Assessing Biomass Expansion Factor of Birch Tree Betula utilis D. DON

Biomass is the component of living organism and mostly obtained from plants, animals, insects and the residue of all the mentioned organisms. Biomass is the key source of energy present in the form of organic matter. The study aimed to find out biomass and its variation in each component of Betula utilis D. Don (Birch Tree) with varying diameter at Kalam forest division Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, Pakistan. The biomass of different components was determined by non-destructive methods. Overall, 30 trees were selected from different diameter classes viz a viz up to 10, 11 20 and greater than 20 cm. Ten trees were selected from each class. The diameter of stem and large branches and their length were measured in the field. Later, the volumes of stem and branches were calculated and converted into biomass. The study revealed that stem contributes 42.65% biomass followed by large and sub branches as 39.22% and 13.54% respectively. Leaves contribute 4.59% only. The above tree biomass contribution by different components was arranged as stem was greater than large branches; these were greater than sub branches and the lowest was in leaves. The total above ground biomass of single tree was 20.59, 58.041 and 197.214 kg∙tree−1 respectively for diameter up to 10, 11 20 and greater than 20 cm. The averaged biomass in all diameter classes was 91.95 ± 93.064 kg∙tree−1. The total biomass of single tree of diameter class up to 10, 11 20 and greater than 20 cm was 24.71, 69.649 and 236 kg respectively. The below ground biomass of single tree of diameter class up to 10, 11 20 and greater than 20 cm was 4.11 ± 1.24 kg, 11.61 ± 3.56 kg and 39.44 ± 8.9 kg respectively. The biomass expansion factor was 1.34, 1.47, and 1.5 t∙m−3 respectively for diameter classes up to 10 cm, 11 20 cm and greater than 20 cm respectively. The mean biomass expansion factor for all diameter classes was 1.44 t∙m−3.