Data Citation

Kira, T. 1998. NPP Tropical Forest: Khao Chong, Thailand, 1962-1965. Data set. Available on-line [http://www.daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Description

Biomass increment within a 40 m x 40 m study area for all trees greater than 4.5 cm dbh (diameter at breast height, 130 cm) was monitored between 1962 to 1965, and daily litter fall was measured for one month in 1962. Allometric relationships for estimating biomass of various components were checked by destructive harvesting of a plot 10 m x 40 m. Net primary production was estimated as the sum of annual net biomass increase plus extrapolated annual litter-fall.

The Khao Chong Reserve (7.58 N 99.8 E) comprised some 500 ha of well-preserved rain forest on the west slope of the Malay Peninsula's central granitic range in Southern Thailand, about 22 km west of the town of Trang. The forest was considered typical of the region, although maximum tree height (36 m) and biodiversity were less than in Malaysian forests. Mean annual temperature is 27.2 C, and only three months (January - March) receive less than 100 mm precipitation.

Biomass data are available for stems, branches, roots and leaves for February 1962, July 1963, and March 1965 and litter fall for January 1962 to February 9 1962. Leaf area index was relatively high at 11.4 (or 12.3 including ground cover). Net primary production (NPP) of the forest was estimated at 2860 g/m2; this included a probable over-estimate of litter-fall of 2330 g/m2, plus total above plus below-ground woody biomass increment of 656 g/m2, less mortality of 122 g/m2. If mortality is added (instead of subtracted) to the other components of NPP, the total becomes 3108 g/m2, but the Principal Investigator later suggested 2000-2500 g/m2 as a more realistic estimate of NPP. Fine root turnover and grazing were not included in the above estimates.

In the absence of a long-term climate data set for this site or for the town of Trang, an alternative climate data set is provided for Songkhla, Thailand (7.2 N 100.6 E).

Contact Information

Fax: +81 (77) 526-4803

Alternative Address: Prof. Tatuo Kira
International Lake Environment Committee
1091 Oroshimo-cho
Kusatsu
Shiga 525
JAPAN

Telephone: +81 (77) 568-4567
Fax: +81 (77) 568-4568
E-mail: info@mail.ilec.or.jp

Click on the following linked phrase to view references and summaries for the Khao Chong site.