Impact of Canopy Openness on Forest Regeneration and Forest Soil Nutrients

Abstract

A study was conducted in three categories of crown cover of trees: 10–40, 40–70, and 70–100 % in six community forests (CFs) located in the Chure region of Makawanpur district, Nepal. The study focused on the impact of tree canopy opening on the regeneration layer of forests and soil nutrients. In the research area's undisturbed portion, a systematic sampling procedure was used for the regeneration survey. It was expected that there would be no disturbances in the form of fire, animal grazing, or silvicultural operations. The average seedling density and sapling density of total plant species were found to be higher in the 10 - 40 % crown cover i.e. open strata (18870 per ha and 3225 per ha) respectively than in 40-70 % i.e. moderately dense strata (14281 per ha and 3200 per ha) and 70-100 % crown cover area i.e. dense strata (11185 per ha and 2888 per ha) respectively. There are significant differences in regeneration density between different canopy classes, as shown by the results of the chi-square test performed on the regeneration density in various canopy classes followed by weak Cramer’s V suggesting the strength of the relationship isn’t very strong. The regeneration density single factor ANOVA reveals a significant relationship between the canopy cover and seedling density (p-value 2.75E-10), but no significant relationship between the canopy cover and sapling density (p-value greater than significance level (0.05), 0.41). The Shannon Weiner Diversity Index, the Shannon Equitable Index, and the Simpson diversity index indicate that denser canopy strata are more diverse than open and moderate canopy strata. Additionally, when it come to the soil nutrients, canopy openness has a positive impact on most of the forest's soil's nutritional quality in the research site. The study concluded that an open canopy not only encourages regeneration and increases the density of seedlings in forests, but it also improves the nutritional quality of the soil which clarified that the health of the soil and the regeneration layer of forest depends on the canopy cover.

A study was conducted in three categories of crown cover of trees: 10–40, 40–70, and 70–100 % in six community forests (CFs) located in the Chure region of Makawanpur district, Nepal. The study focused on the impact of tree canopy opening on the regeneration layer of forests and soil nutrients. In the research area's undisturbed portion, a systematic sampling procedure was used for the regeneration survey. It was expected that there would be no disturbances in the form of fire, animal grazing, or silvicultural operations. The average seedling density and sapling density of total plant species were found to be higher in the 10 - 40 % crown cover i.e. open strata (18870 per ha and 3225 per ha) respectively than in 40-70 % i.e. moderately dense strata (14281 per ha and 3200 per ha) and 70-100 % crown cover area i.e. dense strata (11185 per ha and 2888 per ha) respectively. There are significant differences in regeneration density between different canopy classes, as shown by the results of the chi-square test performed on the regeneration density in various canopy classes followed by weak Cramer’s V suggesting the strength of the relationship isn’t very strong. The regeneration density single factor ANOVA reveals a significant relationship between the canopy cover and seedling density (p-value 2.75E-10), but no significant relationship between the canopy cover and sapling density (p-value greater than significance level (0.05), 0.41). The Shannon Weiner Diversity Index, the Shannon Equitable Index, and the Simpson diversity index indicate that denser canopy strata are more diverse than open and moderate canopy strata. Additionally, when it come to the soil nutrients, canopy openness has a positive impact on most of the forest's soil's nutritional quality in the research site. The study concluded that an open canopy not only encourages regeneration and increases the density of seedlings in forests, but it also improves the nutritional quality of the soil which clarified that the health of the soil and the regeneration layer of forest depends on the canopy cover.