Studies on natural regeneration, floristic composition, biomass, carbon density and soil properties along an altitudinal gradient in the north-western Himalayas, India

In last few decades, the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmospheric has increased due to various anthropogenic activities. Therefore to understand carbon inventories for carbon dynamics are urgently needed to reduce the increasing emissions in global temperature.Cedrus deodara (Deodar) is aesthetically, socially, culturally and economically an important tree species of the temperate region in the Himalaya. Deodardominated forests have a great potential for storing carbon in the form of biomass and enhancing soil fertility through the addition of organic matter. Natural regeneration is one of the major problems in pure deodar stands owing to sensitive to exposure to sun and hindrance caused by needles in seed germination and anthropogenic causes. Therefore, the present investigation was carried to assess the floristic composition, natural regeneration status, carbon stock potential and soil physicochemical properties in C. deodara forest along the altitudinal gradient (1500 to 2400 m amsl). Three forest divisions viz., Seraj, Parvati and Kullu were selected and divided into three altitudinal ranges i.e., 1500-1800 m amsl (A1), 1800-2100 m amsl (A2) and 2100-2400 m amsl (A3). The results revealed that there was a significant variation in species composition, soil characteristics, natural regeneration and carbon stock along the altitudinal gradient. C. deodara forests in lower elevation ranges were found denser and natural regeneration was recorded the maximum in A2 and the minimum in A3. Whereas, the biomass and soil physico-chemical properties varied inversely along the altitudinal gradient; however, an increasing trend was observed for carbon stock potential along the altitude.