Himalayan altitude gradient drives divergent carbon storage: conifer biomass peaks, broadleaf soils stabilize

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Researchers studying forest carbon dynamics and natural climate solutions will find detailed empirical data on carbon partitioning across elevational gradients.

🏢実務担当者:Forest managers and carbon project developers can use these findings to prioritize conservation of high-biomass conifer forests and promote mixed-species plantations for soil carbon sequestration.

🏛政策担当者:Policymakers in India and other countries with mountainous forests can integrate these insights into national climate mitigation strategies and carbon accounting frameworks.

The increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels driven by human activities are disrupting ecological functions, underscoring the need to assess natural carbon sinks like forests. This study evaluates the current carbon stock of three distinct Himalayan forest types: Deodar (1900–2300 m), Pine (1550–1950 m), and Mixed Forest (500–1000 m) in Garhwal, India, by analyzing tree biomass carbon density (TCD) and soil organic carbon (SOC) pools across two soil depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm). Comparative analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in current carbon storage among forest types. Results reveal that Deodar Forest exhibits the highest TCD (230.85–274.85 Mg ha⁻1), highlighting its strong biomass carbon storage capacity, while Pine Forest, dominated solely by Pinus roxburghii, shows lower TCD (106.81–123.85 Mg ha⁻1). In contrast, Mixed Forest, with 28 tree species, demonstrates superior SOC storage, particularly in the topsoil, with the highest very labile carbon (7.43 mg g⁻1) and non-labile carbon (2.06 mg g⁻1), alongside the largest active (13.48 t C ha⁻1) and passive (6.41 t C ha⁻1) carbon pools. This demonstrates clear forest type-dependent partitioning of carbon between vegetation biomass and soil along the altitudinal gradient. The current carbon storage varied significantly among forest types, with conifer dominated forest supporting biomass carbon accumulation, while species rich mixed forests enhancing soil carbon stabilization. These findings also suggest that high-altitude Deodar forests are vital for long-term biomass carbon retention, whereas lower elevation Mixed Forests enhance soil carbon stabilization through diverse organic inputs. Monoculture Pine Forests, while still important, may benefit from diversification to improve carbon sequestration efficiency. The study underscores the importance of conserving high-altitude forests and promoting biodiversity-rich mixed plantations to optimize carbon storage, offering actionable insights for climate mitigation strategies in the Himalayas. Policymakers should integrate these findings into forest management plans to strengthen India’s carbon sink potential and meet climate commitments. Future research could explore microbial dynamics and litter decomposition rates to further elucidate SOC stabilization mechanisms in these ecosystems. Protecting Deodar forests and expanding mixed-species afforestation in the Himalayas can maximize carbon storage, combining high biomass accumulation with robust soil carbon sequestration, a dual strategy essential for climate resilience.

• openalex https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-026-00287-zfirst seen 2026-07-17 05:15:35