ANALYSIS OF IMPACT OF ECOLOGICAL AND EDAPHALOGICAL PARAMETERS ON PHYTOSOCIOLOGY OF PLANTS OF SAMAHNI HILLS, DISTRICT BHIMBER AJK

Abstract

Phytosociological evaluation gives the necessary information on the structure of vegetation and its interaction with the ecological and edaphic factors. The current investigation determines the effects of the ecological and soil parameters on the plant community structure in the Samahni Hills, District Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Sampling of the vegetation was done in spring 2020 and summer 2021, with the quadrat technique through twelve predetermined sites. There were 360 quadrats with trees (10 x 10 m), shrubs (5 x 5 m) and herbs (1 x 1 m). Phytosociological parameters such as density, frequency, canopy cover, importance value index (IVI), species richness, and indices of variety were obtained. A total of 12 plant communities were determined containing 56 plant species of 30 families with the most common families being the Mimosaceae, Poaceae and Euphorbiaceae. The altitude between locations varied between 220 and 493 m. The analysis of life forms showed that megaphanerophytes and therophytes were the dominant leaf form and microphyll and mesophyll were the common leaf spectra suggesting subtropical vegetation features. The soil analysis revealed that there was variation in the texture of soil between loamy and sandy loam, and soil pH between 7.42 and 8.31, organic matter between 0.13 0.80 and potassium level between 0.18 0.35 ppm. Out of those species that were recorded, 31 were palatable and 23 were non-palatable. The results indicate that vegetation structure is significantly dependent on edaphic conditions as it highlights the role played by soil properties in the distribution of plant communities. The paper identifies sustainability of management and conservation measures in maintaining vegetation diversity in the Samahni Hills.