BASELINE DATA ON WILD FLORA OF CROP FIELD BOUNDARIES IN THE AGRO-ECOSYSTEM OF POTHWAR PLATEAU, PAKISTAN

 

MISBAH SARWAR*¹, IFTIKHAR HUSSAIN^1, NASRA ASHRAF²,

MAQSOOD ANWAR¹ AND SARWAT NAZ MIRZA³

 

¹Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

²Department of Zoology, University of Azad Jammu &Kashmir Muzaffarabad, Pakistan

³Department of Forestry, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

*Corresponding author’s e-mail: smisbah336@gmail.com; Tel: +92 51 4831811, Cell # 03345457154

 

Abstract

 

Wild flora along crop field boundaries in farmlands not only increases habitat heterogeneity but also serves multiple beneficial functions. We collected baseline data on wild flora bordering the crop fields of Pothwar plateau. Overall we selected four study sites including two sites of wheat-maize/millet and two of wheat-groundnut cropping system. We recorded 51 species of plants including 12 species of trees, 14 species of shrubs and 25 species of grasses/herbs. Two tree species namely Acacia modesta and Zizyphus mauritiana and two shrub species namely Calotropis procera and Ziziphus nummularia were common indicating their widespread presence in the area. Among herbs/grasses Abutilon indicum, Amaranthus spp., Cyperus rotundus and Erogrostis poroles were common at sites with wheat-maize/millet cropping pattern while Chenopodium album, Datura stramonium and Tribulus terrestris were common at sites with wheat-groundnut cropping system. The tree and shrub densities did not differ significantly among the study sites. Wheat-groundnut cropping system had higher populations/diversity/species of shrubs as compared to wheat-maize/millet cropping system. Density of grasses/herbs significantly differed across the study sites but there was no association of herb/grass density with cropping practice.

 

Key words: Wild flora, Agro-ecosystem, Pothwar plateau.