Aspects of productivity and nutrient cycling in an 8-year-old Eucalyptus plantation in a moist plain area adjacent to central Himalaya, India

Abstract

In the present study we describe biomass, productivity, and nutrient cycling in an 8-year-old Eucalyptustereticornis Sm. (Eucalyptus hybrid) plantation and compare them with those of a Populusdeltoides Bartr. plantation of the same age and area, a natural sal (Shorearobusta Gaertn. F.) forest, and other natural forests of the central Himalaya. The total vegetation biomass of the Eucalyptus plantation (126.7 t•ha−1) was lower than that of the P. deltoides plantation (176 t•ha−1) and natural forests (163.4–786.7 t•ha−1). The net primary productivity of the Eucalyptus plantation (23.4 t•ha−1•year−1) was similar to that of the P. deltoides plantation (25 t•ha−1•year−1) and the natural sal forest (22 t•ha−1•year−1). The net nutrient uptake of Eucalyptus was lower than that of Populus plantation and natural forests.