Ordination classification of relationship of vegetation and soil’s edaphic factors along the roadsides of Wahcantt, Pakistan

Abstract

Vegetation and soil had reciprocal interrelated effects over each other. For this purpose, a study was carried along roadsides of WahCantt to determine relationship between vegetation and soil’s edaphic factors using ordination classification. Herbaceous data was collected using Braun Blanquet approach which identified 18 species of 36 families with Cynodon dactylon as the most dominant species. Relationship between soil’s edaphic factors (Zn2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, O.M, EC, pH) and species richness was determined using CCA. The dominant species of Cynodon dactylon was found to be only affected by EC. T-value biplots were employed to identify the response of herbaceous species against selected soil’s edaphic factors and Partial ordination for variation portioning of species against every edaphic factor. CCA had highlighted Zn2+ as the most influencing factor over the species distribution while Mn and O.M had no impact over species richness. T-value biplot of Fe2+ was found to be positively affecting the abundant species of Cynodon dactylon whereas no species had recorded its response against Mn and O.M. Cynodon dactylon was emerged to be least emerged species in bivariate scatter plots of partial ordination. The study highlighted the interrelationship between soil’s edaphic factor and herbaceous flora which would be helpful in determining limiting constraint in species distribution.