SPATIOTEMPORAL ASPECTS OF PLANT COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN OPEN SCRUB RANGELANDS OF SUB-MOUNTAINOUS HIMALAYAN PLATEAUS

Six ecologically diverse study sites were studied for changes in the structure of open scrubtype plant community over space and time. Ecological data were recorded using Fixed Quadrat Sampling Method and analyzed by using pRDA technique. Results revealed that enough moisture, suitable temperature and availability of macronutrients during summer lead to the maximal complexity of all communities which was follows by autumn and spring. However, the reverse was true during winter. Similarly, the study of different sites also revealed significant variation in plant communities that seemed to be highly associated with the soils physico-chemical properties. For example, most of the species were found to be dominant in soils containing higher macronutrients with high field capacity (Khabeki, Khoora and Knotti Garden sites). Salt and drought tolerant species were dominant in saline soil with steep slopes and at higher elevation (Jallar site). In contrast, moisture loving species were closely associated with the springs and water channels (Knotti Garden and Dape Sharif sites). In conclusion, the spatio-temporal variations in plant communities of this area were found to be a result of the moisture contents, filed capacity, soil macro-nutrients and type and composition of the soil and elevation of selected sites.

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