Regeneration status of spruce (Picea Smithiana wall. Boiss) along the altitudinal gradient in North Kashmir Himalayas (India)

Abstract

The regeneration survey conducted to determine the status of regeneration at the selected sites was done in 100×10 m plot which was further subdivided into 10×10m plots for trees and 5×5 m for seedlings and saplings and 1×1m for recruits. The study revealed progressive decrease in recruits, seedling, sapling and tree density from lower altitudes to upper altitudes. Regeneration status was recorded as fair at all the selected sites. On the basis of parameters studied, the study concluded that an altitude of 2,200-2,600m is the best as far as regeneration status is concerned in North Kashmir for Picea smithiana. The study was concentrated along the three altitudinal gradients viz. 2,200-2,600 m (Langate), 2,600-3,000 m (Jhelum) and 3,000-3,400 m (Kamraj), at each altitude two sites were randomly selected for the study. The regeneration at all the sites was fair.