REGENERATION OF BANJ OAK J (QUERCUS-LEUCOTRICHOPHORA CAMUS,A.) IN THE CENTRAL HIMALAYA

Banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) is the most common broadleaf tree in the mid-elevational central Himalaya in India. Past studies on this tree have reported that regeneration is sparse to absent promoting speculation that this species will soon be replaced by others. A study of banj forests was carried out in three areas of the central Himalaya in forests under different tenurial and disturbance regimes. An average of 1400 seedlings ha(-1) were found on the study sites, indicating that regeneration was not as low as has been previously reported. In sanctuary forests (state preserves), which were well protected from grazing and lopping, the seedling number averaged only 510 seedlings ha(-1). The high tree basal area (36 m(2) ha(-1)) and dense canopy of these forests does not promote the satisfactory establishment of oak in the understory. Previous studies on this oak species in sanctuary forests have also concluded that regeneration was poor but do not cite inadequate light in the understory as a factor influencing regeneration establishment, Moderate disturbance appears to benefit regeneration. In private (small landowner) and reserve forests (state forests) over 2000 seedlings ha(-1) were observed. Banj seedling number varied inversely with the number of adult banj oak. Canopy cover was an important variable. Seedlings in open stands had a lower height/diameter ratio and had more leaves per stem height. Soil carbon content over the three areas varied between 1.9% in an area where litter removal was practised and 4.0% in an undisturbed area, but this did not influence seedling number.