the mixed forest and lowest in the degraded forest.The total standing carbon present in the entire study area was 78170.72 Mg in mixed forest,81656.91 Mg in Teak forest,7833.23 Mg in degraded forest and 7470.45 Mg in Sal mixed forest,respectively.The study shows that dry tropical forests of the studied area in Chhattisgarh are in growing stage and have strong potential for carbon sequestration.

Productivity status of traditional agrisilviculture system on northern and southern aspects in mid-hill situation of Garhwal Himalaya,India

The productivity of traditional agrisilviculture system(agricultural crops + trees) was investigated in the northern and southern aspects of mid-hill situation in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India during the 2004?2006.A total of 19 tree species were studied in both northern and southern aspects, out of which 17 tree species were selected in northern aspect and 12 tree species in southern aspect for phytosociological characteristic analysis of trees in agrisilvicultural system.The most dominant tree species are Grewia optiva, Celtis australis and Melia azedarach and successively grown under traditional agrisilviculture system.The results show that the annual productivity of all tree species was 3 775 kg·ha-1·a-1 in northern aspect(site-N) and 3 101 kg·ha-1·a-1 in southern aspect(site-S).G.optiva had the highest productivity in both site-N and site-S among the tree species, followed by M.azedarach, Quercus leucotrichophora and C.australis.The dominant agricultural crops were Eleusine coracana in summer cereals, Phaseolus vulgaris in summer pulses-oilseeds and Triticum aestivum in the winter season in the area.The average biological productivity of agricultural crops in northern aspect was about 16% higher than that in southern aspect under traditional agrisilviculture system.The sole agricultural crop productivity(without trees) in northern aspect was also higher than that in southern aspect.An obvious difference in annual productivity of trees and agriculture crops was observed between northern aspect and southern aspect.The overall productivity in traditional agrisilviculture system(crop + tree) was 24%(in northern aspect) and 21%(in southern aspect) higher than that in sole cropping system.

Productivity status of traditional agrisilviculture system on northern and southern aspects in mid-hill situation of Garhwal Himalaya, India

The productivity of traditional agrisilviculture system （agricultural crops ＋ trees） was investigated in the northern and south- ern aspects of mid-hill situation in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India during the 2004-2006. A total of 19 tree species were studied in both northern and southern aspects, out of which 17 tree species were selected in northern aspect and 12 tree species in southern aspect for phytosociological characteristic analysis of trees in agrisilvicultural system. The most dominant tree species are Grewia optiva, Celtis australis and Melia azedarach and successively grown under traditional agrisilviculture system. The results show that the annual produc- tivity of all tree species was 3 775 kg.ha-1.a^-1 in northern aspect （site-N） and 3 10! kg.ha^-1.a^-1 in southern aspect （site-S）. G. optiva had the highest productivity in both site-N and site-S among the tree species, followed by M. azedarach, Quercus leucotrichophora and C. australis. The dominant agricultural crops were Eleusine coracana in summer cereals, Phaseolus vulgaris in summer pulses-oilseeds and Triticum aestivum in the winter season in the area. The average biological productivity of agricultural crops in northern aspect was about 16% higher than that in southern aspect under traditional agrisilviculture system. The sole agricultural crop productivity （without trees） in northern aspect was also higher than that in southern aspect. An obvious difference in annual productivity of trees and agriculture crops was observed between northern aspect and southern aspect. The overall productivity in traditional agrisilviculture system （crop ＋ tree） was 24% （in northern aspect） and 21% （in southern aspect） higher than that in sole cropping system.

Structure, Composition and Diversity of Horticulture Trees and Agricultural Crops Productivity under Traditional Agri-Horticulture System in Mid Hill Situation of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Productivity of agricultural crops under traditional agri-hortculture system alongwith structure, composition and diversity of fruit trees and shrub species in mid hill situation of Garhwal Himalaya, India between 1000 to 2000 m asl during summer and winter seasons on northern and southern aspect were studied. The tree density, composition and diversity in the system varied depending upon aspect, landholding and requirements of the farmers. A total of 12 fruit tree species were recorded in agri-horticulture system;of which 4 trees were common in northern and southern aspect and 6 trees were only noticed in northern aspect while 2 in the southern. The apple tree (Malus domestica) was recorded to be dominant fruit tree species with highest IVI values on both northern and southern aspect with prime preference by the farmers for high additional economic return in agri-horticulture system. Among the shrubs, the 6 shrub species were recorded on the northern aspect whereas there number was 16 on southern aspect. The agricultural crop diversity was higher on the northern aspect in summer and winter season. The average annual productivity of grain under agri-horticulture system recorded 1106 kg·ha–1·year–1 on northern aspect and 1122 kg·ha–1·year–1 on southern with a reduction of 34.56% and 38.29% compared to the sole agriculture crops. The aspect and season also played significantly role in grain, straw and biological productivity of agricultural crops present in agri-horticulture and sole cropping systems. In general there was reduction in yield of agricultural crops under fruit trees but this reduction is supplemented by fruit production which support and sustain the rural community of this hilly region.