PLANT DIVERSITY, REGENERATION AND SOIL PROPERTIES OF MAJOR FOREST COMMUNITIES OF RAJGARH FOREST DIVISION
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Date
2016
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ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Plant diversity, regeneration and soil properties of major forest
communities of Rajgarh forest division” was carried out in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh during two years from
2013 to 2015 with the aim to assess Plant diversity, regeneration status and soil Status of major forest communities. Six
different major forest communities were selected viz., Chir forest, Oak forest, Deodar forest, Kail forest, Fir & Spruce
forest, and Khair Plantation. In every forest community, 10 quadrats of 10m x 10m (100 sq m) size were randomly laid
to study tree species. The tree species includes all the saplings, poles and trees present in the study area. The shrub and
herbaceous species were studied by laying 10 quadrats randomly in each forest community. In each quadrat, a subquadrat
of 5m x 5m (25 sq m) size for shrubs and a sub-quadrat of 1m x 1m (1sq m) for herbaceous vegetation were
selected. Observations on regeneration were made in a recording unit (quadrat) size of 2m x 2m (4 sq m) and soil
samples were taken at two depths (0-15, 15-30 cm).
These forests comprised of 94 plant species and 52 families. In Chir forest community, the vegetation was
comprised of 14.20% trees, 10.55% shrubs and 75.23% herbs, whereas, in Oak forest community, 18.73 %, 20.21%
and 61.05% vegetation was contributed by trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively. In Deodar forest community, the
vegetation contributed as: 17.72% by trees, 16.69% by shrubs and 62.58% by herbs, whereas, in Kail forest
community, 13.65 %, 31.12% and 55.22% vegetation contributed by trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively. In Fir &
Spruce forest community, the vegetation was contributed as: 15.55 % by trees, 37.17% by shrubs and 47.67% herbs,
whereas, in Khair plantation, 36.82 %, 23.01% and 40.16% vegetation was contributed by trees, shrubs and herbs,
respectively. Cassia floribunda (shrub) and Dicanthium annulatum (herb) were dominant in Chir forest community.
Myrsine africana (shrub) and Cyperus niveus (herb) dominant species in Oak forest community. In pure Deodar forest
community, Sarcococca pruniforme (shrub) and Echinochioa colona (herb) were dominant species. In Kail forest
community, Randia tetrasperma (shrub) and Cyperus niveus (herb) were dominant species. In Fir & Spruce forest
community, Sarcococca pruniforme (shrub) and Cyperus niveus (herb) species were dominant. In Khair plantation,
Murraya koenigii (shrub) and Parthenium hysterophorus (herb) species were dominant. The shrub species richness
was maximum in Kail forest and minimum in Khair plantation and Oak forest. However, herbaceous vegetation
richness was maximum in Chir forest and minimum in Khair plantation. There was not much variation in shrub and
herb species diversity in Chir, Oak, Deodar, Kail and Fir & Spruce forest communities. In case of shrubs, it was
maximum in Kail forest and minimum in Chir forest & Khair plantation and in herbs it was maximum in Chir forest
and minimum in Khair plantation. Shrub and herb dominance did not show much variation in Chir, Oak, Deodar, Kail
and Fir & Spruce, however, dominance was minimum in Khair plantation. Overall per cent regeneration was
satisfactory in Deodar forest (67.50%) and Chir forest (55%), moderate in Oak forest (37.50%), poor in Kail (27.50%)
and Fir & Spruce (15%) forest communities and absent in Khair plantation. In general, available potassium, pH and
bulk density were higher at 15-30 cm compared to 0-15cm soil depth. However, the values of per cent organic carbon,
available nitrogen, available phosphorus and EC were higher in 0-15cm than 15-30cm soil depth. However Zn, Cu, Fe,
Mn did not show any significant variation between different depths.