S. K. Ghildiyal ¹, C. M. Sharma ¹, Sumeet Gairola ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University, Post Box # 51, Srinagar Garhwal-246 174, Uttarakhand, IN

Abstract

Fourteen seed sources of Pinus roxburghii from Garhwal Himalaya were evaluated on the basis of variable and heritable characters in seedling growth and biomass production. The maximum environmental coefficient of variance was observed for ischolar_main length and minimum for collar diameter. Among different seed sources, the ischolar_main length oscillated between a minimum of 47.60 cm (in Badiyargarh seed source) to a maximum of 73.73 cm (in Kalimath seed source) after eighteen months of seedling growth. Heritability in broadsense for seedling height was coupled with genetic advance and subsequent gain. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variance were observed for ischolar_main length, ischolar_main biomass, ischolar_main /shoot ratio, seedling height and shoot biomass respectively. The maximum seedling biomass (11.372 g/seedling) was recorded for Thalisain seed source, while minimum (5.962 g/seedling) for Badiyargarh seed source, after eighteen months of growth.

Keywords

Additive Variance, Chir Pine, Coefficient of Variance, Genetic Gain, Provenance Variation

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Sumeet Gairola ¹, Shahid Umar ², Sanghmitra Suryapani ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal - 246 174, Uttarakhand, IN
2 Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi - 110 062, IN

Abstract

The present study was carried out at the Herbal Garden of Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi on Pusa Bharti variety of Spinach Beet (Beta vulgaris Linn.) to understand the effect of potassium with other fertilizers on nitrate accumulation, growth and quality of the leaves. Potassium application along with other fertilizers increased leaf area, per cent dry weight, Chlorophyll Content Index (CCI) and Nitrate Reductase Activity (NRA), but decreased nitrate content. Effect of 2:1 ratio of N and K was found statistically at par with 1:1 ratio of N and K. Fertilizer treatments without potassium had lower level of NRA and higher nitrate content in the leaves as compared to other applications. Application of FYM along with NPK fertilizers increased leaf area, per cent dry weight, CCI and NRA, whereas it decreases nitrate content. As higher NRA and lower nitrate content was recorded in treatments with potassium, application of K is desirable to reduce health hazards related with nitrate toxicity. Based on the results of the study, application of 1:1 ratio of N and K fertilizer and FYM is recommended.

Keywords

Spinach Beet, Potassium, Nitrate Toxicity, Nitrate Reductase, Manure, Fertilizers, NPK

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C. M. Sharma ¹, S. K. Ghildiyal ¹, Sumeet Gairola ¹, Sarvesh Suyal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University, Post Box-51, Srinagar Garhwal-246 174, Uttarakhand, IN

Abstract

The focus of the study is to characterize the structure, composition and diversity of Banj Oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) forests at different altitudes and slopes in Mandal-Chopta area of Garhwal Himalaya. Competing co-dominant tree layers comprised of Persea duthiei and D. himalense at the higher altitude (2100m a.s.l.) and steeper slope (45°); D. himalense and Betula alnoides at the middle altitude (1700m a.s.l.) and moderate slope (38°); and Lyonia ovalifolia and Myrica esculenta at lower altitude (1550m a.s.l.) and gentles slope (30°) were observed in these forests. Community diversity was highest (3.140) at the higher altitude (site-1) whereas the concentration of dominance followed the opposite trend of the diversity. Physico-chemical properties of soils have revealed that availability of higher average total nitrogen and moisture contents might have given birth to higher total basal cover values at middle altitude. The tree density was positively correlated with the tree diversity and tree richness (P<0.001). The vegetational parameters A/F ratio, Shanon-wiener index, Species richness, Margalef index and soil parameters especially pH and available phosphate (kg/ha) were significant (P<0.05%) among the forest sites.

Keywords

Banj Oak Community, Himalaya, Species Evenness, Vegetation Analysis

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Sarvesh Suyal , C. M. Sharma ¹, Sumeet Gairola ¹, S. K. Ghildiyal ¹, C. S. Rana ¹, D. S. Butola ¹

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Botany, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal-246 174, Uttarakhand, IN

Abstract

We report the phytodiversity richness of the moist temperate Chaurangikhal forest of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. We recorded a total of 231 species (227 angiosperms and 4 gymnosperms) belonging to 69 families (67 angiosperms and 2 gymnosperms) and 159 genera (156 angiosperms and 3 gymnosperms). The dicotyledones and monocotyledones were represented by a total of 62 and 5 families, respectively. In the study area, the ratio of family to genus was 1: 2.3, family to species was 1: 3.35 and a genus to species was 1: 1.45. Among all the species recorded the 88.31% (204 spp.) of the total species had common occurrence, whereas rest 11.69% (27 spp.) of the species had uncommon occurrence in the study area. The 10 dominant families of the study area were Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae, Fabaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Polygonaceae, Rubiaceae, Gentianaceae and Poaceae. This data may be useful for biodiversity managers and for optimal utilization of plant resources.

Keywords

India, Phytodiversity, Floristic Composition, Plant Distribution, Garhwal Himalaya, Moist Temperate Forest

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Yateesh Mohan Bahuguna ¹, Sumeet Gairola ², D. P. Semwal ³, P. L. Uniyal ², A. B. Bhatt ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal – 246 174, Uttarakhand, IN
2 Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110 007, IN
3 Plant Exploration and Germplasm Conservation Division, NBPGR, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, IN

Abstract

The present study was undertaken at eight different sites of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) of Garhwal Himalaya, India to understand the physico-chemical properties of soils and influence of bryophytic communities on the status of nutrient availability. In the bryophytes dominated sites the values of organic carbon (0.21%) and nitrogen (0.04%) were found to be low as compared to values for forest soils dominated by higher plants which suggests that bryophytes prefer to occupy the barren sites with low organic matter. Mean available phosphorus content in soil of various sites varied between 13.02 Kgha^-1 and 16.28 Kgha^-1 with estimated mean exchangeable potassium content ranged between 145.60 Kgha^-1 and 216.16 Kgha^-1. A significant negative correlation between soil temperature and moisture content was observed, whereas organic carbon and available phosphorus exhibited significantly positive correlation. Besides the characteristics of soil underneath the bryophytic vegetation, the study also highlights the kind of bryophytes communities found along altitudinal variation and soil types.

Keywords

Liverworts, Hornworts, Mosses, Potassium, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Carbon, Nutrient Availability

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