R. Thadani et Pms. Ashton, REGENERATION OF BANJ OAK J (QUERCUS-LEUCOTRICHOPHORA CAMUS,A.) IN THECENTRAL HIMALAYA, Forest ecology and management, 78(1-3), 1995, pp. 217-224
Banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) is the most common broadleaf tree
in the mid-elevational central Himalaya in India. Past studies on this
tree have reported that regeneration is sparse to absent promoting sp
eculation that this species will soon be replaced by others. A study o
f banj forests was carried out in three areas of the central Himalaya
in forests under different tenurial and disturbance regimes. An averag
e of 1400 seedlings ha(-1) were found on the study sites, indicating t
hat regeneration was not as low as has been previously reported. In sa
nctuary forests (state preserves), which were well protected from graz
ing and lopping, the seedling number averaged only 510 seedlings ha(-1
). The high tree basal area (36 m(2) ha(-1)) and dense canopy of these
forests does not promote the satisfactory establishment of oak in the
understory. Previous studies on this oak species in sanctuary forests
have also concluded that regeneration was poor but do not cite inadeq
uate light in the understory as a factor influencing regeneration esta
blishment, Moderate disturbance appears to benefit regeneration. In pr
ivate (small landowner) and reserve forests (state forests) over 2000
seedlings ha(-1) were observed. Banj seedling number varied inversely
with the number of adult banj oak. Canopy cover was an important varia
ble. Seedlings in open stands had a lower height/diameter ratio and ha
d more leaves per stem height. Soil carbon content over the three area
s varied between 1.9% in an area where litter removal was practised an
d 4.0% in an undisturbed area, but this did not influence seedling num
ber.