ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF BURNING ON VEGETATION IN HIMALAYAN CHIR PINE (PINUS ROXBURGHII SARG.) FORESTS, INDIA

Abstract

The study was conducted in three Forest Divisions i.e. Solan, Nahan and Rajgarh of Himachal Pradesh, India to determine the impact of controlled burning on the diversity of shrubs and herbs in chir pine forests. A total 2.00 ha was selected for study on each site. The controlled burning was conducted in 1.5 ha (B1) during January 2017 and 1.0 ha (B2) in January 2018. A 0.50 ha was designated for control treatments on each site. The field observations of phytosociology were recorded during November, 2018. A total number of 49 species was found at all three sites. The number of species varied from 27 at Lawasachowki (B2) to 35 at Mangotimor (C). The diversity of shrubs ranged from 2.17 at Bagpashog (B2) to 2.66 at Mangotimor (C), whereas for herbs it ranged from 2.82 at Mangotimor (C) and Lwasachowki (C) to 3.25 at Bagpashog (B2). The density of shrubs and herbs of control (C) were significantly different from burning treatments (B1 and B2). The density and diversity of shrubs were found higher in control as compared to burning treatments on each sites and vice versa for herbs.