SOIL AND PLANT RELATION AT LITTLE RANN OF KUTCH OF GUJARAT IN WESTERN INDIA

Vegetation and soil in the vicinity of Wild Ass Sanctuary of Kutch district of Gujarat State in India was investigated. This region is considered as a saline desert. Eight sites were studied and total seventeen species were found of which ten species of grasses, five of herbs, one of shrub and climber each. Ten species belongs to Poaceae and two belongs to Papilionaceae. Contagious distribution pattern of plants was obtained. Dominant species found were Cressa cretica Linn., and Aeluropus lagopoides (Linn.) Trin. ex Thw. at maximum sites. Different physical and chemical parameters of soil were investigated at different depths. A maximum and minimum value varies at different depth for both. Water holding, field capacity and porosity were found to be more at sites which contains high density which shows a positive effect on density of plants. Significant positive correlation coefficient was obtained for organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous with density while negative obtained for sodium. High salinity content in soil is harmful for plants and salt tolerated species should be grown for the increment of the floral diversity. The outcome of the study illustrate that physical and chemical properties of the soil confirm positive as well as negative consequence on vegetation and diverse species in saline area.