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Dendrochronological Potential of Abies pindrow and Cedrus deodara from Azad Jammu and Kashmir-Pakistan
Paper ID : 1028-ADA2013
Authors:
TASVEER ZAHRA BOKHARI *1, Moin uddin Ahmed2, Zaheer uddin Khan3
116-GULDIN COLONY, CHOWK NAWAN SHEHER, MULTAN
2Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology
3GCUniversity
Abstract:
The dendrochronological studies of various pine forests of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are presented. Wood samples of five conifers from different sites of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were taken. These species were Abies pindrow Royle, Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex Lamb.), Picea smithiana (Wall) Boiss, Pinus roxburghii Sargent and Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jackson respectively. Crossdating of all samples was done by using skeleton plot technique. Among these, two species (Abies pindrow and Cedrus deodara) from four sites (Pir Chinasi, Sudhan Gali, Kail and Keran) gave long series with sensitive ring sequences which were cross matched successfully. The remaining sites and species were not included as they had short series with almost similar ring sequences (complacent rings). The two above mentioned species showed some signs like scars, wounds, cracks and sensitive rings due to various past disturbance events like earthquakes, landslides, fire etc. Raw and standardized versions of tree ring chronologies of two sensitive species from four sites were developed. A maximum dated chronology of Abies pindrow extended back to 1697-2009 A.D. for 312 years was obtained from Sudhan Gali. Years with slow radial growth (narrow rings) and with rapid radial growth (wide rings) were also recorded.
The estimation of age and growth rate of each species was also done. Among all the sampled species, the maximum age of 336 years was observed in Abies pindrow. However, other species attained more than hundred years of age. The maximum radial growth was seen in Abies pindrow with the value of 0.47cm per year respectively. On the other hand the growth rate of Cedrus deodara was slow with the value of about 0.30 cm per year respectively. The dbh and growth rate of most of the trees from sampled forests were negatively while dbh and age were positively correlated.
Keywords:
dendrochronological potential, Abies pindrow, Cedrus deodara, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Status : Abstract Accepted