Common Trees Across Study Area

Supplementary Material

Common trees across study area:

Tectonagrandis, Dendrocalamusstrictus, Buteamonosperma, Diospyrosmelanoxylon, Eucalyptus globulus,Madhucaindica, Acacia catechu, Acacia nilotica, Acacia leucophloea, Alangiumsalvifolium, Azadirachtaindica, Bombaxceiba, Boswelliaserrata, Holarrhenaantidysenterica, Prosopisjuliflora, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Mitragynaparvifolia, Wrightiatinctoria, Wrightiatomentosa, Zizyphusjujuba are the common trees found across the study area. Tectona, Dendrocalamus, Prosopis, Madhuca, Acacia spp, Eucalyptus, Mangiferaindica, Azadirachtaindica are the major ones identified and planted widely by the state forest department.

Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC) estimation:

MBC estimation was done for the replicates (n=3) of collected soil samples by chloroform fumigation extraction method (Witt et al. 2000). In brief, 20 g of dried soil samples were taken in 250 ml Schott bottles. Nearly 10 ml of distilled water was added for moistening and triggering microbial activity. Microbial carbon content was extracted immediately in one set of bottles. To these bottles 0.5 M K2SO4 was added. These were placed on a shaker for an hour. The solution was filtered and carbon content of the filtrate was estimated by wet oxidation method. To another set of bottles 3 ml of ethanol free chloroform was added and sealed. After incubating for 24 hours in darkness, the bottles were opened to evaporate chloroform. 0.5 M K2SO4 was added as mentioned earlier and carbon content was estimated. MBC was calculated as the difference in organic carbon content between fumigated (Cf) and unfumigated soils (Cuf).

MBC (mg kg−1) = Cf−Cuf

Table S1: Tree species across four rainfall zones (RFZs).

Table S2: Frequency distribution of trees across the four rainfall zones (RFZs).Frequency classes made according to girth at breast height (GBH, cm) range of trees.

Table S3: Mean values of girth at breast height (GBH, cm), density (number of trees ha−1) and diversity (tree species ha−1) of trees across the four rainfall zones (RFZs).

Table S4:Regression equationsand correlation values (r) of mean values of the observed parameters with mean annual precipitation (MAP, mm yr−1) across four rainfall zones (RFZs) (n=4, P<0.05).

Supplementary Information Figure Captions:

• Figure S1:Geographical location of Gujarat state (INDIA) showing 22 selected districts(highlighted with yellow colour).
• Figure S2: Plot outline (250×250 m) and four sub-plots (quadrats) of 0.1 ha (31.62×31.62 m).
• Figure S3: Relationship between aboveground biomass (AGB) and soil organic carbon (SOC, up to 25 cm soil depth) across four rainfall zones (RFZs), a) RFZ–1 (n=22), b) RFZ–2 (n=31), c) RFZ–3(n=20), and d) RFZ–4 (n=22).
• Figure S4: Relationship between SOC25(Soil organic carbon, SOC at 25 cm soil depth) and SOC100(SOC at 100 cm soil depth) across four rainfall zones (RFZs) (n=95).
• Figure S5: Relationship between soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) across four rainfall zones (RFZs) for, a) 0–5 cm soil depth (n=95), and b) 20–25 cm soil depth (n=95).

Figure S1

Figure S2

Figure S3 (a, b, c, d)

Figure S4

Figure S5 (a, b)