Structure and Composition of Vegetation in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandigarh

Abstract

In Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandigarh the enumeration of vegetation was conducted during 2005 at five different sites, i.e. Lattwala, Bolianwala, Miyapur Ka Khet, Barotawala khet and Kansal. The results revealed that five sites yielded a total of 2720 stems and 25 species of trees ≥ 30 cm cbh with different combination of dominant and co-dominant species. Acacia catechu was dominant at Lattwala, Bolianwala and Kansal sites, Acacia nilotica ssp. indica at Miyapur Ka Ket and Dalbergia sissoo at the Barotwala site. The total tree basal area among the five sites ranged from 7.28 to 26.50 m² ha and total density varied from 280 to 1020 stems/ha. Carissa opaca and Murraya koenigii were the common shrub species in all the sites. The density of shrub layer among the sites varied from 3.0 to 2 13.05 stems/9m². Remarkable difference was observed in the composition of herbaceous flora including grasses. Both herb and grass species among the sites varied from 7 to 64 and 1- 26, respectively. The density value oscillated between 7.90 and 69.10 stems/m² for herbs and 0.22 and 146.93 2 tillers/m² for grasses. The diversity indices suggest that the Kansal site had greater diversity in all stratums except sapling layer.