Species diversity and regeneration status in Sabaiya collaborative forest, Nepal

Abstract

To assess the status of diversity and regeneration of Sabaiya collaborative forest phytosociological study of the forest was carried out and Species Diversity, Importance value index, basal area, density & regeneration status were accessed.Edaphic characteristics were also studied.A total of 51 species were recorded in the study, of which 15 were represented in tree group, 20 in the shrub group and 9 in the herb group.Both seedling and sapling were represented by 11 species each.The forest was dominated by Shorea robusta (68.8%) and Mallotusphillipensis (6.8%).Occasionally Terminalia tomentosa (4%) and Syzygiumcumini (4.8%) were present in the canopy.The sub-canopy was dominated by Lagerstroemia parviflora and Semecarpusanacardium.The understory was quite sparse and dominated by Shorearobusta and Daubanga grandiflora seedlings; and shrubs such as Clerodendroninfortunatum and Eupatorium oderatum.Among herbs Cyperusiria and Cynadondactylon were dominant.Despite having satisfactory regeneration of seedlings of Sal (16960 stem/ha), very few (120 stem/ha) saplings were recorded.Similar was the case with other tree species.The soil was sandy loam to loamy sand, slightly acidic to near neutral (pH 5.34-6.88), soil Nitrogen moderate (0.12-0.25%) and Organic carbon moderate (1.5-3.0%).