Identification of Suitable Plant Species for Vegetation Restoration at Manthali, Nepal

The present study aims to find out the suitable native plant species for restoring degraded land in the mountain from 450 m asl to 819 m asl in Khurkot of Manthali. Altogether thirty quadrats were laid to observe frequency, density and coverage of plant species present there, and ultimately, IVI was calculated. Eight plant species – 3 trees like Acacia catechu, Aegle marmelos and Annona squamosa; 3 shrubs like Rhus parviflora, Cipadessa baccifera and Abrus precatorius (woody climber), and 2 herbs like Uraria lagopodiodes and Polypogon monospeliensis were considered for the detailed study based on their high IVI values. Altogether fourteen traits (growth form, life-span, phenology, Raunkiaer’s life-form, canopy height, stem density, mean ramet distance, leaf size, specific leaf area, leaf thickness, seed mass, propagules mass, seed shape and nitrogen fixation) were studied in those eight species. Based on these traits, through this protocol, the plants were again categorized into five syndromes, i.e., establishment syndrome, dispersal syndrome, biomass producing syndrome, persistence syndrome and effect on environment syndrome. From this study, Annona squamosa and Abrus precatorius can be suggested as candidate species for early succession. Similarly, Aegle marmelos, Acacia catechu, Annona squamosa, Rhus parviflora and Abrus precatorius can be recommended to plant for restoration of degraded bushy lands, which are in the phase of secondary succession.

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Phytotoxicity of Parthenium hysterophorus residues towards growth of three native plant species (Acacia catechu willd, Achyranthes aspera L. and Cassia tora L.) in Himachal Pradesh, India

International Journal of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.5897/ijppb11.009 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Kuldip S. Dogra

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Himachal Pradesh ◽

Parthenium Hysterophorus ◽

Native Plant ◽

Cassia Tora ◽

Native Plant Species ◽

Achyranthes Aspera ◽

Acacia Catechu

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Floristic composition of Palpa district, west Nepal

Nepalese Journal of Biosciences ◽

10.3126/njbs.v4i1.41678 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 16-21

Author(s):

Ras Bihari Mahato

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Vascular Plants ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Aegle Marmelos ◽

Rauvolfia Serpentina ◽

Threatened Plants ◽

Dioscorea Deltoidea ◽

Floristic Analysis ◽

Total Plant ◽

Acacia Catechu

The present study documents the floristic composition of the vascular plants (Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms) of Palpa district, West Nepal. A total of 467 species plants belonging to 163 families, 357 genera were recorded from the study area. Among them Pteridophytes are comprised of 37 species, Gymnosperms 2 species and Angiosperms 428 species (Dicotyledones 336 and Monocotyledones 92 species). Floristic analysis showed that Dicotyledones comprise (71.9%), Monocotyledones (19.7%), Gymnosperms (0.4%) and Pteridophytes (8.00%). Although total plant species were distributed among 163 families and 357 genera, 52.25% of the species belonged to only ten families. Out of 467 species Hardwickia binata Roxb. is reported as new addition to the flora of Nepal. Five species of threatened plants were recorded from the study area. These are Acacia catechu-threatened (T), Aegle marmelos-(T), Dioscorea deltoidea-(T), Elaeocarpus sphaericus-vulnerable (V) and Rauvolfia serpentina-endangered (E).

