Seedling mortality and timing of phenological events in Quercus semecarpifolia dominated forests in Kumaun Himalayan region

Phenology and population dynamics of Quercus semecarpifolia Smith. (Kharsu) in Nainital district of Kumaun region of Uttarakhand were observed during 2009–10 and 2010–11. The results revealed that the leafing occurred in the pre-monsoon period which peaked in July. Full leaf expansion was completed in August. The leaf expansion period in Yr1 was 10–15 days longer than Yr2 on both the sites. Leaf drop occurred throughout the year with a peak in June, while flowering was seen in July. Similarly, flowering was one week later in Yr2 in comparison to Yr1. The period between pollination and the ripening of acorns in Q. semecarpifolia was 12–14 months. Seed fall started from August and continued till September. The germination rate varied between 50–65% between the sites. The seedling emergence ranged from 35–45%. Across the study period seedling mortality rate was very high on both the sites. The regeneration was poor.At the end of observation the mean seedling density ranged from 0.3 to 0.6 seedling m⁻². Seedling mortality was high in the first year of recruitment between December and June.