Tree species diversity and dominance in a man-made forest on sodic wasteland of North India

• Published in: Journal of forest research Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 15 - 21
• Main Authors: Singh, Sant P., Garg, Vijay K., Katiyar, Ram S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Taylor & Francis 01.02.2004; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Azadirachta indica; Biodiversity; Cassia siamea; Dalbergia sissoo; Derris indica; Dominance; Dominant species; Man-made forest; Plant diversity; Plant species; Sodic soil; Soil amelioration; Soil pH; Soil surfaces; Soils; Species diversity; Syzygium cumini; Tectona grandis; Terminalia arjuna; Tree diversity
• ISSN: 1341-6979; 1610-7403
• DOI: 10.1007/s10310-003-0050-2

The study was conducted with the objective of studying tree species diversity and dominance and the associated changes in soil characteristics in a man-made forest established on formerly barren sodic land at Banthra Research Station (National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India) (80° 45-53′ E, 26° 40-45′N) over three decades. The results revealed that the forest has a moderate value for the tree species diversity index (H). The tree species Derris indica, Dalbergia sissoo, Azadirachta indica, Cassia siamea, Terminalia arjuna, Syzygium cumini, and Tectona grandis were found to be the major dominant species which may be considered suitable for planting on such degraded wastelands. There was a perceptible reduction in soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and an increase in organic C and Ca 2+ +Mg 2+ cation contents over the past three decades, indicating that the sodicity has declined in the surface soil.