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Pak. J. Bot., 47(4): 1399-1405, 2015.

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VEGETATION DESCRIPTION AND PHYTOCLIMATIC GRADIENTS OF SUBTROPICAL FORESTS OF NANDIAR KHUWAR CATCHMENT DISTRICT BATTAGRAM

FAIZUL HAQ^1*, HABIB AHMAD² AND ZAFAR IQBAL¹

Abstract: This paper communicates an analytical exploration of the vegetational profile in the subtropical zone of Nandiar Khuwar catchment area, District Battagrtam, Pakistan. On the basis of physiognomy of vegetation the study area was divided into 16 stands. Six plant communities were recognized by TWINSPAN classification. Among biological spectrum nanophanerophytes was dominated with 36 species and leaf size spectra were dominated by microphyll contributing 63 species. Similarity index was maximum (33.61) between Pinus, Micromeria, Rubus community and Pinus, Rubus, Cynodon community. In Bray-Curtis ordination the maximum ordination scores were recorded for axis 2 (0.921). The gradient length was maximum (3.35) for axis 1 with eigenvalue 0.50. Total variance (inertia) in the species data were 2.92, explanatory variables account for 100%. Among environmental variables the maximum positive strength were recorded for altitude (0.818) and Phosphorous (0.801) while maximum negative strength were recorded for wind speed (-0.864), barometric pressure (-0.825) and temperature (-0.820).

Key words: Multivariate analysis, Similarity index, Life form, Leaf spectra, Nandiar Khuwar.

¹Department of Botany, Hazara University Mansehra Pakistan

²Department of Genetics, Hazara University Mansehra Pakistan

^*Corresponding author email: faizulhaq80@yahoo.com