Abstract
ABSTRACT Aim Himalaya is unique with diverse vegetation including Alnus nepalensis having potential for human wellbeing. A. nepalensis tree grows in the Himalaya, particularly in inaccessible areas and creates a barrier to soil erosion. A. nepalensis is fast growing and has the ability to enrich soil through nitrogen fixation. Its key role in biomass production and carbon storage makes it important for restoring degraded lands. Therefore, the aim of the study was to understand its potential for carbon credits for income generation and livelihood security to the local communities. Location The present study was conducted in Rudraprayag district, specifically in Chopta, Tungnath Valley, located between 30°28′39″–30°29′51″ N latitude and 79°12′9″–79°13′21″ E longitude in the Garhwal Himalayas, where good forest stands of A. nepalensis were reported between 1000 to 2500 m above sea level elevations. Time Period The study was carried out during 2023–2024 and data were collected. Major Taxa The major tree species associated with A. nepalensis were Rhododendron arboreum, Acer ceasium, Q. leucotricophora, Neolitsea sp., Lyonia ovalifolia, Q. semicarpifolia, Q. floribunda, Ficus palmata , Pyrus pashia , etc. Methods Soil and vegetation data collection and analysis were done using standard established sampling and analysis methods. Results and Main Conclusions Results of study suggest that A. nepalensis had the highest IVI across all altitudes, with an IVI of 300 (lower altitude), 150.9 (middle altitude) and 159.03 (upper altitude). Among the altitudes, A. nepalensis was reported pure in upper altitude and mixed in both middle and lower. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between tree volume and biomass and carbon components ( r = 0.956, p < 0.01), highlighting volume as a key predictor of carbon stock. Aboveground and belowground biomass and carbon variables were perfectly correlated ( r = 1.000**, p < 0.01), indicating a tightly integrated biomass‐carbon dynamic. Tree density also significantly correlated with carbon variables ( r = 0.736, p < 0.01). CO 2 sequestration, net carbon stock and O 2 release were strongly interrelated ( r = 1.000), though less correlated with structural parameters. Results revealed that A. nepalensis forest has potential as an effective carbon sinks across elevation zones. Soil physico‐chemical properties under A. nepalensis stands varied significantly with altitude. Moisture and WHC were strongly correlated ( r = 0.898), however, negatively related to pH, indicating more acidic, moisture‐rich soils at higher elevations. Sand decreased ( r = −0.926) and clay increased ( r = 0.882) with altitude, showing texture shifts. SOC and SOM were positively linked to moisture ( r = 0.901) and negatively to pH, suggesting moisture as a key driver of soil carbon. The C: N ratio increased with depth ( r = 0.884), reflecting vertical variation in organic matter quality. A. nepalensis biomass production, C sequestration and soil properties influence with altitudes. These trends underline altitude and moisture as key factors in soil carbon dynamics.
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Claims 18
Claim · model-written summary
Alnus nepalensis had the highest importance value index across all altitudes.
