Carbon storage potential and allometric models for Acacia catechu in forest land use systems in sub-tropics of Jammu

The study was carried out in kandi region of Jammu province to assess carbon storage potential and allometric models for Acacia catechu in forest land use systems involving Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts. The vegetation in the study area is represented by Northern dry mixed deciduous forest (5B/C₁), Himalayan sub-tropical pine forest (Type 9/C₁) and sub-type 9/C_1a (Lower shivalik chir forest) withAcacia catechu as main species among broadleaves. The phytosociology showed that the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) was in Acacia catechu (61.62) which shows its pre-dominance in the study area. The total carbon stock from Acacia catechu was 4.45 Mg ha⁻¹, out of which 74.15% (3.30 Mg ha⁻¹) is contributed by aboveground components and 25.85% (1.15 Mg ha⁻¹) from below ground components. Allometric models were developed for evaluating the best fit equation for aboveground biomass and carbon. The best allometric model for total biomass assessment was(Biomass =4.152 ×0.453^DBH2×Height)on DBH² × Height with adjusted R²= 0.8026 and AIC =39.627.