Abstract
With the aim of restoring the disturbed sites on one of the premier tiger reserve of the country or the only biosphere reserve of the state, the study was planned to investigate the effect of disturbance on seed germination, early seedling growth and adaptation potential of Cassia fistula (L.), Albizia lebbeck (L.) and Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. in Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR), Odisha. The study sites of the biosphere reserve was categorised into disturbed, moderately disturbed and undisturbed stands on the basis of disturbance index. They differ from each other in forest floor light intensities along with other biophysical characters. High light intensity in the forest floor of Disturbed Stand (DS) than Undisturbed Stand (UDS) and Moderately Disturbed Stand (MDS) of the reserve was found suitable towards significantly higher rate of seed germination and seedling growth of the three investigated tree (over storey) species for all growth characteristics measured except S/R ratio. High soil nutrient content and low light intensity in the forest floor of undisturbed stand than disturbed and moderately disturbed stands of the reserve was not suitable for better seed germination and early stage of seedling growth. Moderate light intensity in the forest floor of moderately disturbed stand produced seed germination and seedling growth to come in the second order. All growth characteristic parameters of Albizia lebbeck seedlings had almost the highest values among species in all the forest stands of the reserve. Though Cassia fistula seedlings had lower growth characteristics than others, but its low S/R ratio in all the forest stands evidenced its higher adaptation potential.
Highlights
The forest covers of Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha have faced serious problems over the years in extraction of over storey plants for timber, fuel wood and other energy requirements [1,2]
In the present study significant differences in seed germination and seedling growth of the three indigenous tree species is the outcome of the difference in bio-physical condition of the forest stands of the reserve (Table 1)
Seedling growth in terms of stem height, root length, shoot dry weight (g), root dry weight (g) and total dry weight (g) of the species studied was greater in disturbed and moderately disturbed forest stands than undisturbed forest stand of the reserve [8,39]
Summary
The forest covers of Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha have faced serious problems over the years in extraction of over storey plants (trees) for timber, fuel wood and other energy requirements [1,2]. Plant growth and development is controlled by various environmental conditions [3,4,5] of which light is one of the most important factor [6] In this regard studies stated that light availability on the forest floor is the primary limiting factor for seedling growth [7,8]. Spatial variation in light availability in different stands of forest covers leads to variation in phytosociological characters of plants and physico-chemical parameters of soil [10,11]. In addition species-specific responses to availability of light on the forest floor are important towards initial growth of seedlings [12,13]. The need for light during early stage of seedling growth is essential because seeds with smaller nutrient content are not able to sustain development for long periods in the shade [14]
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