Issue Description


Authors : WANKHEDE T.B.

Page Nos : 110-117

Description :
Bryophytes make a significant contribution to the floral diversity of this "watery planet’’ and since its inception constitute an important component of the forest ecosystem being the first colonizers on variety of habitats. They are highly specific group of plants with about 25,000 species distributed the world over, making it the second largest group of land plants after angiosperms. Certain bryophyte occurs at specific pH range and their presence can be used as indicator of soil pH. Bryophytes envelops the forest cover with moisture, temperature, prevents soil erosion can be used to monitor water pollution while many mosses are good indicators of air pollution. Present investigation shows that bryophytic vegetation of Melghat forest responds to soil texture, soil pH, and soil nutrients and also exhibits specificity to electrical conductivity, organic matter and soil depth. They are confined to slight acidic, moderately neutral and medium basic soil depending upon geographical distribution and also signifying specificity with the environmental conditions.

Date of Online: 30 Sep 2017