Geology, Ecology, and Landscapes

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Biomass and carbon stocks of trees in tropical dry

forest of East Godavari region, Andhra Pradesh,
India

Kantipudi Srinivas & Somaiah Sundarapandian

To cite this article: Kantipudi Srinivas & Somaiah Sundarapandian (2018): Biomass and carbon
stocks of trees in tropical dry forest of East Godavari region, Andhra Pradesh, India, Geology,
Ecology, and Landscapes, DOI: 10.1080/24749508.2018.1522837

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/24749508.2018.1522837

© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa

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Published online: 24 Sep 2018.

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GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES
https://doi.org/10.1080/24749508.2018.1522837 INWASCON

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Biomass and carbon stocks of trees in tropical dry forest of East Godavari
region, Andhra Pradesh, India
Kantipudi Srinivas and Somaiah Sundarapandian
Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

Assessment of biomass and carbon stock (CS) of trees was carried out in three selected study sites Received 5 February 2018
(four 0.25 ha [50 m × 50 m] plots in each site) in East Godavari region of Eastern Ghats. Accepted 10 September 2018
Aboveground biomass (AGB) was estimated by the non-harvest method by using allometric KEYWORDS
equations. The AGB ranged from 58.04 (site I) to 368.39 (site III) Mg/ha and the total CS of trees Climate change; Eastern
ranged from 44.51 to 218.84 Mg/ha. The highest CS accumulation in site III could be due to more Ghats; carbon mitigation;
soil moisture and abundant large diameter trees while the least was obtained in the site I could be anthropogenic perturbations
due to relatively high human disturbance. Xylia xylocarpa was a dominant biomass and carbon
assimilator in the site I and II, while Terminalia arjuna was the highest contributor in site III. The
present study revealed that T. arjuna and X. xylocarpa are the vital tree species to endure and sink
more carbon in tropical dry forest of East Godavari region under various disturbances.

Introduction Geographically tropical forests cover between 7% and

10% of land area of the planet (Lewis et al., 2009) which
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and global warming
consists of 471 ± 93 pg of stored carbon (Pan et al., 2011).
are some of the key environmental issues present-day
Hence, tropical forest ecosystems are essential for main-
society is facing. By increasing carbon storage and
taining both carbon cycling and biodiversity (Midgley
decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, conserved
et al., 2010). Annual carbon sink in tropical forests at a
forests can bring a drastic change in the composition of
global level is approximately 1.3 pg (Lewis et al., 2009;
global atmospheric GHGs (Lung & Espira, 2015).
Lung & Espira, 2015). Tropical forests are clearing at an
Biodiversity and its connection with the carbon cycle
approximate rate of 15–17 M ha/y (FAO, 1995;
have become current research interests for mitigating
Naveenkumar, Arunkumar, & Sundarapandian, 2017).
climate change (Midgley et al., 2010). In the
If the same situation pertains, the carbon sink of terres-
Conference of Parties meeting (COP 21) held in 2015
trial constituent of the planet declines while emission of
in Paris, France, 195 countries agreed “to keep a global
GHGs will increase and thereby resulting in drastic cli-
temperature rise this century well below 2°C.” All the
matic events.
member countries of UNFCCC have acknowledged
In tropical forests, the quantitative studies on accu-
the crucial role that the resilient forests play in both
mulated carbon pools, carbon fixation, and net primary
climate change mitigation and development (COP21,
production are well addressed in global scale but the
2015; UNFCC, 2014). The afforestation and reforestation
regional dilemma with research gaps has been well
programs in the damaged forest areas or in the barren
noticed (Achard, Eva, Mayaux, Stibig, & Belward, 2004;
lands can now be recognized as carbon sinks under
Djomo, Knohl, & Gravenhorst, 2011; Hertel et al., 2009).
Kyoto Protocol. Forests are important to mitigate carbon
Several researchers indicated that there is an uncertainty
and well-managed forests increase the resilience of eco-
in carbon sink and stocks in spatial scale of tropical forest
system services, particularly trees absorb and store large
ecosystems which may be due to variation in topography,
quantities of carbon (UNFAO, 2010, 2015). REDD
forest types, elevation, level of anthropogenic pressures,
(Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest
and microclimate (Becknell, Kucek, & Powers, 2012;
degradation) and REDD+ mechanisms enable countries
Gandhi & Sundarapandian, 2017; Naveenkumar et al.,
or projects that avoid forest loss by compensating finan-
2017). In general, carbon stock (CS) was assessed in
cial rewards through quantified carbon estimates and in
woody vegetation which has >10 cm DBH (Diameter at
order to quantify carbon benefits, assimilation of carbon
Breast Height); however, only a few studies were focused
has to be quantified from the forests (Ebeling & Yasue,
on juvenile population of woody species contribution in
2008; Vieilledent et al., 2012).

