Vegetation Structure, Floristic Composition and Species Diversity of Acacia catechu Bearing Forest Types in Western Himalaya, India

Abstract

Six different A. catechu bearing forest types including one plantation of A. catechu were selected for phytosociological studies in the Western Himalayan region of India. 72 sample plots of 0.1ha were selected. The plant genetic spectrum was made up of 75 genera with 86 species belonging to 43 families. Vegetational analysis revealed that in Dry Shiwalik Sal forest, the dominant tree species was Shorea robusta while in Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous forest, Dry Deciduous Scrub forest and Dry Riverine forest, the dominant tree species was Acacia catechu. In Lower Shiwalik Chirpine forest, the dominant tree species was Pinus roxburghii. SDI for trees was higher under Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest, while for shrubs and herbs it was higher under Dry Riverine forest and Acacia catechu plantations respectively. In all the sites of different forest types, the value of similarity index was quite high which can be attributed to similar environmental conditions