Community Structure and Biomass Production in a Restored Rock Phosphate Mine

Community structure of vegetation and biomass productionlhectarein an ecologically restored rock phosphate mine has been evaluated after ten years of restoration. Mining adversely effects the natural resources of the area viz; vegetation, soil, water etc. Productivity and natural resource components of mined lands can be restored by using natural successional patterns based on ecological principles. In the present investigation attempt has been made to evaluate the community structure and biomass of vegetation in a ten year old ecologically restored rock phosphate mine located in a tropical dry deciduous forest (pre mine) in Northern India. Findings of the present study reveal that most of the species of grasses and shrubs planted initially to restore the areas have been replaced by naturally invading species. The restored plant community has herbs and grasses> shrubs> tree pattern of multistoreyed community organization. Total aboveground standing crop biomass (oven dry weight) after ten years of ecological restoration is 43.94 tonnes/hectare mainly contributed by the tree species (93.58%).