Climate Change Impacts on Annual Ring of Pinus Roxburhii (Kavreplanchok, Nepal)

Plant growth ring is highly response to climate variables. Study was objectively done to show trend of climatic variables, assess the response to climate change on ring-width and correlate growth rate-diameter at breast height (DBH) relationship, growth rate- height relationship and DBH-height relationship. The core samples from 22 Pinus roxburghii plants were collected using the increment borer. Data of temperature and rainfall of Kavreplanchok, Nepal was obtained from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and analyzed. Core samples were dried, mounted and sanded for dating and ring measurement using stereo-zoom microscope and LINTAB attached with PC, TSAPwin software. Average annual temperature had increasing trend and annual rainfall showed erratic fluctuation. Temperature and rainfall showed positive correlation (r2= 0.29). DBH and height showed positive and high correlation (r2 0.84). The DBH and ring-width showed positive and moderate correlation (r2= 0.41). This study will be useful to understand the impacts of climate change.

Keywords: climate change, tree ring, growth, correlation, DBH, Height.