Floor management studies at different locations and elevations of Quercus leucotrichophora a Camus

Abstract

Ban oak is an ecologically and economically important species of Himalayan region which experiences a problem in its regeneration due to various factors in forests. The present investigation entitled “Floor management studies at different locations and elevations of Quercus leucotrichophora A Camus” was carried out during the year 2018-19 in Chail forests of district Solan, Kufri forests of district Shimla, Sarahan and Churdhar forests in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh with three elevations i.e., E1 ( 1800 m) in each to assess the effect of different floor management treatments. The floor management was carried out by plotting 2 m x 2 m beds for each treatment at each elevation as: P1 (Without removal of leaf litter (Control)), P2 (Removal of leaf litter, P3 (Hoeing i.e., 15 cm approx, without removal of leaf litter), P4 (Hoeing i.e. 15 cm approx, with removal of leaf litter) with three replications. The results showed that P3 was best among all other treatments for regeneration, growth of seedlings and biomass while P4 treatment showed least effect on acorn germination and other seedling parameters. The natural regeneration under floor management was highest in Kufri forests and can be concluded as: Kufri forests > Chail forests > Churdhar forests > Sarahan forests.