Research
Allelopathic Effect of Populus Nigra Bark on Zea Mays in Agroforestry Ecosystems
The study was designed to explore the allelopathic effect of Populus nigra bark on Zea mays under labourtary condition during 2014-2015. The allelopathic influence of aqueous extracts of P. nigra bark have determined on the germination, seedling growth, fresh weight and dry weight of Zea mays. ANOVA (RCBD) showed no significant effects of concentration and duration on germination between group as well as within group. On plumule length the significant effects of concentration (F=28.1457) was found within group while the effect of duration (F=2.4125) showed significant effects within group and between group i.e. concentration and duration, no significant was found. On plumule length significant effects of concentration was found within group (F=17.2154) and between group (F= 12.8457) while the effect of 48h duration showed significant effects within group (F=4.8654). On fresh weight significant effects of high concentration was found within group (F=37.3254) and between group (F=18.5241) while the effect of duration (F=4.6584) showed significant effects within group. On dry weight significant effects of concentration (F=27.5684) was found within group. The effect of duration (F=412.8457) showed significant effects within group while between the group (F=7.76352) significant effect was present. These findings indicate that P. nigra bark sown in fields which had leaf and stem litter of test plant will be adversely affected regarding germination, growth and ultimately resulting in lower yield
Classification and Ordination of Vegetation in Shahbaz Gari, District Mardan
A survey of natural vegetation of Shahbaz Ghari, District Mardan was undertaken in 2013-2014. Total 48 plant species in 9 communities were observed by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Detrended Correspondence. Plant species of each community are presented together which showed the correlation between species. The results represent that group A1a have 6 species, group A1b (2 species), A2 (3 species), group B1a (9 species) group B1bi (13 species), group B1bii (6 species), group B2 (9 species) and total important value was 53.9, 27.4, 37.6, 43, 44.9, 36.6 and 56.5 respectively. The Detrended Correspondence Analysis showed that the highest weighted mean species scores 2.88% was presented by Stellaria media followed by Boerhaavia procumbens (2.76%) and Chenopodium album (2.75%). Classification and ordination techniques provided very similar results based on the floristic composition and communities similarity. The results produced the source for the mapping division of vegetation.
Ethnobotanical Report of Kotal Wild Life Park and Contiguous Area Pakistan
The present paper was designed to take out ethnobotanical data in Kotal wild life park and contiguous area Kohat. We documented the use of 211 plants belonging to 170 genera and 64 families included 144 herbs, 32 shrubs, 28 trees, 4 twiner and 3 parasites. On the basis of multiple purposes the herb are utilized 53.13% in which 2 herbs have 9 (30%) uses, 2 herbs have 6 (20%) uses,14 herbs have 5 (16.67%) uses, 22 herbs have 4 (13.33%) uses, 43 herbs have 3 (10%) uses, 29 herbs have 2 (6.667%) uses and 32 herbs have single (3.333%) use; tree (28.85%) In which 4 trees have 10 (22.22%) uses, 11 trees have 9 (20%) uses, 4 trees have 8 (17.78%) uses, 2 trees have7 (15.56%) uses, 1 tree have 6 (13.13) uses and 6 trees have 5 (11.11%) uses; shrub (16.06%) in which 2 shrubs have 9 (26.47%) uses, single shrubs have 8 (23.53%) uses, 4 shrubs 5 (14.71%), 3 shrubs 5 (14.71%), 12 shrubs 4 (11.76%), 6 shrubs 2 (5.882%) and 2 shrubs single (2.941%) use; twiner (1.44%) and parasite (0.52%). The area was investigated for the first time and information about the traditional uses with special reference to their medicinal were collected and documented before they are lost. From the economic and botanical point of view the study area has great potentiality.
Ordination and Classification of Vegetation in Semi Arid Area of Pakistan
A survey of natural vegetation of Tehsil Takht-e- Nasrati, District Karak was undertaken in spring 2010-2011. Total 66 species were recorded during spring. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) were used for the plant community analysis. Plant species of each community type are presented together with the information on dominance and sub-dominance species. Four plant co- mmunities association i.e. Prosopis- Fagonia-Saccharum association, Zizyphus-Saccharum-Acacia association, Fagonia-Zizyphus-Eragrostis association and Aerua-Acacia-Cymbopogon association were recognized. Classification and ordination techniques provided very similar results based on the floristic composition and communities similarity. The results produced the source for the mapping division of plant life communities.
Floristic Composition and Ecological Characteristics of Shahbaz Garhi, District Mardan, Pakistan
The study was designed to explore the floristic composition and biological characteristics of the area. A record of plant species of Shahbaz Garhi, Mardan was organized during 2009 – 2010. A record of plant species was organized on the source of field trips conducted in winter, summer and monsoon and identified with available literature. The plants were classified into different life form and leaf size classes after standard methods. The flora consisted of 132 plant species belonging to 104 genera and 47 families. Asteraceae and Poaceae are the dominant families. The biological spectrum explains that therophytes (63 spp., 47.73%) were the dominant followed by chamaephytes (24 spp., 18.18%), magaphanerophytes (15 spp., 11.36%), hemicryptophytes (13 spp., 9.85%), nanophanerophytes (12 spp., 9.09%), geophytes (4 spp., 3.03%) and parasite (1 spp., 0.76%). Leaf size classes of plants consisted of microphylls (62 spp., 46.97%), mesophylls (28 spp., 21.21%), nanophylls (18 spp., 13.64%), leptophylls (15 spp., 11.36%) and megaphylls (9 spp., 6.82%). Analysis of the study reveals the phytoclimate to be of therophytic type. The domination of therophytes indicates that the investigated area is under deep biotic stress.