CONTACT Somaiah Sundarapandian smspandian65@gmail.com Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences,
Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
This work was planned and designed by SMS* who is the research supervisor. The fieldwork was executed by author KS1 in East Godavari region and
consolidated, processed, and analyzed the data. Both authors are involved in the preparation of the manuscript.
© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
2 K. SRINIVAS AND S. SUNDARAPANDIAN

carbon sink and stocks of tropics (Chaturvedi, 2013) but little is known from the northern
Raghubanshi, & Singh, 2012a; Gandhi & part (Behera & Misra, 2006; Sahu, Sharma, &
Sundarapandian, 2017; Mohanraj, Saravanan, & Ravindranath, 2015; Sahu, Suresh, & Ravindranath,
Dhanakumar, 2011; Naveenkumar et al., 2017). 2016). However, quantitative CS assessment studies
Generally, small stem circumference class (<10 cm) indi- in East Godavari region of Eastern Ghats are still
viduals in the tree population have grown rapidly than lacking. According to Sheikh, Kumar, Bussman, and
the large-diameter class trees and comprise a significant Todaria (2011), the biomass reserves in the Eastern
proportion in the understory woody plant biomass Ghats are being depleting continuously from 2003.
(Chaturvedi et al., 2012a). The requisite for estimating Hence, the present study was a preliminary work
biomass in forest ecosystems is supported by the neces- undertaken with the objectives to assess the biomass
sity of information on the forest carbon stocking and CS of trees in three dry tropical forest sites of the
capacity. Eastern Ghats in East Godavari District, Andhra
National level biomass inventories are carried on the Pradesh.
basis of remote sensing. However, the uncertainty in
biomass estimates persisted because CS and sequestra-
Study area
tion potential varied due to numerous factors. Biomass
and CSs varied at a spatial scale in any forest type even The field study was performed in forest sites of East
in a small patch (1 km2) due to variation in microcli- Godavari region situated in the northern part of
mate. Accurate estimation method through harvesting Eastern Ghats ranged between 17°33′N and 81°45′E
is not practically feasible because most of the forest (Figure 1). Average annual precipitation (for a dec-
ecosystems are declared as protected in several coun- ade) was 109 ± 6.6 cm with a peak was observed in
tries. Allometric equation provides an alternative esti- the month of October (22.2 ± 2.9 cm) and a mini-
mation of biomass accepted by the scientific mum in the month of March (0.29 ± 0.02 cm).
community and UNFCCC (Chave et al., 2003). Average monthly maximum temperature ranged
The Eastern Ghats are located on India’s eastern from 28 to 38°C and a mean monthly minimum
coast and they form several discontinuous hill ranges temperature ranged from 18 to 27°C (Figure 2).
from the northern Odisha to Tamil Nadu covering
Andhra Pradesh. The Eastern Ghats with their geo-
Methods
graphical diversity host four major rivers (Godavari,
Mahanadi, Krishna, and Kaveri) of peninsular India. Three study sites (each 1 ha [4 square plots of 0.25 ha
Biomass and carbon assessment studies were mainly with an interval of 500 m]) were selected in reserve
focused in the southernmost part of Eastern Ghats forest of East Godavari region for the present study.
(Gandhi & Sundarapandian, 2017; Mohanraj et al., Each plot has been further sub-gridded into 25 (10
2011; Naveenkumar et al., 2017; Pragasan, 2014, 2015; m × 10 m) quadrats as workable units. The site I is
Sundarapandian, Dar, Gandhi, Srinivas, & Subashree, nearer to the human settlements. Illegal tree felling

Figure 1. Location of the study sites in East Godavari region of Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India.
 GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 3

