Nirmal Netam, Lalji Singh, Jaimangal Tirkey, Dayanand Sai Painkra, Kiran Kashyap and Shalini Toppo
Abstract
This study focuses on vegetation composition, tree diversity, biomass and carbon stock within Kanger Valley National Park of Bastar district (C.G), a biodiverse hot spot located in central India. The research comprised of systematic field surveys to identify and document tree species present in various zones of the park. A combination of quantitative measures such as Phytosociological analysis, diversity indices, biomass and carbon stock were estimated. Density and basal cover of tree layer across the three study sites were 220 to 520 trees ha-1 and 18.56 to 26 m2 ha-1, respectively. Sapling layer density and basal cover across the three study sites were 110-260 trees ha-1 and 0.34-0.74 m2 ha-1, respectively. Shannon-Wiener diversity index respectively ranges from 2.88 to 3.39 for tree layer and 2.29 to 3.96 for saplings layer. Equitability were from 1.10-1.25 and 1.29 -1.59, respectively for tree and sapling layer, whereas, species richness was from 3.08- 5.53 for tree layer and 3.64 to 13.58 for sapling layer. Total biomass across the study sites was between 286.43 and 3144.44 t ha-1, and was maximum on site-1 and minimum on site III. Litter layer also followed the similar trend being maximum (3.85 t ha-1) on site I and minimum on site III (2.62 t ha-1). The total carbon stock ranged between 110.52t ha-1 and 133.87 t ha-1, being maximum on site I, and minimum on site III. The dominated tree species on site I was Anogesisssus latifoia and Caseria graveolens, site II was dominated by Shorea robusta and Pterocarpus marusupium ans site III was dominated by Schleichera oleosa and Semecarpus anacardium. Study revealed that the structure, diversity, biomass and carbon stock in present sudy site are the result of protection and conservation.