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Effect of Plant Morphological Traits on Throughfall, Soil Moisture, and Runoff

Water ◽

10.3390/w12061731 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1731 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yu Liu ◽

Liang Zhao

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Water Balance ◽

Plant Species ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Leaf Shape ◽

Semiarid Region ◽

Stem Density ◽

Native Plant ◽

Plant Morphological Traits ◽

The Impact

Plant canopy morphology plays an important role in water balance, peculiarly in semiarid environments. Through a field experiment, the impact of plant morphology of two native plant species, Artemisia sacrorum Ledeb (ASL) and Spiraea pubescens Turcz (SPT), on partitioning rainwater was revealed. The results indicated that a fragmented leaf shape and apparently high stem density of ASL reduced the throughfall and its intensity effectively but facilitated soil moisture replenishment. Although SPT has a greater canopy cover and canopy depth than ASL does, larger throughfall, a smaller throughfall threshold, and stronger throughfall intensity were observed in the SPT site. Moreover, the SPT site has a higher soil steady infiltration rate, but produced more surface runoff and caused lower soil moisture content. This study highlights the importance of plant morphological traits, peculiarly leaf morphology, in partitioning rainwater in this semiarid region. We argue that plant morphological traits should be considered when selecting plant species for revegetation and assessing water balance.

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Phyto-Ecological Assessment of Mahakali River, Far-western Nepal

Journal of Natural History Museum ◽

10.3126/jnhm.v29i0.19036 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 32-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ripu M Kunwar ◽

Pratistha Pyakurel ◽

Chundamani Burlakoti ◽

Parakram Pyakurel ◽

Shree G. Shah

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

River System ◽

Saccharum Spontaneum ◽

Forest Species ◽

Aegle Marmelos ◽

Soil Biodiversity ◽

Shorea Robusta ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Phragmites Karka ◽

Acacia Catechu

An assessment of phyto-ecology and socio-economy of wetlands of Mahakali River system of far-western Nepal was carried through rapid ecological assessments, participatory discussions, transects and quadrat studies, and laboratory analyses to reveal the interactions between physico-chemical characteristics of water and soil, biodiversity and socio-economic regimes. Mahakali river system was flanked by a number of tributaries, steep cliffs, rocks, and was closely associated with riverine and mixed Shorea robusta (Sal) forests, resulting in richness and diversity of habitats and plant species. Vegetation succession was found to conspicuous as transcends farther from river edge, the Phragmites karka was gradually succeeded by Saccharum spontaneum and riverine forest species such as Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Bombax ceiba, Eugenia jambolina, Aegle marmelos, etc. A total 140 plant species including 78 ethnomedicinal were inventoried, representing about 27 percent of the district flora. This study serves as a baseline data of phyto-ecological attributes of Mahakali River and can be taken as a reference to investigate the temporal changes in Mahakali River system. J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 29, 2015, Page: 32-48

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Suppression of an Invasive Native Plant Species by Designed Grassland Communities

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10040775 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 775

Author(s):

Kathrin Möhrle ◽

Hugo E. Reyes-Aldana ◽

Johannes Kollmann ◽

Leonardo H. Teixeira

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Plant Species ◽

Invasive Plant ◽

Plant Traits ◽

Seed Mass ◽

Native Plant ◽

Weighted Mean ◽

Wet Grasslands ◽

Community Weighted Mean ◽

Grassland Communities

Grassland biodiversity is declining due to climatic change, land-use intensification, and establishment of invasive plant species. Excluding or suppressing invasive species is a challenge for grassland management. An example is Jacobaea aquatica, an invasive native plant in wet grasslands of Central Europe, that is causing problems to farmers by being poisonous, overabundant, and fast spreading. This study aimed at testing designed grassland communities in a greenhouse experiment, to determine key drivers of initial J. aquatica suppression, thus dismissing the use of pesticides. We used two base communities (mesic and wet grasslands) with three plant traits (plant height, leaf area, seed mass), that were constrained and diversified based on the invader traits. Native biomass, community-weighted mean trait values, and phylogenetic diversity (PD) were used as explanatory variables to understand variation in invasive biomass. The diversified traits leaf area and seed mass, PD, and native biomass significantly affected the invader. High native biomass permanently suppressed the invader, while functional traits needed time to develop effects; PD effects were significant at the beginning of the experiment but disappeared over time. Due to complexity and temporal effects, community weighted mean traits proved to be moderately successful for increasing invasion resistance of designed grassland communities.

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