Analysis of forest-grazingland vegetation in parts of Kumaun Himalaya

Abstract

In the Himalayas the grazingland consists of both open grasslands and ground cover under different forest covers. The study indicated that the open grassland and the herb strata under different forest types were represented by floristically distinct herbaceous communities. Smaller variants of these large communities occurred on different aspects under the same forest cover, indicating a greater sensitivity of herb strata to changes in microenvironment. In general, the dominance-diversity curves followed a geometric series with certain variations and the total niche space for herbs decreased from relatively open-canopied to relatively closed canopied forests. The herbaceous yield had, generally, an inverse relationship with tree basal cover. The forage yield was higher on those aspects which experience intermediate conditions of temp. and moisture; the floral diversity was also max. on these aspects and declined both towards the cooler (and wetter) and warmer (and drier) exposures.