Impact of Controlled Burning on Herbs in High Altitude Zone of Chirpine Forests in Solan and Nahan Circles, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

People are dependent on chirpine forests for direct and indirect benefits. The forest fire is very common phenomenon in chirpine forests. The severe forest fire cause financial as well as ecological losses in the chirpine landscape. Forest fires change composition of species and also the diversity of herbs. Controlled burning is practiced in winter to reduce the incidence of forest fire. The present investigation was carried out in higher altitude zone of chirpine forests in Nahan and Solan Circles of Himachal Pradesh Forest Department to evaluate the effect of controlled burning on the diversity of the herbs by selecting one site each in three forest divisions (Solan, Rajgarh and Nahan Forest Divisions). Controlled burning in winter was carried out in 1.5 ha (B₁) during 2017 and 0.50 Ha areas was kept as control (C) in all three sites.  The observation for phytosociological data was taken during October to December, 2017.  The number of species varied from 21 to 24 in control sites and 23 to 30 in burnt sites. The density for herbs was higher in burnt sites compared to control sites. The diversity index (H) was maximum (3.30) at Bagpashog (B₁) and minimum (2.63) at Lwasachowki (C). The richness index (R) was highest (4.30) for Bagpashog (B₁) and lowest (3.22) for Mangotimor (C). The evenness index (E) was highest (0.974) at Mangotimor (B₁) and lowest was 0.863 at Lwasachowki (C).