STUDIES ON PLANT BIODIVERSITY OF CHAIL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2013
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Plant Biodiversity of Chail Wildlife Sanctuary” was carried out in solan district
of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2012-13 with the aim to assess floristic composition, regeneration and soil physicochemical
properties of major forest communities. Seven different major forest communities were selected viz., Chir forest,
Oak forest, Deodar + Oak forest, Chir + Oak forest, Deodar forest, Deodar + Chir forest and Mixed forest. 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 sub-quadrat 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).
These forests comprised of 99 plant species and 42 families. In Chir forest community, the vegetation was
comprised of 6.66 % trees, 23.33% shrubs and 70% herbs, whereas, in Chir + Oak forest community, 5.88 %, 32.35% and
61.76% vegetation was contributed by trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively. In Deodar forest community, the vegetation was
contributed as: 2.86 % by trees, 25.71% by shrubs and 71.43% by herbs, whereas, in Deodar + Chir forest community, 9.09
%, 31.82% and 59.09% vegetation was contributed by trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively. In Deodar + Oak forest
community, the vegetation was contributed as: 11.11 % by trees, 37.04% by shrubs and 51.85% herbs, whereas, in Oak
forest community, 4.76 %, 28.57% and 66.67% vegetation was contributed by trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively . In
Mixed forest community, the vegetation was contributed as: 12.12% by trees, 36.36% by shrubs and by 51.52% herbs.
Cassia floribunda (shrub) and Dicanthium annulatum (herb) were dominant in Chir forest community. Indigofera pulchella
(shrub) and Fimbristylis rigidula (herb) dominant species in Chir + Oak forest community. In pure Deodar forest
community, Sarcococca pruniforme (shrub) and Woodsia elongate (herb) were dominant species. In Deodar + Oak forest
community, Daphne cannabina (shrub) and Cyperus niveus (herb) were dominant species. In pure Oak forest community,
Myrsine africana (shrub) and Fimbristylis rigidula (herb) species were dominant. In Mixed forest community, Berberis
aristata (shrub) and Cyperus niveus (herb) species were dominant. Species richness in case of herbs, which was maximum in
Deodar forest, whereas in shrubs and trees, it was maximum in Mixed forest. Species diversity in case of herbs was
maximum in Chir forest. In case of shrubs, it was maximum in Chir + Oak forest and in case of trees, it was maximum in
Mixed forest. Species dominance in case of herbs was maximum in Mixed forest and in shrubs, it is maximum in Chir + Oak
forest and trees it was maximum in both pure Deodar and Oak forest community. Overall per cent regeneration success was:
Deodar (67.50) > Chir (65) > Deodar + Oak (55) > Oak (42.5) > Mixed (40) > Chir + Oak (32.5) > Deodar + Chir (30) forest
community. The per cent organic carbon, available nitrogen and phosphorus showed a decreasing trend with the increase in
soil depth, while, soil pH and available potassium showed a reverse trend. These nutrients showed low in Chir forest,
whereas, these were high in Mixed forest.
Description
Keywords
area, regeneration, planting, forestry, byproducts, carbon, imports, layering, research methods, humus, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary HP,Plant Biodiversity