COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF BROWSE VEGETATION IN CHOLISTAN RANGELANDS OF PAKISTAN

The rangelands of Cholistan desert is on decline due to multiple stresses and their effects can be visualized on range flora particularly on browse species. Therefore, a phytosociological survey was carried as an initial assessment to determine the vegetation structure of browse and related edaphic features. The analysis of twenty stands has delineated three vegetation associations inhabiting the sandunal, interdunal sandy and clayey saline habitats. Overall, twenty browse communities were documented based on importance value index of each species. Out of which, eight were interdunal sandy communities and six were sandunal and clayey saline communities each. Physico-chemical analysis of soil has revealed that texture of sandunal habitat was sandy; interdunal was sandy loam while clayey saline was clayey. Results exposed that organic matter, and soil nutrients were better at interdunal sandy habitat whereas pH, EC, Na, and soil moisture were high at clayey saline habitat and minimum at sandunal habitat. Further, climatic extremities, overgrazing and anthropogenic activities were observed to be continuous threats to indigenous species. This study indicates that browse communities of Cholistan rangelands are degrading gradually, therefore, they need proper protection, management, and rehabilitation through ecological approaches. This would be possible with the participation of government and native people to make these range resources sustainable.