VEGETATION STATUS, COMPOSITION AND  STRUCTURE OF MALIKA FOREST, BAGLUNG,  WESTERN NEPAL

GAIRE, NISHA

VEGETATION STATUS, COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF MALIKA FOREST, BAGLUNG, WESTERN NEPAL

Publisher

Amrit Campus

Abstract

There is the importance of structurally diverse forests for the conservation of biodiversity and provision of a wide range of ecosystem services. The frequency, diversity, density, IVI, Carbon stock and soil nutrient factors of two altitudinal range i.e 1600-2000m and 2000-2400m were quantify to investigate the vegetation diversity of Malika Community Forest. Systematic random sampling was applied for vegetation analysis. Circular quadrat method was used in the field for the observation. The altitude wise collected data was divided into two altitudinal range (1600-2400m). Altogether 70 main quadrats were studied from these two altitudes. For Tree species, altogether 140 quadrats (70X2) were laid for shrub species and 210 quadrats (70X3) for herb species were laid. Circular plot of 10m² radius were laid for the study. Number of seedlings and saplings were also recorded within main plot. Community structured was studies by using vegetation quantitative characters (frequency, density, IVI), carbon stock analysis and regeneration. Total 16 soil samples were prepared for laboratory analyses which were collected from center of each quadrat. For soil analysis both physical as well as chemical parameters like the N, P, K, soil pH, organic matter and soil texture of the soil were tested. In the present study, the tree species diversity decreased from lower to highest altitudes. Between two altitudinal range, the highest frequencies among shrubs was of Rubus ellipticus in lower altitude and of Prunus sp in upper altitude whereas Artemisia indica and Cynodon dactylon which was 34% in lower altitude whereas Stellaria media and Cyperus rotundus has highest frequencies (42%) in upper altitude among herbs and highest frequency was of Pinus among trees. The highest diversity was found among herbs species i.e H=2.97 in low altitudinal range whereas highest diversity in shrubs species in upper altitudinal range of 2000-2400m i.e, H=2.66. In the studied area the highest IVI for herbs was of Stellaria media, Arisaema toftuosum, Ageratina adenophora. Dicranopteris and for shrubs the highest IVI was of Lyonia ovalifolia and Rhus javanica. Among the tree species Pinus roxburghii scored highest IVI recorded as from 2000-2400m. The density of seedlings and saplings of P. roxburghii were highest in both altitudes. The highest carbon stock was reported in P. roxburghii. The tree and shrub species richness increased from lower to higher altitudes.