300 rainfall (mm) Min. Temp. Max. Temp. 40

35
250
30

Temperature (˚C)
200

Rainfall (mm)
25

150 20

15
100
10
50
5

0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Month

Figure 2. Rainfall and temperature patterns of the study areas in tropical dry forest of East Godavari region, Andhra Pradesh,
India (source: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/met_data/).

and grazing are frequent in study site I even if it was Results

demarcated as a part of the reserve forest. Site II was
The total AGB of trees was greater in study site III
positioned far from the human settlements which
(390.03 Mg/ha) than that of other two study sites
receive relatively less disturbance than site I, and
(Table 1). Since belowground biomass and CS were
site III is nearer to rivulet which joins the tributaries
computed based on AGB values, belowground bio-
of river Godavari and also experiences minor distur-
mass as well as CSs exhibited a similar trend. The
bances. All the live tree individuals above 1 cm GBH
total CS of trees ranged 44.51–218.84 Mg/ha. The
(Girth at Breast Height) were enumerated and its
AGB and CS of the adult tree and sapling population
diameter at 1.37 m height was measured. The dia-
showed greater values in site III than that of other
meter of each stem was measured and summed up for
study sites. On the contrary, AGB and CS of juvenile
multistemmed trees. Plant samples were collected,
tree population showed greater values in site I than in
preserved, and identified with “Flora of Eastern
other study sites. Mean tree diameter was ranged
Ghats: Hill ranges of South East India” by Pullaiah,
15.89–32.89 cm among the study sites. The CS of
Rao, Ramamurthy, Karuppusamy, and Rani (2011).
adult trees ranged 32.56–206.70 Mg/ha, juvenile tree
The AGB of adults (≥10 cm DBH) and juvenile
population ranged 4.68–6.70 Mg/ha, and sapling
population (≥3–<10 cm DBH) of trees was estimated
population ranged 5.25–7.42 Mg/ha.
with allometric equation (1) given by Brown,
Xylia xylocarpa accumulated greater biomass and
Gillespie, and Lugo (1989).
CS in both sites I and II of adult tree population,
00
Aboveground biomass ðAGBÞ ¼ 34:4703  8:0671 followed by Pterocarpus marsupium, Terminalia

00
 DBH þ 0:6589  DBH2 (1) alata, Albizia odoratissima, and Bridelia retusa in site
I, and Grewia tiliifolia, Dillenia pentagyna, and Lannea
To estimate the AGB of saplings (<3 cm DBH), the coromandelica in site II (Tables 2 and 3), while
allometric equation (2) of Chaturvedi, Raghubanshi, Terminalia arjuna stored greater biomass and CS in
and Singh (2012b) was employed. site III followed by X. xylocarpa, Mangifera indica, and
00

00 Pongamia pinnata. In both sapling and juvenile tree
AGB of saplings ¼ 3:344 þ 0:443  ln DBH2
populations, X. xylocarpa was the top species that
(2) accumulated greater biomass and CS compared to
Belowground biomass was calculated from the AGB other species in all three study sites. Top five species
using a root-shoot ratio of 0.26 (Equation (3)) of respective study sites stored 61.69–73.04% of bio-
(Ravindranath & Ostwald, 2008). mass and CS in adult stage, simillarly, in the juvenile
and sapling populations, these accumulated 64.28–
00
Belowground biomass ðBGBÞ 76.31% and 31.18–60.57% respectively. The species
¼ Aboveground biomass  0:2600 (3) which contributed less than 1% of the AGB in the
adult population are 30, 31, and 46 in sites I, II, and
Carbon of tropical dry forest is considered to be a
III, respectively. The juvenile population of 43 species
fraction 44.53% of biomass, hence, 0.4453 was the
in site I, 49 species in site II, and 39 species in site III
conversion factor multiplied (Equation (4)) (Júnior
has also shown less than 1% of aboveground biomass.
et al., 2016).
A similar trend was exhibited in sapling population
00
Carbon ¼ ðaboveground biomass þ also (54 species in site I, 55 species in site II, and 54
belowground biomassÞ  0:445300 (4) species in site III).
4 K. SRINIVAS AND S. SUNDARAPANDIAN

