Litter fall, Fine Root Biomass and Soil Nutrient Returns in Van Panchayat Forest of Uttarakhand

The litter fall and fine root biomass is needed to quantify the annual return of elements and organic matter to the soil. The tree species that covers the largest area in the present studied community managed forest are the common banj oak and chir pine. The mean annual litter fall in Anriyakot Van Panchayat forest was 6.25±0.26 t ha-1. The mean litter fall value was higher in the summer season (2.86±0.39 t ha-1) and minimum in winter season (1.53±0.04 t ha-1). The soil organic carbon percentage of the Anriyakot Van Panchayat ranged from 1.00±0.29% to 2.73±0.51%. The total fine root biomass ranged from 4.33 t ha -1 to 6.65 t ha -1. The fine root biomass was higher during the rainy season (59.2%) followed by summer and winter seasons (26% and 14.8%, respectively). Soil organic carbon percent ranged from 1.00±0.29 to 2.73±0.51%. Fine root and litter fall affect the levels of nutrient returns in soil and acts as a medium for transfer of atmospheric carbon into the soil in the form of carbon containing compounds.