The effect of tree species diversity and soil nutrient availability on productivity in tropical mixed species plantations

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Niamjit Das, Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Background/Question/Methods
The diversity and productivity relationship has received significant consideration during the last decade for the continuing loss of biodiversity. The positive relationship between tree species diversity and productivity is considerable as a credible argument for the conservation of forest biodiversity. This research was conducted in a conservation priority area in the northeastern region of Bangladesh to exemplify the relationship between tree species diversity and productivity and the effect of soil nutrient availability on productivity. In total 252 sample plots (size – 0.25 ha/plot) of seven different old mixed species plantations were systematically selected for data collection. I measured biomass production and availability of soil Organic matter (OM), Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in different combinations of mix-species stands.
Results/Conclusions
After that, the regression analysis was explained significantly positive relationship between tree species diversity and productivity at different age mixed species forest stands and regional forest stand. I used a general linear regression to explore the research objective and soil nutrient variables were integrated in the ordination (CCA) analysis. Thus, the results revealed that soil phosphorus, soil potassium and forest diversity were the main drivers of regional productivity. This research suggests that having more species generally raises plantation productivity. Therefore, these results also propose that tropical mixed species plantations could be the better choice in the degraded and fallow forest lands across the region.