Table 1. Summary of quantitative assessment of biomass and carbon stocks of trees in the tropical dry forest of East Godavari
region, Eastern Ghats.
Criteria Site I Site II Site III
Number of species 84 81 96
Tree adults (>10 cm DBH)
Number of individuals (no/ha) 649 558 510
Basal area (m2/ha) 14.35 17.78 57.50
Aboveground biomass (Mg/ha) 58.04 80.57 368.39
Belowground biomass (Mg/ha) 15.09 20.95 95.78
Total biomass (Mg/ha) 73.12 101.52 464.17
Tree juveniles (>3–<10 cm DBH)
Number of individuals (no/ha) 858 601 523
Basal area (m2/ha) 3.02 2.04 1.53
Aboveground biomass (Mg/ha) 11.94 8.34 8.42
Belowground biomass (Mg/ha) 3.10 2.17 2.19
Total biomass (Mg/ha) 15.04 10.50 10.61
Saplings (<3 DBH)
Number of individuals (no/ha) 2045 2350 2843
Basal area (m2/ha) 0.24 0.22 0.34
Aboveground biomass (Mg/ha) 9.35 12.40 13.22
Belowground biomass (Mg/ha) 2.43 3.22 3.44
Total biomass (Mg/ha) 11.78 15.62 16.65
Total tree biomass (Mg/ha) 99.95 127.64 491.44
Total tree carbon stocks (Mg/ha) 44.51 56.84 218.84
Soil moisture (%)
0–10 cm 11.85 ± 1.2 13.09 ± 0.7 19.29 ± 0.4
10–20 cm 11.94 ± 2.0 15.34 ± 0.7 19.86 ± 1.4
20–30 cm 12.13 ± 1.7 18.28 ± 2.5 20.05 ± 0.8
Mean tree diameter (cm) 15.89 18.47 32.89

Table 2. Species-wise contribution of aboveground biomass (top 25 species) in the tropical dry forest of East Godavari region,
Eastern Ghats.
Aboveground biomass (Mg/ha)
Adults Juveniles Saplings
Name of the species Site I Site II Site III Site I Site II Site III Site I Site II Site III
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn. – – 185.87 – – 0.10 – – 0.16
Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) Taub. 22.41 37.06 44.99 5.13 5.43 2.63 2.26 3.70 1.64
Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. 1.09 3.51 11.80 0.07 0.03 – 0.03 0.02 0.02
Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Bedd. 2.40 0.79 10.87 1.09 0.23 0.11 0.07 0.04 0.02
Mangifera indica L. – – 14.04 0.02 – – 0.01 0.003 0.06
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre 0.16 – 12.38 – – 0.41 0.12 – 0.55
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels 0.27 1.15 9.46 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.09 0.01 0.18
Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Merr. – 1.61 8.53 0.37 0.10 0.05 0.58 0.50 0.61
Bridelia retusa (L.) A.Juss. 2.94 3.04 2.59 0.05 0.07 0.06 0.04 0.19
Grewia tiliifolia Vahl 1.13 6.93 0.31 0.07 0.01 0.29 0.08 0.26
Bombax ceiba L. 0.79 0.17 7.04 0.02 – – – – 0.01
Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb. 0.50 0.64 6.34 0.15 0.04 0.01 0.15 0.07 0.04
Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. 0.79 5.05 0.23 0.21 0.01 0.23 0.55 0.04
Diospyros montana Roxb. – – 5.12 – 0.02 0.78 0.01 0.01 0.49
Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. 0.41 0.60 4.34 0.17 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02
Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth 3.12 1.23 2.62 0.25 0.08 – 0.07 0.01 0.08
Miliusa tomentosa (Roxb.) J.Sinclair – – 4.10 – – 0.08 0.05 0.01 0.57
Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. 0.23 0.55 3.35 0.15 0.02 0.07 0.32 0.16 0.68
Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin – – 2.61 – – 0.16 – – 0.10
Ficus exasperata Vahl – – 2.40 – – 0.01 – 0.10 0.05
Dolichandrone atrovirens (Roth) K.Schum. 0.02 0.30 2.24 0.05 0.05 0.01 0.05 0.05 0.07
Diospyros sylvatica Roxb. 1.46 0.05 1.94 0.15 0.02 0.21 0.02 0.03 0.18
Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. 0.63 0.04 1.93 0.02 0.10 0.06 0.03 0.07 0.06
Acacia auriculiformis Benth – – 1.94 – – 0.02 – – 0.02
Schrebera swietenioides Roxb. – – 1.87 – – – – 0.003 0.12

