SPECIES DIVERSITY, UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION IN HOME GARDENS OF SOME RESIDENTIAL AREAS, COIMBATORE, INDIA.

Jamuna S,Thenmozhi K,Karthika K,Paulsamy S,Subhasree R

doi:10.26524/krj71

Abstract

The present study was aimed at documenting species composition, utilization and conservation of plant species growing in home gardens of 10 residential areas of Coimbatore city, India. Household interviews and home garden surveys revealed that all the 109 plant species included in 60 families included have someeconomic uses or with ornamental significance. Higher number of species was herbs followed by shrubs, trees, climbers, succulent herbs, vines and sub-shrubs. The families viz., Asteraceae, Apocynaceae and Acanthaceae contributed higher number of plant species than the other families to the home gardens. Thespecies namely, Celosia cristata, Chrysanthemum odoratum and Ocimum basilicum have registered 50% frequency among the home gardens sampled which indicates that these species have distributed and maintained in comparatively higher number of home gardens. The home garden species are mainly under thecategories of vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, economic important species and medicinal. These results further report revealed that homegardens satisfy various household needs like food, ornamentals, medicines, building material, religious and ceremonial uses.

Highlights

Home garden is generally accepted to be economically efficient, ecologically sound and biologically sustainable agroforestry system (Fernandez and Nair, 1986)
Increasing attentions have been focused on the potential of home garden to harbor genetic diversity, which is a key component of conservation efforts associated with population management (Hollingsworth et al, 2005; Lengkeek et al, 2006; Miller and Schaal, 2006)
The species richness noted to be varied between the home gardens studied

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Home garden is generally accepted to be economically efficient, ecologically sound and biologically sustainable agroforestry system (Fernandez and Nair, 1986). It serves as sink of carbon, thereby, playing an ecological role in the current global climate change scenario (Saha et al., 2009). The industrial areas, educational institutions and residential areas are maintaining home gardens almost in all parts of the city. Despite the well establishment of home gardens no taxonomical and ecological studies have been made so far in Coimbatore city.

Species analysis

Species usage patterns in home gardens

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION