Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Vegetation; Aspects; Altitude, Species; Composition

Introduction

The recorded forest area of Himachal Pradesh is 37,033 km2 which constitute 66.52 per cent of the total geographical area (55,673 km2). The forest cover of the state based on satellite data (October- December, 2004) is 14,369 km2, which constitute only 25.81 per cent of geographical area (Anonymous, 2005). Due to imposition of ban on green felling since 1985, the ecological significance of forest has increased to a greater extent (Nanda, 2005).

The distribution of species and their richness pattern are also largely regulated by physiographic factors (Sharma et al. 2009a, 2009b). This type of ecological knowledge can prove to be fundamental for conservation and sustainable utilization of forests, and may help policy makers for drafting management plans for fragile mountain ecosystems [2].

The pattern of biodiversity along different elevations is a welldominated ecological phenomenon. Community composition and structure are important factors affecting diversity patterns in plant communities. Furthermore, species diversity along altitudinal gradient differs in different layers at different scales. The organization of biodiversity across space and time has long been a central concern of ecologists and bio-geographers (Brown and Lomolino 1998, Field et al. 2009).

Elevation, aspect, and slope are the three main topographic factors that control the distribution and pattern of vegetation in mountain areas (Titshall et al. 2000). Among these three factors, elevation is most important (Day and Monk 1974, Busing et al. 1992).

Kandaghat tehsil in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh (India) is situated on the Kalka-Shimla National Highway No. 22. It is situated between 30.9700N latitude and 77.10540E longitude. The recorded forest area of Kandaghat is 786.4 ha which constitute 366 ha reserved forest. Its slopes vary considerably and are generally moderate to slightly steep except in Karol tibba. The climate of the Kandaghat is moist and cool. The seasons are well marked with distinct summer, rainy, autumn and winter seasons. The minimum temperature goes down below -20 C in high places during winter season and the maximum temperature exceeds 33°C in lower places during summer season. The highest peak in this area is Karol tibba. The major tree species of Kandaghat forest range are chirpine, ban oak and deodar along with toona, bihul etc [3].

This study was an attempt to understand the regeneration status and biomass production potential along altitudinal ranges and aspects at the Kandaghat hill. Vegetation plays an important role in soil formation. Plant tissues (from above ground litter and below ground root detritus) are the main source of soil organic matter, which influence physiochemical characteristics of soil (Johnston, 1986).

Material and Methods

Study site

The present study entitled was undertaken in the year of 2018-2019 in purposely selected natural forests of Kandaghat Forest Range of Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya. For this three different altitude viz., <1800 m, 1800-2100 m and >2100 m ranges were selected. At each altitude three replications were randomly laid out with plot size of 0.1 ha in four different aspects viz., North, South, West and East, respectively. The details of the experimental site, sampling technique, methodologies adopted and material used for the investigation are as under: The Solan district lies between longitudes 76056’ and 77012’ East and latitudes 30046’ and 31010’ North. The geographical area of division is 721.30 sq. km. It is surrounded on the North by the Shimla Forest Division, on the East by the Rajgarh Forest Range, on the West by Kunihar Forest Division and South by Haryana State. The Northern and North-Western slopes of Sutlej catchment, North Eastern and Eastern slopes of Ghaggar catchment of the erst while Pepsu State now Kandaghat Range are having good forests of Ban-Oak. The important peak in the tract are Karol (2253 meters), Rajgrah (2100 meters), Monkey Point (1907 meters) Basha top (1900 meters) and Banasar top (1664 meters).

Weather and climate

The weather of study site was temperate to humid. The maximum mean temperature varied from 21.5 to 35.7˚C and minimum temperature from 10.5 to 25.95˚C. The average relative humidity and rainfall was 57% and 73.45 mm, respectively (Table 1).

Table 1: Mean monthly meteorological data of the study area for the year 2018-2019.

Vegetation analysis

Tree: The plots of 0.1 ha (31.62×31.62 m2) were marked in each elevation and aspects for analyzing structural and functional parameters of tree vegetation. Basal area of each tree in the sample plot was determined by tree caliper and height was measured by Spiegel Releskope [4 ].