Combretaceae was the highest contributor of bio- the major tree biomass (adults + juveniles + saplings)
mass in adult tree population of site III compared accumulated families in sites I and II, whereas
to Leguminosae, which was the family that Combretaceae, Leguminosae, Anacardiaceae,
contributed the highest biomass in all developmental Ebenaceae, and Myrtaceae are the major contribu-
stages of trees in sites I and II, and juvenile tors in site III.
and sapling stages of site III (Table 4). Eight Diameter class-wise distribution of adult trees
families in site I, 7 families in site II, and 9 families showed wide variation among the study sites
in site III contributed less than 1% of biomass and (Figure 3). In all the study sites, lower diameter
CSs. Leguminosae, Combretaceae, Anacardiaceae, class (≥10–<30 cm DBH) has a greater number of
Malvaceae, Phyllanthaceae, and Dilleniaceae are individuals, whereas in mid diameter class (30–60 cm
 GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 5

Table 3. Species-wise contribution of carbon stock (top 25 species) in the tropical dry forest of East Godavari region, Eastern
Ghats.
Carbon stock (Mg/ha)
Adults Juveniles Saplings
Name of the species Site I Site II Site III Site I Site II Site III Site I Site II Site III
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn. 104.29 0.06 0.09
Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) Taub. 12.57 20.79 25.24 2.88 3.05 1.47 1.27 2.07 0.92
Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. 0.61 1.97 6.62 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01
Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Bedd. 1.35 0.44 6.10 0.61 0.13 0.06 0.04 0.02 0.01
Mangifera indica L. 7.88 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.03
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre 0.09 6.95 0.23 0.06 0.31
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels 0.15 0.64 5.31 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.00 0.10
Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Merr. 0.90 4.79 0.21 0.06 0.03 0.33 0.28 0.34
Bridelia retusa (L.) A.Juss. 1.65 1.71 1.45 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.11
Grewia tiliifolia Vahl 0.63 3.89 0.17 0.04 0.01 0.16 0.04 0.15
Bombax ceiba L. 0.44 0.10 3.95 0.01 0.01
Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb. 0.28 0.36 3.56 0.09 0.02 0.01 0.08 0.04 0.02
Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. 0.44 2.83 0.13 0.12 0.01 0.13 0.31 0.02
Diospyros montana Roxb. 2.87 0.01 0.44 0.00 0.00 0.28
Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. 0.23 0.33 2.44 0.09 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01
Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth 1.75 0.69 1.47 0.14 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.04
Miliusa tomentosa (Roxb.) J.Sinclair 2.30 0.04 0.03 0.00 0.32
Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. 0.13 0.31 1.88 0.08 0.01 0.04 0.18 0.09 0.38
Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin 1.46 0.09 0.06
Ficus exasperata Vahl 1.35 0.01 0.06 0.03
Dolichandrone atrovirens (Roth) K. Schum. 0.01 0.17 1.26 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.03 0.04
Diospyros sylvatica Roxb. 0.82 0.03 1.09 0.09 0.01 0.12 0.01 0.02 0.10
Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. 0.35 0.02 1.08 0.01 0.06 0.03 0.02 0.04 0.03
Acacia auriculiformis Benth 1.09 0.01 0.01
Schrebera swietenioides Roxb. 1.05 0.00 0.07