- Taxon
- A. nepalensis
Alnus nepalensise1 - Outcome
- IVIe1
- Qualifier
- across all altitudese1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“A. nepalensis had the highest IVI across all altitudes”
Claim · model-written summary
Alnus nepalensis has an importance value index of 300 at lower altitude.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Outcome
- IVIe1
- Value
- 300e1
- Setting
- lower altitudee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“with an IVI of 300 (lower altitude), 150.9 (middle altitude) and 159.03 (upper altitude)”
Claim · model-written summary
Alnus nepalensis has an importance value index of 150.9 at middle altitude.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Outcome
- IVIe1
- Value
- 150.9e1
- Setting
- middle altitudee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“with an IVI of 300 (lower altitude), 150.9 (middle altitude) and 159.03 (upper altitude)”
Claim · model-written summary
Alnus nepalensis has an importance value index of 159.03 at upper altitude.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Outcome
- IVIe1
- Value
- 159.03e1
- Setting
- upper altitudee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“with an IVI of 300 (lower altitude), 150.9 (middle altitude) and 159.03 (upper altitude)”
Claim · model-written summary
Alnus nepalensis stands were pure at upper altitude and mixed at middle and lower altitudes.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Outcome
- puree1
- Qualifier
- mixed in both middle and lowere1
- Setting
- upper altitudee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“Among the altitudes, A. nepalensis was reported pure in upper altitude and mixed in both middle and lower”
Claim · model-written summary
Tree volume is strongly and positively correlated with biomass and carbon components.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- tree volumee1
- Outcome
- biomass and carbon componentse1
- Direction
- increaseinferrede1
- Value
- r = 0.956e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between tree volume and biomass and carbon components ( r = 0.956, p < 0.01)”
Claim · model-written summary
Aboveground and belowground biomass and carbon variables are perfectly correlated.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Organ / stage
- Aboveground and belowgrounde1
- Outcome
- Aboveground and belowground biomass and carbon variablese1
- Value
- r = 1.000e1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“Aboveground and belowground biomass and carbon variables were perfectly correlated ( r = 1.000**, p < 0.01)”
Claim · model-written summary
Tree density is significantly correlated with carbon variables.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- Tree densitye1
- Outcome
- carbon variablese1
- Value
- r = 0.736e1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“Tree density also significantly correlated with carbon variables ( r = 0.736, p < 0.01)”
Claim · model-written summary
CO2 sequestration, net carbon stock and O2 release are strongly interrelated.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- CO 2 sequestratione1
- Outcome
- net carbon stock and O 2 releasee1
- Value
- r = 1.000e1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“CO 2 sequestration, net carbon stock and O 2 release were strongly interrelated ( r = 1.000)”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil moisture is strongly correlated with water-holding capacity.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- Moisturee1
- Outcome
- WHCe1
- Value
- r = 0.898e1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“Moisture and WHC were strongly correlated ( r = 0.898), however, negatively related to pH”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil pH is negatively related to soil moisture.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- Moisturee1
- Outcome
- pHe1
- Direction
- decreaseinferrede1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“Moisture and WHC were strongly correlated ( r = 0.898), however, negatively related to pH”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil physico-chemical properties under Alnus nepalensis stands vary significantly with altitude.
- Taxon
- A. nepalensisAlnus nepalensise1
- Outcome
- Soil physico‐chemical propertiese1
- Qualifier
- with altitudee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Soil physico‐chemical properties under A. nepalensis stands varied significantly with altitude”
Claim · model-written summary
Sand decreases with altitude in Alnus nepalensis stands.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- altitudee1
- Outcome
- Sande1
- Direction
- decreasede1
- Value
- r = −0.926e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“Sand decreased ( r = −0.926) and clay increased ( r = 0.882) with altitude”
Claim · model-written summary
Clay increases with altitude in Alnus nepalensis stands.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- altitudee1
- Outcome
- claye1
- Direction
- increasede1
- Value
- r = 0.882e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“Sand decreased ( r = −0.926) and clay increased ( r = 0.882) with altitude”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil organic carbon and organic matter are positively linked to soil moisture.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- moisturee1
- Outcome
- SOC and SOMe1
- Direction
- increaseinferrede1
- Value
- r = 0.901e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“SOC and SOM were positively linked to moisture ( r = 0.901) and negatively to pH”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil organic carbon and organic matter are negatively linked to soil pH.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- pHe1
- Outcome
- SOC and SOMe1
- Direction
- decreaseinferrede1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“SOC and SOM were positively linked to moisture ( r = 0.901) and negatively to pH”
Claim · model-written summary
The C:N ratio increases with soil depth.
- Taxon
- Alnus nepalensisAlnus nepalensist0
- Treatment
- depthe1
- Outcome
- C: N ratioe1
- Direction
- increasede1
- Value
- r = 0.884e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Alnus nepalensis Forest Stands”
e1“The C: N ratio increased with depth ( r = 0.884)”
Claim · model-written summary
Alnus nepalensis forests have potential as effective carbon sinks across elevation zones.
- Taxon
- A. nepalensisAlnus nepalensise1
- Outcome
- effective carbon sinkse1
- Qualifier
- across elevation zonese1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“A. nepalensis forest has potential as an effective carbon sinks across elevation zones”