Implications of irregular shelterwood system on regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in Nepal
Silvicultural systems are essential for effective forest management and utilize the resources by conserving biodiversity, health, and valuable services forests offer to society. However, Nepal faces a significant knowledge gap due to the limited data on the effect of silvicultural systems and forest...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023103641 |
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| author | Niraj Pokhrel Sachin Timilsina Nripesh Awasthi Anita Adhikari Bikash Adhikari Santosh Ayer Kishor Prasad Bhatta |
| author_facet | Niraj Pokhrel Sachin Timilsina Nripesh Awasthi Anita Adhikari Bikash Adhikari Santosh Ayer Kishor Prasad Bhatta |
| author_sort | Niraj Pokhrel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Silvicultural systems are essential for effective forest management and utilize the resources by conserving biodiversity, health, and valuable services forests offer to society. However, Nepal faces a significant knowledge gap due to the limited data on the effect of silvicultural systems and forest management practices on tree diversity and regeneration. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effects of canopy opening on natural regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in comparison to managed and control blocks in the southern plains of Nepal under irregular shelterwood systems. The vegetation sampling was carried out by the quadrat method (plot of 10 m* 10 m) for studying 48 plots in both managed and control forest areas. The Shannon-Wiener Index and the Simpson Index were used to measure species diversity, whereas Margalef's index was used to measure species richness. Dominant tree species in both managed and control forest areas were identified through the Important Value Index (IVI). The seedling and sapling density of Sal was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in managed blocks. Seedlings of Sal from the seed origin were notably more abundant in the managed block (p < 0.01), whereas those from coppice origin exhibited higher numbers in the control block (p < 0.01). Sal was found to be dominant species in both managed block (IVI = 199.94) and control (IVI = 108.34). The species diversity and richness were significantly declining in the managed forest (p < 0.01) with higher species dominance in comparison to the control blocks. Our study found a positive correlation of canopy cover with species diversity (r = 0.69, p < 0.01) and richness (r = 0.59, p < 0.01) whereas a negative correlation with seedling (r = −0.43, p < 0.01) and sapling density (r = −0.16, p < 0.01). The application of the irregular shelterwood system in study area has effectively promoted natural Sal regeneration while concurrently reducing species diversity. To strike a balance between timber production and biodiversity conservation in these forests, further research focusing on moderating felling intensity within the irregular shelterwood system is strongly recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:04:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f7cc0ef1f7e462fb6ae43506ebf3c08 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:04:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f7cc0ef1f7e462fb6ae43506ebf3c082024-02-01T06:30:53ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-01-01101e23156Implications of irregular shelterwood system on regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in NepalNiraj Pokhrel0Sachin Timilsina1Nripesh Awasthi2Anita Adhikari3Bikash Adhikari4Santosh Ayer5Kishor Prasad Bhatta6Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara, 33700, NepalTribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara, 33700, Nepal; Corresponding author.Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Kailali, Sudurpaschim, NepalTribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Hetauda Campus, Makwanpur, 44107, NepalTribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara, 33700, NepalAgriculture and Forestry University, College of Natural Resource Management (CNRM), Katari, 56310, NepalResearch and Development Centre, Kathmandu, 44600, NepalSilvicultural systems are essential for effective forest management and utilize the resources by conserving biodiversity, health, and valuable services forests offer to society. However, Nepal faces a significant knowledge gap due to the limited data on the effect of silvicultural systems and forest management practices on tree diversity and regeneration. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effects of canopy opening on natural regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in comparison to managed and control blocks in the southern plains of Nepal under irregular shelterwood systems. The vegetation sampling was carried out by the quadrat method (plot of 10 m* 10 m) for studying 48 plots in both managed and control forest areas. The Shannon-Wiener Index and the Simpson Index were used to measure species diversity, whereas Margalef's index was used to measure species richness. Dominant tree species in both managed and control forest areas were identified through the Important Value Index (IVI). The seedling and sapling density of Sal was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in managed blocks. Seedlings of Sal from the seed origin were notably more abundant in the managed block (p < 0.01), whereas those from coppice origin exhibited higher numbers in the control block (p < 0.01). Sal was found to be dominant species in both managed block (IVI = 199.94) and control (IVI = 108.34). The species diversity and richness were significantly declining in the managed forest (p < 0.01) with higher species dominance in comparison to the control blocks. Our study found a positive correlation of canopy cover with species diversity (r = 0.69, p < 0.01) and richness (r = 0.59, p < 0.01) whereas a negative correlation with seedling (r = −0.43, p < 0.01) and sapling density (r = −0.16, p < 0.01). The application of the irregular shelterwood system in study area has effectively promoted natural Sal regeneration while concurrently reducing species diversity. To strike a balance between timber production and biodiversity conservation in these forests, further research focusing on moderating felling intensity within the irregular shelterwood system is strongly recommended.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023103641Irregular shelterwood systemSeed originSpecies dominanceTimber production |
| spellingShingle | Niraj Pokhrel Sachin Timilsina Nripesh Awasthi Anita Adhikari Bikash Adhikari Santosh Ayer Kishor Prasad Bhatta Implications of irregular shelterwood system on regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in Nepal Heliyon Irregular shelterwood system Seed origin Species dominance Timber production |
| title | Implications of irregular shelterwood system on regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in Nepal |
| title_full | Implications of irregular shelterwood system on regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in Nepal |
| title_fullStr | Implications of irregular shelterwood system on regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implications of irregular shelterwood system on regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in Nepal |
| title_short | Implications of irregular shelterwood system on regeneration and species diversity of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in Nepal |
| title_sort | implications of irregular shelterwood system on regeneration and species diversity of sal shorea robusta gaertn f forest in nepal |
| topic | Irregular shelterwood system Seed origin Species dominance Timber production |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023103641 |
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