Table 4. Family-wise contribution of aboveground biomass in the tropical dry forest of East Godavari region, Eastern Ghats.
Aboveground biomass (Mg/ha)
Adults Juveniles Saplings
Family No. of species Site I Site II Site III Site I Site II Site III Site I Site II Site III
Anacardiaceae 4 2.63 4.73 26.91 1.16 0.43 – 0.45 0.58 0.10
Annonaceae 4 – – 4.65 0.03 – 0.41 0.10 0.03 1.24
Apocynaceae 3 0.07 – 1.51 0.10 0.02 0.72 0.08 0.06 1.01
Arecaceae 2 0.71 – – – 0.01 – 0.00 0.03 0.00
Bignoniaceae 2 0.02 0.30 2.24 0.05 0.05 0.01 0.05 0.05 0.09
Bixaceae 2 0.37 – – – – – – – 0.05
Boraginaceae 1 0.37 – – – – – – – 0.05
Burseraceae 3 1.24 1.37 1.42 0.11 0.04 0.03 0.22 0.01 0.16
Cannabaceae 1 – 0.77 – – – 0.05 – – 0.01
Celastraceae 1 0.05 – – 0.01 0.03 – 0.02 0.01 –
Combretaceae 6 6.79 2.94 203.71 1.65 0.36 0.22 0.23 0.09 0.33
Cornaceae 1 – – 2.61 – – 0.16 – – 0.10
Dilleniaceae 1 0.79 5.05 – 0.23 0.21 0.01 0.23 0.55 0.04
Ebenaceae 4 1.69 0.61 10.41 0.30 0.06 1.06 0.34 0.20 1.37
Euphorbiaceae 2 – 0.39 0.88 0.06 0.05 – 0.20 0.21 0.48
Lamiaceae 5 2.16 1.36 – 0.20 0.05 – 0.07 0.09 –
Lauraceae 2 – – 0.50 - 0.02 0.09 0.02 0.11 0.21
Lecythidaceae 1 0.08 0.04 - 0.01 0.02 – 0.01 – 0.01
Leguminosae 15 31.2 39.33 62.69 5.79 5.72 3.26 2.79 4.10 2.87
Loganiaceae 2 0.13 1.78 1.20 0.09 0.03 0.23 0.12 0.05 0.18
Lythraceae 2 0.50 0.64 6.38 0.15 0.04 1.09 0.15 0.07 0.32
Malvaceae 9 1.98 11.09 7.75 0.40 0.20 0.08 1.57 3.38 0.83
Meliaceae 3 – – – – 0.01 0.02 – 0.01 0.04
Moraceae 9 1.51 0.74 3.54 0.04 0.05 0.14 0.22 0.29 0.28
Myrtaceae 2 0.36 2.45 10.02 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.09 0.01 0.18
Oleaceae 2 – – 1.87 – – – 0.01 0.00 0.12
Phyllanthaceae 6 3.38 3.06 2.79 0.33 0.15 0.04 0.12 0.08 0.21
Primulaceae 1 – – – – – – 0.00 0.40 –
Rhamnaceae 4 0.17 0.12 0.22 0.15 0.06 0.15 0.14 0.12 0.49
Rubiaceae 9 1.95 1.90 4.90 0.24 0.23 0.15 0.71 0.74 1.05
Rutaceae 4 0.11 0.02 0.41 0.23 0.11 0.07 0.65 0.48 0.19
Salicaceae 3 – 0.08 0.98 0.07 0.03 0.34 0.06 0.07 0.49
Sapindaceae 2 – 1.61 8.53 0.38 0.13 0.05 0.59 0.50 0.61
Sapotaceae 2 0.08 0.18 1.24 0.08 0.15 – 0.10 0.07 –
Simaroubaceae 1 – – – – – 0.01 – – –
Ulmaceae 1 0.04 – 0.45 – – 0.01 0.03 – 0.16
6 K. SRINIVAS AND S. SUNDARAPANDIAN

600
Site I Site II Site III
500

Number of individuals (No./ha)

400

300

200

100

0
10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100 >100
Diameter class (DBH; cm)

Figure 3. Diameter class-wise distribution of trees in the study sites in tropical dry forest of East Godavari region, Eastern Ghats.

