M. Nagaraj
and M. Udayakumar
*
http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.16.3.9
A forest tree inventory study was conducted in Vallanadu Black buck sanctuary, Tuticorin. The current study was conducted to assess tree density, species richness, basal area (BA) and aboveground biomass (AGB) stockpile. The study area has been classified as Southern Thorn Forest (SFT). One hundred square plots (total area 1 ha), each 10m × 10m (100 m2 each) laid randomly across study area. All live trees with ≥5 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) measured at 137 cm above the ground. As the whole, 1335 individual trees ≥5cm DBH recorded. A total number of 18 species recorded from 14 genera and 11 families in study area. The family Mimosaceae has maximum number of species (7 species) followed by Rhamnaceae (2 species), while 9 families had just single species’ each. The total basal area recorded was 22.046 m2 ha-1, while, the mean wood density (WD) of trees estimated as 0.70±0.093 g cm-3. Total amount of 50.065 Mg ha-1 present in STF. The contribution of different species in terms of total AGB varied significantly. Commiphora berryi stocked 45.13% (22.588 Mg ha-1) of AGB followed by A. planifrons (23.31%, 11.669 Mg ha-1), A. mellifera (7.233%, 3.621 Mg ha-1), whereas remaining 15 species collectively stocked 24.327% (12.187 Mg ha-1) AGB. The STF had a large number of trees compared to some dry forests within Tamil Nadu. Southern Thorn Forest endowed with a moderate number of trees species. Aboveground biomass stockpile of trees is comparable with the range recorded from Indian dry forests. The study area experiences lesser mean annual rainfall and >6 months dry season. Further, endowed with short-bole and smaller leaved trees, hence stocked a relatively lesser AGB in trees.
Dry Forest; Tamil Nadu; Tree Density; Southern Thorn Forest; Species Richness
Copy the following to cite this article:
Nagaraj M, Udayakumar M. Aboveground Biomass Stockpile of Trees in Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary, Peninsular India. Curr World Environ 2021;16(3).
DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.16.3.9
Copy the following to cite this URL:
Nagaraj M, Udayakumar M. Aboveground Biomass Stockpile of Trees in Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary, Peninsular India. Curr World Environ 2021;16(3). Available From: https://bit.ly/3v8Fqlk
