Importance of Ecological Analysis for Biomass Management

Biomass (wood, fruits and leaves) growth efficiency of the regions depends upon the type, quantity and stratification of vegetation. Therefore, for any study on ecology of these areas, a quantitative evaluation of its vegetation is required. The quantitative study on structure of vegetation is called Phytosociology, the principal aim of which is to describe the vegetation, explain or predict its pattern and classify it in a meaningful way. It is also considered as a basic biological science to be applied for the concept and realization of land management. With the change in environmental condition the vegetation cover reflects several changes in its structure, density and composition. The species in a community grow together in a particular environment because they have similar requirements for existence in terms of various factors such as light, temperature, water drainage and soil nutrients. Plant communities can be defined as a collection of plant species growing together in a particular location that shows a definite association or affinity with each other. The ‘community coefficient’ concepts, a mathematical expression for the similarity of plant communities were put forth. Since the publication of Jaccard’s formula it has undergone several quantitative and qualitative modifications. The absence of the absolute boundaries between the adjacent plant communities and therefore he proposed the ‘continuum concept’ in phytosociological researches. In order to express the dominance and ecological success of any species with a single value, the concept of Importance Value Index (IVI) has been developed by Phillips in 1959. Phytosociological works in India are mainly confined to the temperate forests of Himalayas and very meager literature is available for the tropical forests. Phytosociological studies on the vegetation of Chhotaudepur Forest division; Eastern Gujarat has been conducted by Shah in 1978. The increase in human population in the last few decades, demanding developments in various spheres, has resulted directly or indirectly in the sudden and of the far reaching disturbances in natural ecosystems. This has caused increased stress on the plants as well as on the ecosystem. Biomass studies are essential for understanding nutrient cycling, organic and energy transfer and predicting the effects of tree utilization, management procedures or other disturbances on productivity and stability of forest stands. Accurate estimation of biomass is the fundamental step in the productivity management plan especially in case of tropical forests. Biomass and nutrient accumulation studies in the pure and mixed plantations of indigenous tree species can be used in the selection of tree species and harvest designs to favour productivity and nutrient conservation. During the past decade there has been a marked shift from considering the forest as a production system for wood, to a realization that the total organic production is important. Increased demands for forest products, the search for renewable resources and an increased concern for the well being of forest ecosystems are combining to stimulate study of the total forest biomass. There has been an explosion in both quality and diversity of forest productivity and biomass literature in the past several years.