Effect of Climate Change on Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) Forest of Kumaun Himalaya

Abstract

Phenophase of three common co-occuring woody plant species that varied in stature (tree Vs shrub) were examined in a sal forest of Kumaun Himalaya. The significance of phonological research lies in the fact that it constitutes a synthetic approach to evaluating plant response to the local environment. Monthly counts of leaves, flowers, fruits and shoot measurement were made on 150 tagged twigs on ten individuals of each species for initiation, completion and duration of different phenological events. In all species, leaves emerged during March-May on the onset of warm and dry summer season. Across all the species, peak leaf area per shoot (9.87-179.14 cm²), leaf extension period (5-7 weeks), shoot extension growth (9.23-20.11 cm), shoot extension period (24-25 weeks) varied considerably. A significant relationship was found between shoot diameter, shoot length and leaf area extension across all species. Increasing day length/temperature induce flowering in S. robusta and M. paniculata during hot dry summer and the first heavy rain in month of August act as a flowering cue in M. philippinensis during the rainy season.