Plants Community Composition and Dynamism during Summer in Tehsil Takht-E-Nasrati Hills, District Karak, Pakistan
Plant life community structure is a key marker of long-term vegetation change in semi-arid ecosystems. In the present investigation overall 11 plant communities were recorded during summer. The number of plant species differs in different communities. As a whole in plains the Cenchrus-Zizyphus- Saccharum community was developed and composed of 36 species. There were 9 tree, 12 shrub and 15 herb species. The importance value contributed by three dominants species i.e., Zizyphus maurtiana, Aerua persica and Rhazya stricta was 63.34 while total importance value of 236.66 was provided by the remaining species. The contribution by tree was 47.76, shrubs (IV = 82.05) and herbs (IV = 170.20). The soil of the area had better calcium carbonate in the range of (12.3 – 12.7 %), with soil pH (6.06 – 8.13). The concentrations of P and K content were found in the range of (3.64-3.86 mg Kg-1) and (112-127 mg Kg-1). The EC was found in the range of (0.15-0.21 dS m-1). The soil texture was found from sandy clay to sandy clay loam. These results emphasize the continuous need for long-term ground-based ecological monitoring in conjunction with satellite-based monitoring of changes in plant life cover.
Altitudinal and Seasonal Effect on Herbaceous Biomass in Tehsil Takht-E-Nasrati, District Karak, Pakistan
To record the existing herbaceous biomass diversity of Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, Pakistan, field surveys were regularly conducted in spring, summer and winter 2009-2010. There was an increasing inclination of Biomass as of spring to winter. However, the collective amount of grasses and herbs Biomass (426.5 Kg.hec-1) was significantly higher during spring at Stand 1 as compared to other seasons and Stands. The average grasses and herbs Biomass was decreasing with increasing altitude. The herb Biomass was high (730 Kg.hec-1) during spring at Stand 1 and low during summer (194 Kg.hec-1) at Stand 4. The grass Biomass was high during summer (173 Kg.hec-1) at Stand 3 and less during winter (74 Kg.hec-1) at Stand 1. The total herb mean Biomass was greater during spring (536.30 Kg.hec-1) while the grass had (129.9 Kg.hec-1) during summer. The total average Biomass was high at Stand 1 (262.58 Kg.hec-1). The total mean and average Biomass of Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati was 223.23 Kg.hec-1. The Biomass of herbs helps to conserve the bio energy, chemical constituents and heat in existing area.
Degree of Homogeneity of Plant Life in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, Pakistan
The present investigation explains the homogeneity of plant life on the basis of frequency classes during 2009-2010 in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, District Karak, Pakistan. The result shows that no homogeneity in the region among the phases and seasons. The value of frequency class is high (9) of class B and low in E (1) in phases 1 during spring season. In summer class C has high value (4.75) while it is low in A. (1). The value of class A is high (14.8) in winter. In phase 2 the class B has high value during spring (9.86) and summer (7.29) while the value of class A is high (8.86) in winter. In phase 3 and 4 the class B has high value throughout all season as compare to other classes. So the equation of homogeneity will be in phase 1; A < B > C > D > E., A < B < C > D < E., A < B < C < D > E.; in phase 2; A > B < C < D < E., A > B < C < D > E., A < B < C < D > E.; In Phase 3; A > B < C < D < E., A > B < C < D > E., A > B < C < D > E. and in Phase 4 ; A > B < C < D < E., A > B < C < D < E., A > B < C < D > E. in spring, summer and winter respectively. The heterogeneity of plant life shows that the area is under heavy biotic pressure owing to consumers and soil erosion.
Altitudinal Effect on Plant Life Structure in Plains of Tehsil Takht-E-Nasrati, District Karak, Pakistan
Plant life community structure is a key marker of long-term vegetation change in semi-arid ecosystems. In the present investigation overall 11 plant communities were recorded during summer in plains. The number of plant species differ in different communities. As a whole in plains the Cenchrus-Zizyphus-Saccharum community was developed and composed of 32 species. There were 6 tree, 7 shrub and 19 herb species. The Importance value contributed by three dominants species i.e. Cenchrus biflorus, Zizyphus maurtiana and Saccharum bengalense was 79.5 while total importance value of 220.5 was provided by the remaining species. The contribution by tree was 50.6, shrubs (IV = 62.06) and herbs (IV = 187.3). The soil of the area had better calcium carbonate in the range of (12.3 – 12.7 %), with soil pH (6.06 – 8.13). The concentrations of P and K content were found in the range of (3.64-3.86 mg Kg-1) and (112-127 mg Kg-1). The EC was found in the range of (0.15-0.21 dS m-1). The soil texture was found from sandy clay to sandy clay loam. These results emphasize the continuous need for long-term ground-based ecological monitoring in conjunction with satellite-based monitoring of changes in plant life cover.