Shrubs: The shrub characteristics at each altitude and aspect were studied by laying out five quadratic sub-plots of size 5 m×5 m in each sample plots of selected for trees. Density of shrub was calculated by counting plants of different species in each sub-plot. Stratified sampling of each shrub species was done by grouping them in to three categories by visual appearance viz., a) large b) medium and c) small on the basis of size and number of stems in each of them. In each category, numbers of plants were counted. Basal area of stem was determined by vernier caliper [5 ].

Herbs: Herbaceous vegetation in different elevation and aspects was studied at the one quadrat of size 1 m×1 m each from each sample plot at every elevation and aspect. The vegetation from each quadrate was segregated species wise and identified with the help of herbarium in the university, expert, journals and research books. The numbers of tiller in each herb species were counted to find out their density. Collar diameter of bundle of tillers of each herb species was measured to determine basal area of each species [6].

Results and Discussion

There are large number of environmental factors which influence the species richness and composition, such as elevation and habitat (Chandra et al. 2010). The occurrence of Quercus leucotrichophora on almost all the sites along the temperate altitude suggest their tolerance to biotic pressure and wider eccological amplitude [7 ].

Biodiversity of trees, shrubs and herbs at different altitudinal ranges and aspects

It is evident from data persented in Table 2 that the maximum number of tree species (6) were reported at lower (<1800 m) altittude on western aspect, followed by northern aspect at same altitudinal range. The minimum number of tree species were found on eastern aspect at higher altitude (>2100 m).

Table 2: Biodiversity at different altitudinal ranges and aspects.

In case of shrub species, the maximum number of species (13) were recorded at middle 1800-2100 m altitude on sothern aspect whereas, the least number of shrub species (4) were recorded at higher (>2100 m) altitude on eastern aspect. 9 herb species belonging to 8 families wise were found at higher altitude (>2100 m) on northern aspect whereas, minimum number of species (4) found on eastern aspect at lower altitude (<1800 m), followed by southern aspect at same altitude, respectively (Table 2).

Tree species of the site: Acer oblungum, Bauhinia variegate Cedrus deodara, Grewia optiva, Myrica esculenta, Pinus roxburghii, Populus deltoids, Punica granatum, Pyrus pashia, Pistacia integerrima, Quercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboretum, Toona ciliata.

Shrub species of the site: Adhatoda vasica, Artemisia valgaris, Berberis aristata, Berberis vulgaris, Boenninghausenia albiflora, Carissa carandes, Cassia floribunda, Coriaria nepalensis, Daphne cannabina, Hypercium ablongifolium, Indigofera pulchella, Lantana camara, Myrsine Africana, Osyris arborea, Prinsepia utilis, Rabdosia rubescens, Randia tetrasperma, Rubus ellipticus, Rubus niveus, Sarcococca saligna, Woodfrordia floribunda, Woodfordia fruticosa.

Herb species of the site: Artemisia roxburghiana, Arisaema sp., Bidens pilosa, Cyperus rotundas, Dioscorea esculenta, Fragaria indica, Micromera bilflora, Polystichum discretum, Rubia cardifolia, Strobilanthus wallichii/alstata, Thalictrum foliolosum, Viola canescens, Viola serpens [8 -13].

Conclusion

The presented study was conducted at three different altitudinal ranges along four aspects of Kandaghat Forest Range of Solan division. All of these sites are located in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.

In the present study, a total of 48 plant species were found of which 13 were tree species, 22 shrub species and 13 herb species belonging to 33 families. The tree species ranged from 2 to 6, shrub species from 4 to 13 and herbaceous vegetation ranged from 4 to 9 species. Maximum tree floristic diversity was found at lower (<1800 m) altitudinal range on western aspect, shrub diversity also at same altitudinal range on southern aspect and herb diversity was found at higher (>2100 m) altitudinal range on northern aspect.

In the mountainous regions, altitude has greater effect on temperature than latitude and the rate of decrease is much more rapid in summer than in winter that ultimately cause the altitudinal zonation of vegetation (Heaney, 1989; Tanner et al. 1998; Givnish, 1999).

Acknowledgement

We are thankful to the Department of Forestry, Dr Yaswant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan for providing all necessary facilities to carry out research work.

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