Department of Environmental ScienceDepartment of Environmental ScienceTezpur UniversityTezpur University

Assam, IndiaAssam, India

Prof. K. K. BaruahProf. K. K. Baruah

Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Study in Relation to Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Study in Relation to Net Flux from Kaziranga National Forest Net Flux from Kaziranga National Forest

of Assam of Assam

Description of the Experimental Site

Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is situated Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river in on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river in Assam, of Northeast India (26°38Assam, of Northeast India (26°38 N and N and 93°2893°28 E). E).

It is located at the foot of Karbi Anglong Hills, about 8 km from Bokakhat Town, and 220 km from Guwahati, the Assam state capital. National Highway No. 37 forms the southern boundary.

The Park is 40 km long by 13 km wide. Total forest area is of 430 km2

INDIAINDIA

ASSAMASSAM

Map showing the area : Map showing the area : KazirangaKaziranga

Vegetation Types

There are four types of vegetation:There are four types of vegetation: Tropical wet evergreen forestTropical wet evergreen forest Tropical deciduous forestTropical deciduous forest GrasslandsGrasslands Swamp areas(beel)Swamp areas(beel)

(Tall grasses 41%, short grasses (Tall grasses 41%, short grasses 11%, open jungle 29%, rivers and 11%, open jungle 29%, rivers and water bodies 8%, sand 6% and water bodies 8%, sand 6% and swamps 4%)swamps 4%)

The tropical wet evergreen forests are The tropical wet evergreen forests are dominated bydominated by

Artocarpus chaplasha, Artocarpus chaplasha, Bridelia retusa, Bridelia retusa, Duabanga grandiflora, Duabanga grandiflora, Aesculus asamica, Aesculus asamica, Schima wallichi, Schima wallichi, Gmelina arborea Gmelina arborea andand Erythrina indicaErythrina indica..

Woodlands are dominated by Woodlands are dominated by deciduous species such asdeciduous species such as

Bombax ceiba, Bombax ceiba, Ablaze odorotissima, Ablaze odorotissima, Carreya arborea, Carreya arborea, Lagerstromia parviflora, Lagerstromia parviflora, Dillenia pentagyna Dillenia pentagyna andand Zizyphus jujubaZizyphus jujuba

The grasslands are dominated by The grasslands are dominated by Saccharum elephantinus, Saccharum elephantinus, Imperata cylindrica, Imperata cylindrica, Poinia ciliata, Poinia ciliata, Erianthus ravannae, Erianthus ravannae, Saccharum arundinaceum, Saccharum arundinaceum, Arundo donax Arundo donax andand Phragmites karka. Phragmites karka.

Kaziranga is known as the home of the Kaziranga is known as the home of the “Big Five”: “Big Five”:

Rhinoceros Rhinoceros Elephant, Elephant, Wild buffalo, Wild buffalo, Tiger Tiger Swamp Deer. Swamp Deer.

39 spp. of reptiles including the 39 spp. of reptiles including the endangered Gharial, the rare Assam endangered Gharial, the rare Assam Roofed Turtle, Reticulated and Rock Roofed Turtle, Reticulated and Rock Pythons. Pythons.

Almost 500 species of birds are Almost 500 species of birds are found.found.

IMPORTANT FAUNA

To estimate the COTo estimate the CO22 fixation and emission from fixation and emission from different vegetation types, ecosystems and soils different vegetation types, ecosystems and soils of Kaziranga National Forest.of Kaziranga National Forest.

To evaluate the COTo evaluate the CO22 emission from different emission from different canopy layers of Kaziranga National Forest.canopy layers of Kaziranga National Forest.

To investigate the relationship of COTo investigate the relationship of CO22 emission emission and fixation with associated plant and soil and fixation with associated plant and soil factors. factors.

To calculate the net radiation balance and To calculate the net radiation balance and moisture availability at different ecosystems and moisture availability at different ecosystems and estimate the photosynthetically active radiation estimate the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR).(PAR).

OBJECTIVES

BRIEF TECHNICAL PROGRAMME….

