STUDIES ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND PLANT BIODIVERSITY STATUS OF DEODAR (Cedrus deodara) PLANTATIONS ALONG ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT IN RAJGARH FOREST DIVISION
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Date
2016
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ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on growth performance and plant biodiversity status of
deodar (Cedrus deodara) plantations along altitudinal gradient in Rajgarh forest division” was carried out in
Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2014-15 with the aim to assess growth performance, soil
physico-chemical properties and understory plant diversity of deodar plantation. Three elevations were selected
viz., 1500-1800 m, 1800-2100 m, 2100-2400 m in northern and southern aspect. In each elevation 3 different
sites were selected and 1 quadrat of 25m x 40m (0.1 ha) size was randomly laid to study tree species and
composite soil samples were taken from each quadrat to study the soil physico chemical properties. The tree
species includes all the saplings, poles and trees present in the study area. The shrub and herbaceous species
were studied by laying 3 quadrats randomly in each elevation and aspect. In each quadrat, a sub-quadrat of 5m x
5m (25 sq m) size for shrubs and a sub-quadrat of 1m x 1m (1 sq m) for herbaceous vegetation were selected.
The highest (786.56) numbers of trees were observed in the northern aspect at 1800-2100m elevation while
lowest (536.67) were present in southern aspect. The diameter, height, basal area, volume, biomass, and carbon
increment were observed highest at 1800-2100 m elevation in northern aspect as: 0.333 cm, 0.277 m, 0.350 m2
ha-1, 3.638 m3 ha-1, 1695.55 kg ha-1 and 847.78 kg ha-1 respectively. While lowest values were observed in the
southern aspect. The soil nutrients like available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, soil moisture
and soil humus depth were found in the range as: 253.88-511.18 kg ha-1, 9.27-24.75 kg ha-1, 167.25-285.14 kg
ha-1, 1.33-2.55 %, 20.32-39.74 % and 0.63-1.40 cm respectively. Soil available nitrogen, phosphorus, organic
carbon, soil moisture and soil humus depth were found higher in northern aspect while potassium was found
highest in southern aspect. In plant diversity the shrubs density, abundance and percent frequency were found
highest in northern aspect at lower elevation, and lowest in southern aspect at upper elevation. While basal area
was found highest in southern aspect. In herbaceous vegetation the density and abundance were found highest in
southern aspect at 1800-2100 m elevation, while basal area and percent frequency were found highest in
northern aspect at 1500-1800 m and 1800-2100 m elevation respectively. The similarity index of both herbs and
shrubs increased with the increase in elevation. The shrubs diversity, dominance and richness were highest in
northern aspect at middle elevation. The herbs diversity was found highest in northern aspect and dominance
and richness were highest in southern aspect.