Variation of Floristic Diversity along Altitudinal Gradient in Pir Panjal Forests of North Western Himalaya, India
Saima Farooq *
Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Benhama, Ganderbal-191201, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
P. A. Sofi
Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Benhama, Ganderbal-191201, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Nazir A. Pala
Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Benhama, Ganderbal-191201, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Sajad Abdullah Saraf
Division of Agricultural Economics and Statistics, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-K, Wadura Sopore-193201, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
S. A. Gangoo
Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Benhama, Ganderbal-191201, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Amerjeet Singh
Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Benhama, Ganderbal-191201, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
T. H. Masoodi
Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Benhama, Ganderbal-191201, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Bhagyashree Dhekale
Division of Agricultural Statistics, SKUAST-K, Shalimar-190025, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study is an attempt to make a floristic inventory in Raithan Range of Pir Panjal Forest Division of, Jammu and Kashmir India. For this purpose, a preliminary study was carried with the aim to know the diversity of flora at different altitudes ranging from 1800-2800m amsl. For study purpose the area was divided into 3 different altitudes viz - 1800m, 2300m and 2800m amsl. The reported results revealed that, a total of 136 species from 58 different families and 113 genera were recorded. Out of 136 species there are 29 tree species (belonging to 16 families), 9 shrub species (6 families), 92 herb species (33 families), 4 climber species (4 families) and 2 fern species (belonging to 2 different families). The Asteraceae and Rosaceae family were dominant in the research area, according to the data. Among different sites in the study area, site 1 (altitudinal range of 1800-2300m) showed maximum diversity of flora represented by 85 species, followed by site 2 (2300-2800m) represented by 71 species and least at site 3 (> 2800m) represented by 49 species. The study is a preliminary one and can be used for management of the species having less population for conservation and sustainable utilization.
Keywords: Diversity, Himalaya, altitude, flora, tree, conservation