Studies on CO2 flux and carbon sequestration in natural Grass communities under natural Chir-pine forests of Indian North West Himalayas

Effect of fire on nature, biomass, CO2 flux and carbon sequestration potential of under storey grasses in chir pine forests receiving fire after regular intervals along the altitude and aspect was studied. Species composition, biomass, and productivity patterns of perennial grass communities under Chir-pine dominated forests at different altitudes varied greatly with the level of exploitation and fire incidence. The carbon sequestration by the ground floor species also vary with altitude and fire level. The four types of grass species were found in the fire affected forests viz. Chrysopogon montanus Trin, Apluda mutica, Heteropogon contortus and Themeda anathera. Pure grass land recorded the maximum CO2 mitigation 16.29 mega grams and the CO2 mitigation increased with the altitude at same aspect. Similarly, CO2 mitigation increased from 19.29 to 28.22 mega grams per ha in the soil at different altitude. Forest soils carbon increased from 0.94 % just after the fire and (Zero year after fire) and highest after four years of fire i.e. 1.91 %. The total organic carbon increased up to 41.29 mg hain forest after four years of fire.