Regeneration potential of conifers along an elevation gradient under highly disturbed regimes in the western Himalayan region

This paper focuses on growth pattern of seedlings from tree-ring proxies and their performance at different altitudes under high disturbance regime. The disturbance is predominately anthropogenic. Four conifer species found during investigations, namely, Pinus wallichiana, Pinus roxburghii, Cedrus deodara and Abies pindrow. The parameters chosen for assessment of regeneration potential were age and growth rate. In addition, edaphic and topographic characteristics of thirty disturbed forest stands were also determined. The stands were deterministically selected because these were deteriorating with respect to tree population, biodiversity and degradation of soil. Seedling density varied in the order: P. wallichiana > Pinus roxburghii > C. deodara > Abies pindrow while the growth rate was exhibited in the order Pinus roxburghii > P. wallichiana > Abies pindrow > C. deodara. These findings suggest that Pinus roxburghii is the most suitable species (sub tropical species) at lower elevations (~1600–1900 a.s.l.) with regard to its regenerative ability and consequently potentially useful for the conservation of these forests. P. wallichiana showed highly significant (P < 0.01) correlations with PC1 (primarily controlled by total dissolved salts and water holding capacity) only whereas Abies pindrow was highly correlated (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01) with PC1 and PC2 respectively (function of oxidative-reductive potential and water holding capacity) while C. deodara and Pinus roxburghii did not show correlation with any of the PCA components. In the light of current findings, Pinus roxburghii was found to be effectively adapted to the environment of the study area. Growth rate of species steadily decreased in response to unfavorable conditions. The other pine species i.e. P. wallichiana (moist temperate species) also showed some degree of adaptability under the influence of predefined environmental attributes. Hence pines are most likely the species that can be able to retain forest cover in future and are the best choice for restoration of these forests. However, the other conifers i.e. C. deodara and Abies pindrow are also able to withstand the physiographic characteristics and the extent of perturbation and persisting possibly beyond their tolerance limits but they need to be preserved and retained in these forests. Conifers are still giving positive response with respect to growth rate and their adaptive compatibility to such an extent that this forest can recover if management and conservation strategies are implemented. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that seedlings and saplings should be conserved to assure future forest cover.