Department of Environmental Science Tezpur University Assam, India Prof. K. K. Baruah Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Study in Relation to Net Flux from Kaziranga National Forest of Assam

Description of the Experimental Site Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river in Assam, of Northeast India (26°38 N and 93°28 E). Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river in Assam, of Northeast India (26°38 N and 93°28 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 km 2

INDIA ASSAM Map showing the area : Kaziranga

Vegetation Types There are four types of vegetation: There are four types of vegetation:  Tropical wet evergreen forest  Tropical deciduous forest  Grasslands  Swamp areas(beel)  (Tall grasses 41%, short grasses 11%, open jungle 29%, rivers and water bodies 8%, sand 6% and swamps 4%)

The tropical wet evergreen forests are dominated by The tropical wet evergreen forests are dominated by  Artocarpus chaplasha,  Bridelia retusa,  Duabanga grandiflora,  Aesculus asamica,  Schima wallichi,  Gmelina arborea and  Erythrina indica.

Woodlands are dominated by deciduous species such as Woodlands are dominated by deciduous species such as  Bombax ceiba,  Ablaze odorotissima,  Carreya arborea,  Lagerstromia parviflora,  Dillenia pentagyna and  Zizyphus jujuba

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

Kaziranga is known as the home of the “Big Five”: Kaziranga is known as the home of the “Big Five”:  Rhinoceros  Elephant,  Wild buffalo,  Tiger  Swamp Deer.  39 spp. of reptiles including the endangered Gharial, the rare Assam Roofed Turtle, Reticulated and Rock Pythons.  Almost 500 species of birds are found. IMPORTANT FAUNA

To estimate the CO 2 fixation and emission from different vegetation types, ecosystems and soils of Kaziranga National Forest. To estimate the CO 2 fixation and emission from different vegetation types, ecosystems and soils of Kaziranga National Forest. To evaluate the CO 2 emission from different canopy layers of Kaziranga National Forest. To evaluate the CO 2 emission from different canopy layers of Kaziranga National Forest. To investigate the relationship of CO 2 emission and fixation with associated plant and soil factors. To investigate the relationship of CO 2 emission and fixation with associated plant and soil factors. To calculate the net radiation balance and moisture availability at different ecosystems and estimate the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). To calculate the net radiation balance and moisture availability at different ecosystems and estimate the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). OBJECTIVES

BRIEF TECHNICAL PROGRAMME….

The following vegetation types will be undertaken for this study : The following vegetation types will be undertaken for this study :  Tropical wet evergreen forest  Tropical deciduous forest  Grassland  Swamp areas (beel) Vegetation Types

Carbon flux from all selected vegetation types Carbon flux from all selected vegetation types 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 type Leaf area index (LAI) of each vegetation type Relationship of litterfall to GPP, TER, NPP and NEP will be worked out. Relationship of litterfall to GPP, TER, NPP and NEP will be worked out. Rate of photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration Rate of photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration Soil heat flux and soil temperature Soil 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 radiation balance Photosynthetic photon flux density and net radiation balance Wind velocity and temperature fluctuation Wind velocity and temperature fluctuation Evapotranspiration from soils of different vegetation Evapotranspiration from soils of different vegetation Precipitation and other meteorological parameters Precipitation and other meteorological parameters Parameters to be Recorded

Methods to be Used…

Eddy-covariance method will be employed for carbon dioxide flux and water vapour measurement Eddy-covariance method will be employed for carbon dioxide flux and water vapour measurement The height of the eddy-flux measurement system will be fixed according to the vegetation types The height of the eddy-flux measurement system will be fixed according to the vegetation types Photosynthetic photon flux density and the net radiation balance will be measured above the forest with a quantum sensor and a net radiometer. Photosynthetic photon flux density and the net radiation balance will be measured above the forest with a quantum sensor and a net radiometer. Contd./-

Carbondioxide and water vapour fluctuations will be measured with an open path, infrared absorption gas analyzer. Carbondioxide and water vapour fluctuations will be measured with an open path, infrared absorption gas analyzer. Leaf area index (LAI) will be estimated by using litter biomass and specific leaf weight and by an optical instrument Leaf area index (LAI) will be estimated by using litter biomass and specific leaf weight and by an optical instrument All weather parameters will be recorded by an automatic weather station All weather parameters will be recorded by an automatic weather station Litter will be collected in funnel-shaped, pyramidal polyethylene baskets arranged according to the vegetation type Litter will be collected in funnel-shaped, pyramidal polyethylene baskets arranged according to the vegetation type Contd./-

Soil heat flux density will be recorded with the help of soil heat flux plates. Soil temperatures will be measured with two multilevel thermocouple probes. Soil heat flux density will be recorded with the help of soil heat flux plates. Soil temperatures will be measured with two multilevel thermocouple probes. Wind velocity and virtual temperature fluctuations will be measured with three- dimensional sonic anemometers Wind velocity and virtual temperature fluctuations will be measured with three- dimensional sonic anemometers

Infrastructures required …

Tower (35 m) Tower (35 m)  At Experimental site (Kaziranga National Forest)  At reference site (Tezpur University) Quantum sensor Quantum sensor Three dimensional sonic anemometers Three dimensional sonic anemometers Soil heat flux plates Soil heat flux plates Automatic weather station Automatic weather station Photodiode pyranometer Photodiode pyranometer Radiometer Radiometer Optical leaf area meter Optical leaf area meter

Manpower required …

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

National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi (Joint Project) National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi (Joint Project) Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre (ARSAC), Guwahati, Assam Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre (ARSAC), Guwahati, Assam Department of Physics, Tezpur University, Assam Department of Physics, Tezpur University, Assam Department of Forest, Govt. of Assam Department of Forest, Govt. of Assam Collaboration with other Institute/Department