Relation of Forest Structure and Soil Properties in Natural, Rehabilitated and Degraded Forest

Ashish K Mishra, Soumit K Behe

Abstract

Relation of Forest Structure and Soil Properties in Natural, Rehabilitated and Degraded Forest Plant community structure, species diversity and soil properties of natural, rehabilitated and degraded forests were studied in order to assess relationship of different forests structure and soil properties in upper Indo-Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh state of India. The composition of species, population bundance and importance value of the woody species were investigated in each forest; the representative soil samples from 30 cm depth of each forest were also analyzed for the soil properties. Dominant families at the natural forest are Moraceae (21.9%) and Rubiaceae (15.6%) while at the rehabilitated forest are Moraceae (53.8%) and Fabaceae (23%). In the degraded forest, the Moraceae and Fabaceae are dominant families occupy 33% each. These among forest community structure indicate that degraded forests are less complex ecosystems than natural forest stands.