Effect of habitat specific wood specific gravity on biomass and carbon stock of trees in tropical dry deciduous forest of central India

Wood specific gravity (WSG) is one of the important variables in biomass and carbon stock estimation through non-destructive method. Present study was conducted in a tropical dry deciduous forest in central India. A non-destructive method was adopted for biomass estimation. Habitat specific WSG of all the species present in the study area was determined using maximum moisture content method. Reported WSG values of the same species were procured from global wood density database. The present paper deals with the comparison of biomass and carbon stock of mature individuals estimated using habitat specific WSG and WSG procured from the database for the same species. Further, comparison was made among biomass and carbon values estimated using habitat specific WSG and without WSG for juvenile individuals. Procured WSG from database for different tree species were found to be higher in most cases than the WSG determined in the habitat. Results envisage that biomass estimates using non habitat specific WSG (database) over-estimate the biomass and carbon stock. Total biomass (including both mature and juvenile individuals) per hectare was 24.2% higher with reported WSG for mature individuals and without WSG for juvenile individuals than using habitat specific WSG for both mature and juvenile individuals. It is calculated that using WSG from data base may result in increased AGB by 1.5 x 10(8) Mg and 6.6 x 10(8) Mg at state and national level respectively. We suggest the consideration of habitat specific WSG for biomass and carbon estimation in non-destructive method for both mature and juvenile individuals.