The following vegetation types will be The following vegetation types will be undertaken for this study :undertaken for this study :

Tropical wet evergreen forestTropical wet evergreen forest Tropical deciduous forestTropical deciduous forest GrasslandGrassland Swamp areas (beel)Swamp areas (beel)

Vegetation Types

Carbon flux from all selected vegetation Carbon flux from all selected vegetation typestypes

Gross primary production (GPP)Gross primary production (GPP)

Net primary production (NPP) Net primary production (NPP)

Total ecosystem respiration (TER)Total ecosystem respiration (TER)

Net ecosystem production (NEP) Net ecosystem production (NEP)

Characteristics of litterfall. Characteristics of litterfall.

Parameters to be Recorded

Contd./-

Leaf area index (LAI) of each vegetation typeLeaf area index (LAI) of each vegetation type

Relationship of litterfall to GPP, TER, NPP Relationship of litterfall to GPP, TER, NPP and NEP will be worked out.and NEP will be worked out.

Rate of photosynthesis, respiration and Rate of photosynthesis, respiration and transpirationtranspiration

Soil heat flux and soil temperatureSoil heat flux and soil temperature

Parameters to be Recorded

Contd./-

Physico-chemical properties of soil.Physico-chemical properties of soil. Photosynthetic photon flux density and net Photosynthetic photon flux density and net

radiation balanceradiation balance Wind velocity and temperature fluctuationWind velocity and temperature fluctuation Evapotranspiration from soils of different Evapotranspiration from soils of different

vegetationvegetation Precipitation and other meteorological Precipitation and other meteorological

parameters parameters

Parameters to be Recorded

Methods to be Used…

Eddy-covariance method will be employed Eddy-covariance method will be employed for carbon dioxide flux and water vapour for carbon dioxide flux and water vapour measurement measurement

The height of the eddy-flux measurement The height of the eddy-flux measurement system will be fixed according to the system will be fixed according to the vegetation typesvegetation types

Photosynthetic photon flux density and the Photosynthetic photon flux density and the net radiation balance will be measured net radiation balance will be measured above the forest with a quantum sensor and above the forest with a quantum sensor and a net radiometer.a net radiometer.

Contd./-

Carbondioxide and water vapour fluctuations Carbondioxide and water vapour fluctuations will be measured with an open path, infrared will be measured with an open path, infrared absorption gas analyzer.absorption gas analyzer.

Leaf area index (LAI) will be estimated by Leaf area index (LAI) will be estimated by using litter biomass and specific leaf weight using litter biomass and specific leaf weight and by an optical instrumentand by an optical instrument

All weather parameters will be recorded by All weather parameters will be recorded by an automatic weather stationan automatic weather station

Litter will be collected in funnel-shaped, Litter will be collected in funnel-shaped, pyramidal polyethylene baskets arranged pyramidal polyethylene baskets arranged according to the vegetation typeaccording to the vegetation type

Contd./-

Soil heat flux density will be recorded with Soil heat flux density will be recorded with the help of soil heat flux plates. Soil the help of soil heat flux plates. Soil temperatures will be measured with two temperatures will be measured with two multilevel thermocouple probes. multilevel thermocouple probes.

Wind velocity and virtual temperature Wind velocity and virtual temperature fluctuations will be measured with three-fluctuations will be measured with three-dimensional sonic anemometersdimensional sonic anemometers

Infrastructures required …

Tower (35 m)Tower (35 m) At Experimental site (Kaziranga National At Experimental site (Kaziranga National

Forest)Forest) At reference site (Tezpur University)At reference site (Tezpur University)

Quantum sensorQuantum sensor Three dimensional sonic anemometersThree dimensional sonic anemometers Soil heat flux platesSoil heat flux plates Automatic weather stationAutomatic weather station Photodiode pyranometerPhotodiode pyranometer RadiometerRadiometer Optical leaf area meterOptical leaf area meter

Manpower required …

Technical Officer : 1 post (DST, Govt. of Technical Officer : 1 post (DST, Govt. of India’s Scale)India’s Scale)

National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi (Joint Project)(Joint Project)

Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre (ARSAC), Guwahati, Assam(ARSAC), Guwahati, Assam

Department of Physics, Tezpur University, Department of Physics, Tezpur University, AssamAssam

Department of Forest , Govt. of AssamDepartment of Forest , Govt. of Assam

Collaboration with other Institute/Department