Variation of stem density and vegetation carbon pool in subtropical forests of Northwestern Himalaya

The present study was conducted in five forest types of subtropical zone in the Northwestern Himalaya, India. Three forest stands of 0.1 ha were laid down in each forest type to study the variation in vegetation carbon pool, stem density, and ecosystem carbon density. The stern density in the present study ranged from (483 to 417 trees ha(-1)) and stem biomass from (262.40 to 39.97 tha(-1)). Highest carbon storage (209.95 t ha(-1)) was recorded in dry Shiwalik sal forest followed by Himalayan chir forest > chir pine plantation > lower Shiwalik pine forest > northern mixed dry deciduous forest. Maximum tree above ground biomass is observed in dry Shiwalik sal forests (301.78 t ha(-1)), followed by upper Himalayan chir pine forests (194 t ha(-1)) and lower in Shiwalik pine forests (138.73 t ha(-1)). The relationship with stem volume showed the maximum adjusted r(2) (0.873), followed by total density (0.55) and average DBH (0.528). The regression equation of different parameters with shrub biomass showed highest r(2) (0.812) and relationship between ecosystem carbon with other parameters of different forest types, where cubic function with stem volume showed highest r(2) value of 0.873 through cubic functions. Our results suggest that biomass and carbon stocks in these subtropical forests vary greatly with forest type and species density. This variation among forests can be used as a tool for carbon credit claims under ongoing international conventions and protocols.