Abstract
Effect of aspect and physiographic position in a Shivalik watershed in Relmajra (Punjab) was studied on the yield and other growth indicators (IVI) on trees, shrubs and grasses. The watershed was closed to biotic interference, ten years prior to the year of study in 2002. Sixty sample plots were laid out, in each of the aspects (4), three physiographic positions as top, middle and bottom, each having five replications. Nested sampling procedure was adopted by taking the dimension for study of trees as 10 m x 10 m, shrubs as 5 m x 5 m and grasses as 1 m x 1 m. Soil analysis indicated rising trend of organic matter as one moves from top to bottom. The same was 0.61, 1.03 and 1.64 per cent on an average on the top, middle and bottom positions, respectively. Same trend was observed for the total biomass deposited. The values were observed as 487.2, 676.7 and 702.4 kg/ha for top, medium and bottom positions. The trend for the two observations in respect of aspect was noted as East, South, West and North in decreasing order. In general number of trees were in increasing order as one goes from top to bottom. The increasing trend in respect of aspect was found in West, South, East and North. Yield of shrubs and grasses combined together followed no definite trend in respect of topographical positions. Increasing order of yield was found in South, North, East and West directions. c2-test revealed that the vegetation indicators had significantly different values over the assumed hypothesis of having equal values.
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