Comparative assessment of edaphic features and phytodiversity in lower Dachigam National Park, Kashmir Himalaya, India

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the comparative assessment of edaphic factors and phytodiversity of herbaceous vegetation on seasonal basis spring (March to May), summer (June to August), autumn (September to November) and winter (December to February), at two different ecosystems in lower Dachigam National Park, Kashmir Himalaya. Phytosociological attributes of plant species were studied by randomly laying 25 quadrats of 1×1 m² size at both sites. The vegetation data recorded was quantitatively analysed for density, frequency and abundance. Plant diversity was evaluated using different diversity indices. The abundance to frequency ratio (A/F) for different species was determined by eliciting the distribution pattern (regular <0.025, random 0.025-0.05 and contagious >0.05). The results indicated edaphic factors highest at site II (MC, 35.55%), (OC, 4.73%) and (TN, 0.36%). pH showed acidic to nearly alkaline kind of nature at both sites with site I at higher side (5.95 to 7.52). Phytodiversity revealed site II comparatively higher in Shannon diversity and species richness during summer season (3.66, 7.92). However, evenness index showed similar trend with equal value at both sites (0.94). Dominance showed an inverse relationship to diversity (H′). Species at both sites were contagiously distributed followed by random one whereas regular distribution was almost negligible. The study concluded that seasons have great influence on edaphic factors and species diversity. An increase in species diversity was observed during spring and summer season which declined thereafter as autumn and winter approached resulted in decrease in diversity due to multitude of factors.

Keywords: Soils, biodiversity, community structure, seasons, species, grazing, forest.