DBH), higher number of individuals was recorded in reported in Javadi hills of Eastern Ghats (Naveenkumar
site III (169 trees) followed by site II (24 trees) and et al., 2017). Mean AGB in the present study (168.99 Mg/
site I (15 trees). However, larger diameter class ha) is lower than the mean AGB of 260 African tropical
(≥100 cm DBH) trees were obtained only in site III. forests (395.7 Mg/ha) estimated by Lewis et al. (2013), in
Correlation and regression analysis indicated that the forests of Borneo (445 Mg/ha, Slik et al., 2010), and
adult tree basal area has shown a significant positive Amazonian forests average of 289 Mg/ha (Malhi et al.,
relationship with adult tree CS (Table 5), while juve- 2006). The adult tree basal area showing a significant
nile basal area showed a negative relationship with positive relationship with adult tree CS and productivity
saplings, adults and, total tree carbon. Similarly, adult has been proven by many small-scale research and obser-
tree density exhibited a weak negative relationship vations in natural ecosystems (Midgley et al., 2010). The
with adult tree carbon and total tree carbon, whereas mean aboveground CS was 75.26 Mg/ha in the present
it showed a positive relationship with juvenile CSs. study (ranged 25.84–164.05 Mg/ha) that lies within the
Sapling density and juvenile density showed a signif- global range value (14–123 Mg C/ha) reported by
icant positive relationship with saplings and juvenile Murphy and Lugo (1986) in tropical deciduous forests
carbon, respectively. Soil moisture showed a signifi- and studies reported in the recent past (Becknell, 2012;
cant positive relationship with total tree CSs. Becknell & Powers, 2014; Gandhi & Sundarapandian,
2017).
Brown and Lugo (1990) concluded that total
Discussion amount of accumulated biomass in forest ecosystems
may vary with variation in biophysical characteristics,
The AGB estimated in the present study ranged
microclimate, and level of anthropogenic distur-
from 58.04 to 368.39 Mg/ha has exceeded the range
bances. The present result pointed out that site I
(39–334 Mg/ha) given by Becknell et al. (2012) who
was facing relatively high disturbance over a period
obtained the values while reviewing 40 published papers
of time which influences the reduction in large
on seasonally dry tropical forests and 95–214 Mg/ha

Table 5. Correlation (r value) between predictor variables with tree aboveground biomass (AGB) in the tropical dry forest of East
Godavari region, Eastern Ghats.
r-Value
Variables Sapling carbon Juvenile carbon Adult carbon Total carbon
Sapling density 0.9299*** −0.2765 0.3719 0.3848
Juvenile density −0.5033 0.9291*** −0.4650 −0.4571
Adult density −0.4970 0.5587* −0.3895 −0.3895
Sapling basal area 0.7111** −0.1340 0.5172 0.5317
Juvenile basal area −0.6294* 0.8714*** −0.5760* −0.5725*
Adult basal area 0.2165 −0.2664 0.9962*** 0.9969***
Larger tree density(<60 cm DBH) 0.1446 −0.3636 0.9855*** 0.9824***
Soil moisture (%)
0–10 cm – – – 0.9957***
10–20 cm – – – 0.9289***
20–30 cm – – – 0.7181**
Sapling species richness 0.4763 – – 0.7808**
r-Values with asterisk are represented significant relationship exists between the variables(*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001) and other values exhibit
relationship which are nonsignificant.
 GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 7

