Twigs, branches, and dead leaves from natural pruning form the first level of the forest food chain and habitat for organisms on the forest floor, which are important for forest dynamics. The mineralization of leaf and twig litter by organisms aids tree nutrition and energy pathways in the ecosystem. Removing forest litter for burning harms forests by removing food sources and habitats for beneficial organisms like nitrogen-fixing bacteria in pine trees. Removing bark from trees also harms them by damaging the cambium layer responsible for nutrient transport. The forest is a complex system where photosynthesis, respiration, and nutrient balances determine a tree's growth, greatest in dense young forests and slowest in mature forests.

1. FOREST NUTRITION: Twigs and branches from Natural Pruning and dead leaves form the first level of most of the food chains of the forest. They also form the natural habitat of biota of the forest floor which are of primary importance in the dynamics of forests.

2. The mineralization of leaf and twig litter, aided by biota, is used by the trees and provides some of the energy pathways through the Eco System. When the forest litter is removed for burning by the local and refugee population great harm is done to the forests. Their food is snatched away and the habitat of biota is ruined. Symbiotic bacteria that help Pine trees in obtaining essential Nitrogen are killed and growth is stunted.

3. Now a days even the bark of Walnut and Pine trees is being removed. This acts as a protection to the Cambium layer. Between these two the tree's nutrition makes it's way up the tree. Complete girdling (removal of bark all around, any place on the bole of the tree) results in death.

4. The forest is a complex Eco System. Nutrition and balance between photosynthesis and respiration are the determining factors for a tree's growth. This is greatest in the dense Pole Stage and slowest in mature trees.

5. DATA The thermal efficiency of photosynthesis is 14 %. Up to 60 % of net radiation received is expended in transpiration. The actual process of photosynthesis accounts for only 1.5 %. Despite this the least productive Forest type is still more productive than many other Eco Systems, for example average cultivated land and the up-swelling zones of oceans.

6. DATA The thermal efficiency of photosynthesis is 14 %. Up to 60 % of net radiation received is expended in transpiration. The actual process of photosynthesis accounts for only 1.5 %. Despite this the least productive Forest type is still more productive than many other Eco Systems, for example average cultivated land and the up-swelling zones of oceans.

7. ENERGY PATHWAY: ENERGY --------- Breakdown of Organic Matter. CONSUMPTION - W eathering Process in Soil. IN THE ----------- Hydrothermic Cycle. FOREST FLOOR - Transport of substances in Soil Profile.

8. QUANTATIVE INVESTIGATION OF CIRCULATION PATHS OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: Nitrogen (N) Potassium (P) Calcium (Ca) Input From Rain. Subsoil Weathering. Circulation within Forest-Soil-Animal System. Losses by way of Crops of Plants or Animals. Runoff in Dissolved & Particulate Forms. Evolved a Circulation System which reduces Nutrient loss from leaching and runoff by keeping Most of the minerals locked up in Vegetation.

9. Long-Term Stability Of a Forest Eco System depends upon the successful balance between the output and input of Nutrients. In case losses are high they need to be replaced.

10. The Cycling of Nutrients in a Forest involves: • Uptake by Plants Return to the soil via dead Organic Matter. Storage within the Organisms.

11. Nutrients The quantities of nutrients at various stages is important to determine the quantities of minerals removed if a tree is harvested and taken elsewhere and if branch, twig and leaf litter is allowed to stay or cleared.

12. SPECIES: PINE PROCESS N (Kgs) P (Kgs) K (Kgs) Ca (Kgs) Uptake 45 5 7 29 Return 35 4 7 19 Storage 10 1 2 10 Thinning Removal 1.8 0.1 1 5

13. NUTRIENT BUDGET: Tropical Forest accumulation: 2,000 to 53,000 Kg per Hectare. Dry Savannah accumulation: 1000 Kg per Hectare.