Tropical Plant Research

Tropical Plant Research

An International Journal by Society for Tropical Plant Research

ISSN (E): 2349-1183 ISSN (P): 2349-9265
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2017, VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2Pages: 264-273

Regional scale investigation of net primary productivity associated to dominant land cover classes of Indian Himalayan region

Sandeep Soni*, Sandipan Mukherjee and Kireet Kumar
*Watershed Processes and Management Group, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, 263643, Uttarakhand, India
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Abstract:
This study is an attempt to understand regional variability of net primary productivity (NPP) of four major land cover classes (LCC), namely evergreen broadleaf forest (EBL), mixed forest (MF), grassland (GL) and crop land (CL), over the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) including Nepal and Bhutan. The study period is chosen to be the 11 years of 2001-2011. Therefore, the spatial distribution along with inter-annual and total NPP is analysed using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LCC and NPP products having a spatial resolution of 0.1 degree. MODIS NPP is based on algorithm developed by applying the radiation conversion efficiency logic to the prediction of daily Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), fractional absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, photosynthetically active radiation and other surface meteorological fields. Irrespective of the spatial distribution, the monthly maximum NPP for EBL, MF, GL and CL were found to be 6.4, 6.3, 4.5 and 4.6 gC.m-2.day-1, respectively. The annual total NPP for EBL, GL and CL over the entire IHR were found to be decreasing with the rate of 370.3, 185.1 and 822.5 gC.m-2.day-1 whereas, the annual total NPP value for the MF category was found to have a small rate of annual enhancement of 16.0 gC.m-2.day-1. Overall for the period of 2001–2011, the annual reduction in the NPP values of all the four major LCC was found to be 1.3 KgC.m-2.day-1 indicating a significant carbon loss in terms of biomass of IHR.
Annual land cover distribution for the period 2001–2011: Class 1- Evergreen broadleaf forest (EBL); Class 2- Mixed forest (MF); Class 3- Grass land (GL); Class 4- crop land (CL).

Fig.: Annual land cover distribution for the period 2001–2011: Class 1- Evergreen broadleaf forest (EBL); Class 2- Mixed forest (MF); Class 3- Grass land (GL); Class 4- crop land (CL).


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