diameter trees which in turn resulted in lower bio- trees contributed significantly greater CS (73.2–94.5%)
mass than that of other study sites. The highest bio- to total tree CS compared to tree juveniles and saplings
mass in study site III (five and four-fold, respectively contribution (5.5–26.8%). However, future carbon
in sites I and II) could be attributed to numerous accumulation will depend on the present status of the
larger diameter trees in the study site which consti- tree sapling and juvenile populations. The significant
tuted significant biomass. The study site III is nearer variation observed in the biomass and CSs among the
to rivulet which could provide a conducive environ- study sites could be attributed to variations in species
ment for the extensive growth of trees that resulted in composition, soil characteristics, level of anthropo-
the accumulation of greater biomass. The water avail- genic pressures, etc.
ability due to rivulets influences the increase in the X xylocarpa was a dominant contributor of bio-
volume of trees and thereby accumulating greater mass and CS in sites I and II, while T. arjuna was the
AGB. Alvarez-davila et al. (2017) found that water highest contributor in site III. The present study
availability strongly influences forest structure and revealed that T. arjuna and X. xylocarpa are the
tree growth. Similarly, Becknell et al. (2012) also important adult tree species to endure and sink
stated that water availability is one of the main factors more carbon in the dry tropical forest in East
which regulates biomass accumulation. The larger Godavari region even under anthropogenic pressure.
diameter trees contribute majority of forest T. arjuna accumulated significant biomass carbon
biomass and it was also confirmed by other research- that could be due to favorable conditions, i.e., the
ers (Brown & Lugo, 1992; Brown et al., 1995; Brown, rivulets are nearer to the study plots. Several studies
1996; Chave et al., 2003; Culmsee, Leuschner, Moser, also reported that the T. arjuna prefer water-rich
& Pitopang, 2010; Gandhi & Sundarapandian, 2017; areas for sustenance (Datta & Goyal, 1996;
Lung & Espira, 2015; Midgley & Niklas, 2004; Slik Johnsingh & Joshua, 1989; Kundu & Schmidt,
et al., 2010). The relative differences in anthropogenic 2015). The present study also has drawn the need
pressures among the study sites could be the reason for conservation of T. arjuna, X. xylocarpa, and
for low CSs in study sites I and II. Several studies other major contributors in order to fix significant
enlightened that human disturbances could alter spe- CS in the tropical dry forest in the Eastern Ghats.
cies composition and structure of forest ecosystem Thus, the present study concludes that the tropical
(Anbarashan & Parthasarathy, 2012; Htun, Mizoue, dry forests in East Godavari region stored a substan-
Kajisa, & Yosida, 2011; Sheil & Burslam, 2003; tial amount of carbon as similar to the tropical dry
Srinivas & Sundarapandian, 2018) that resulted forest of other parts of India as well as elsewhere. The
more stem density and lower basal area in site I CS of trees in the tropical dry forest could be attrib-
than that of least disturbed study site (III) where uted to soil moisture, the density of various stages of
less stem density and higher basal area were recorded. development of trees and anthropogenic pressure.
Even though the abundance of trees was more in sites
I and II, their diameter and canopy sizes were low
that creates canopy openings and light penetration to Conclusion
the ground level and thereby providing favorable The dry tropical forest ecosystem is becoming parti-
conditions for tree regeneration and understory vege- cularly important because of facing high anthropo-
tation development. genic pressures which resulted in the loss of forest
The juvenile tree population CSs (4.68–6.70 Mg/ha) cover and biodiversity. Present work gave an empha-
assessed in the present study were higher to the values sis on the tree biomass and CS contribution of trees
(0.6–3.6 Mg/ha) reported by Chaturvedi et al. (2012a) at various stages of development, showing the neces-
in tropical dry forests of Uttar Pradesh, India. The sity of further research work to understand the fac-
contribution of tree juvenile population (15.05% of tors influencing biomass and CS contributions of
CSs) to the total tree CSs was high in study site I other woody vegetation and nonwoody vegetation in
while the least (2.16%) was observed in study site III. the regional scale. Results from the present study
Human activates and cutting of trees might have indicate the utmost requirement of formal actions
resulted as coppicing which enhances sapling and to curtail anthropogenic pressure and to take conser-
juvenile tree populations in site I that inferences vation measures in the tropical forest of East
greater juvenile biomass contribution. However, tree Godavari region, Andhra Pradesh for increase carbon
sapling contribution to total CS was greater in study sink in the climate change scenario.
site III than other study sites. This may be due to water
availability. Ceccon, Sanchéz, and Campo (2004) and
Marod, Kutintara, Tanaka, and Nakashizuka (2004) Acknowledgments
stated that the early stages of tree growth may be The first author thanks UGC, Govt. of India for providing
regulated by sunlight availability, adequate soil nutri- fellowship under UGC-BSR (RFSMS) scheme. We thank
ents, soil texture, and soil moisture content. The adult state forest department, Andhra Pradesh, for giving
8 K. SRINIVAS AND S. SUNDARAPANDIAN

permission to execute fieldwork. We are also grateful to Dr. and carbon accumulation of juvenile trees in tropical dry
S. Karuppusamy, Department of Botany, The Madura forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 284, 152–162.
College, Madurai, India for identification of plant species. Chaturvedi, R. K., Raghubanshi, A. S., & Singh, J. S.
(2012b). Biomass estimation of dry tropical woody spe-
cies at juvenile stage. The Scientific World Journal,
Article ID 790219, 1–5.
Disclosure statement Chave, J., Condit, R., Lao, S., Caspersen, J. P., Foster, R. B., &
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the Hubbell, S. P. (2003). Spatial and temporal variation of
authors. biomass in a tropical forest: Results from a large census
plot in Panama. Journal of Ecology, 91(2), 240–252.
COP 21. (2015). Twenty-first meeting of the conference of
the parties United Nations Framework Convention on
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