NPP Grassland: Kurukshetra, India, 1970-1971

Data Citation

Cite this data set as follows:

Singh, J. S., and P. S. Yadava. 1997. NPP Grassland: Kurukshetra, India, 1970-1971. 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

Net primary productivity (NPP) was determined for a tropical grassland at Kurukshetra University in northern India, from 1970 to 1971. NPP was calculated according to several methods, with preference shown for the estimate given by summing positive increases in biomass and accounting for mortality. Total NPP was estimated at 3538 g/m2/yr, with above-ground NPP of 2407 g/m2/yr and below-ground NPP of 1131 g/m2/yr. Work was carried out under the auspices of the Indian IBP programme.

The 2-hectare Kurukshetra study site (29.97 N 76.85 E) was situated on the university campus in the district of Karnal, Haryana state, about 150 km north-north-west of Delhi. It had been maintained as a grassland over the period 1950-1970, with little biotic interference apart from insect and small mammal herbivory. In general, the area is low-lying with little relief but a hummocky topography. The grasslands in this region originated from abandonment of areas previously cleared for cultivation, and are maintained by grazing and annual burning. Climate is tropical monsoonal, with a rainy season from July to September, a cool dry season (October-February) and a hot dry season (March-May).

Detailed monthly data are available on above-ground biomass (14 species categories reported in literature), standing dead and litter, and total below-ground matter. Additional data on solar radiation,canopy stratification, root distribution and estimated energy flows are reported in the literature.

Contact Information

Contact: Dr. J. S. Singh
Department of Botany
Banaras Hindu University
Varanasi 221005
INDIA

Telephone: +91 (542) 312989 (office); 312593 (home)
Fax: +91 (542) 312059
E-mail: jssingh@banaras.ernet.in

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

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