Plant diversity and carbon storages in deciduous forests at the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center, northern Thailand Soontorn KHAMYONG Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand E-mail: soontorn.k@cmu.ac.th Niwat ANONGRAK Plant and Soil Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand E-mail: niwatanongrak@hotmail.com Suparb PARAMEE Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center, Chiang Mai, Thailand E-mail: suparbp@hotmail.com Abstract-Assessment of plant diversity and carbon storages in dry dipterocarp (DDF) and mixed deciduous (MDF) forests at Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, was carried out in 2011 using 47 plots, each of size 40×40 m, for vegetation study in areas of sandstone, shale and volcanic rock. Integrated watershed management has practiced here for 32 years since Center establishment in 1984 by the King’s init iat ion and recommendations. A total of 186 species (140 genera, 63 families) existed in these forests: MDF, 119-125 species and DDF, 60-115 species. Shannon-Wiener Index of species diversity was higher in MDF (5.65) than DDF (3.17 to 4.76). Tree density in MDF varied in a range of 2,618-3,973 tree ha-1 while DDF had 3,019-3,706 tree ha-1. Different soils affected plant growth, biomass production, and carbon storages in biomass and soil. Soils varied from shallow with fragmented rocks (Order Entisols), moderately deep (Inceptisols) and deep (Ultisols, Alfisols/Oxisols). Plant biomass amounts were higher in MDF (177.19-195.83 Mg ha-1) than DDF (84.18-95.38 Mg ha-1), and biomass carbon amounts in MDF and DDF were measured at 87.36-96.56 Mg ha-1 and 41.79-47.12 Mg ha-1, respectively, whereas soil carbon storages were 49.86-65.56 Mg ha-1 and 12.27-31.45 Mg ha-1. Ecosystem carbon storages were measured to be 139.82-152.92 Mg ha-1 in MDF and 54.06-78.57 Mg ha-1 in DDF. Keywords: carbon storage, deciduous forests, plant diversity I. INTRODUCTION Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study (HHKRDS) Center is designed as a center of study, experiment and research on integrated watershed management. Initiated Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the 283 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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