Natural regeneration status and associates of Ulmus villosa brandis from four valley areas of its natural distribution in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The present investigations on natural regeneration status and associates of Ulmus villosa Brandis from four valley areas of its natural distribution in Himachal Pradesh were carried out with the objective to study natural regeneration status and associates of U villosa in its natural areas of distribution. The study was conducted throughout natural range of distribution of U villosa viz Jadh and Jugahan in Balh valley, Jhiri in Kullu valley, Andhra and Jagoti in Pabbar valley and Nichar in Kinnaur valley. To carry out this study quadrates of 10 m x 100 m at each site were laid down of tree and shrub species growing in association with U villosa, whereas, twenty quadrates of 2 m x 2 m were laid out per main plot to study the regeneration parameters. There were 19 tree and shrub species growing in association with U villosa in the study area. The recruits, unestablished and established plants of U villosa showed that maximum number of recruits 625.00/ha (26.55%) were recorded in Jhiri site of Kullu valley. Similarly, the maximum number of unestablished plants were found 375.00/ha (27.52%) in Jhiri site of Kullu valley. However, there were no established plants recorded from the studied sites in all the four valleys. The regeneration establishment and stocking data revealed that the maximum height of unestablished regeneration for U villosa was in Jadh site (1.28 m) from Balh valley while the minimum height was for Jagoti site (0.22 m) from Pabbar valley. The establishment index and establishment stocking percentages were recorded to be zero per cent in the studied sites from all the four valleys. The regeneration success percentage was recorded maximum in Jhiri site (3.75) of Kullu valley and minimum in Jugahan site (1.22) of Balh valley.