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Site and stand characteristics of hazelnut bearing forests in temperate region of Himachal Pradesh

2016; Volume: 6; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

2250-0499

Dinesh Gupta, D. D. Sharma,

Plant and Fungal Interactions Research

Hazelnut, Corylus colurna L an important nut crop growing in temperate forests of western Himalayas in Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh. The hazelnut locally known as Thangi or Thangoli in Panwalli finds an important place in the dietary habit of the tribal people of Pangi valley and hill people of Shimla, Kinnaur and Kullu districts. The wild hazelnut needs to be conserved due to its narrow distribution range and proneness to genetic depletion following habitat destruction. The species normally forms the intermediated strata of the coniferous forest and is found associated with oak, fir, spruce, deodar, maple and walnut. In India the species is little known except in high Himalayan regions where it is used mainly by the locals, graziers and the tribals (Pangwal and Bhot) as food. The investigation aims at describing the site and quantitative characteristics of hazelnut bearing forests in Kotkhai forest range (Kotkhai division) and Sach forest range (Pangi Division) of Himachal Pradesh. The stand characteristics in different diameter classes generally showed an increasing trend in DBH and average height with the increase in diameter classes. Trees at the sites were found in 10-20 cm to >100 cm diameter classes with the absence of few classes in some ranges. Total tree density in the hazelnut bearing forest varied from 445 to 535 per hectare while total basal area varied from 8783.35 to 5978.08 cm2 per hectare. The crown projection ratio for hazel tree and its associated species ranged from 13.19 to 23.81 and 12.12 to 26.63 respectively in hazelnut bearing communities of Kotkhai and Sach forest ranges.