Systematic Study of Pteridophytes in Relation to Edaphic Factors from the Ghat Region of Pithoragarh, A Part of The Proposed Pancheshwar Dam in Uttarakhand

Abstract

Pteridophytes are among the earliest terrestrial vascular cryptogams that instead of seeds, proliferate by the dispersion of their spores. Study of systematics includes classification, taxonomy and nomenclature. The Pancheshwar hydropower dam is being built on the Mahakali River at Pancheshwar near the confluence of the Mahakali and the Saryu River, which was the sampling site. To determine the diversity, soil nature, and established relationships between them were the main objectives. The classification and identification of the flora were done by the available literature while soil samples were analyzed in the District Agriculture Department Soil Testing Laboratory and statistical analysis by different softwares. At the species diversity point, there were seven families, 11 genera, and 19 species of pteridophytes recorded in the study area. The frequency, density, abundance, and distribution of each species were calculated, revealing significant variation. Various diversity indexes like dominance (D), Simpson index (1-D), Shannon index (H), evenness (e^H/S), and Margalef species richness were calculated, all of these indicated good diversity in the area. The physical properties of soil (water holding capacity, sand, slit, and clay) and chemical properties (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon content, and pH) when statistically analysed for regression, correlation and ANOVA, showed that these factors were suitable for growth of plants.