Comparative account on ground flora, soil microflora and fauna under plantations on bhata land

摘要

A comparative account is given of ground flora, soil microflora and soil fauna diversity under two plantations and open bhata land [uncultivated land?] not under plantation acting as a control in Madhya Pradesh, India. The number of ground flora species under Gmelina arborea and Dalbergia sissoo plantations were 25 and 12 respectively compared to the control with seven species. Oplismenus burmannil was the dominant species in both the plantations having maximum density/m2 of 52.10 to 65.00 and an abundance of 52.10 to 72.22. Index of dominance (C) was lower and index of diversity (H) higher for ground flora species under plantations as compared to control. The populations of soil fungi, bacteria, nematodes and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungal spores were more under plantations than those in control. Plantations have resulted in enhancement of soil fertility status as compared to open bhata land not under plantations..