“ANALYSIS OF VEGETATIONAL STRUCTURE, DIVERSITY AND FUEL LOAD IN FIRE AFFECTED AREAS OF TROPICAL MOIST DECIDUOUS FORESTS IN CHHATTISGARH”
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Date
2010
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Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur
Abstract
The study on “Analysis of vegetational structure, diversity and fuel load in fire affected areas of Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests in Chhattisgarh” was carried out at Achanakmar – Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh during the year 2009-2010. Historical ground based fire data of last 10 years was used for delineation and identification of fire affected areas. Based on the frequency and spatial extent of forest fire damage, the fire affected areas were divided into four fire zones viz., high, medium, low and no fire zones. Under each fire zone the characterization of vegetation and fuel load assessment was done in pre-fire and post-fire seasons in order to assess both qualitative and quantitative changes in vegetation. The study proved that forest fire had significantly influenced the structure, composition, diversity and fuel load in moist deciduous forest. Maximum density of trees was recorded under low fire zone followed by high fire, medium fire, and non fire zones. Unlike higher density of saplings, lower shrub density was recorded under low fire zone. In all fire zones maximum seedlings and herbeceous species showed contiguous and random distribution in the study area. The result reflected almost 22.58% decrease density of seedlings after fire season whereas in herb layer 47.20%. The density of trees across the various forest fire zones, in the present study ranged from 250 to 435 ha-1, whereas in shrub layer varied from 240 to 720 ha-1, saplings density across the fire zones was ranged from 130 to 215 saplings h-1. Tree layer vegetation Shannon index value highest at high fire zone. The concentration of dominance had inverse relationship with the Shannon index. The beta diversity for tree layer were ranged from 6.93 to 11.60, for sapling layer varied from 7.07 to 11.5, for seedling layer it was ranged from 5.41 to 6.57 and for shrub and herb layers beta diversity 7 to 14 and 7.27 to 13.33, respectively. Under the regeneration pattern of tree species in all the fire zones recorded as Shorea robusta, and Cassia fistula, Tectona grandis, Embelia robusta, Schleichera oleosa, Diospyros melanozygon and Lagerstromeia parviflora. These structure represented for frequent reproduction. The population of Shorea robusta seedling class (A) and sapling class (B) referred as a fair reproducer Semecarpus anacardium, Terminalia tomentosa represented higher size class (E) and lower size (A) classes of such population structure as infrequent reproducer. A greater population of individuals in lower size classes compared to larger classes as exemplified by Shorea robusta, and Cassia fistula, Tectona grandis, Embelia robusta, Schleichera oleosa, Diospyros melanozygon and Lagerstromeia parviflora. This structure represented for frequent reproduction
The total fuel load in different fire zones during pre fire seasons followed the order: Non fire > Medium fire> High fire >Low fire zones. The total litter during post fire seasons was in the following order: Non fire > Low fire > medium fire > High fire zones. The study revealed the marked influence of forest fire on the vegetation structure, diversity and change in the fuel load in the forest floor after fire season in moist deciduous forests in Achanakmar – Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
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