Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper


Vol 23, Issue 4, 2017

Page Number: 2181-2187

VARIATION OF SOIL PH, MOISTURE, ORGANIC CARBON AND ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT IN THE INVADED AND NONINVADED AREAS OF TITHONIA DIVERSIFOLIA (HEMSL.) A. GRAY FOUND IN NAGALAND, NORTH-EAST INDIA

M. Romeo Singh and N. Theunuo

Abstract

The present study compares the variation of some physico-chemical properties of soil and also the floristic composition on the invaded and non-invaded areas of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray found to grow inside the Lumami Campus of Nagaland University. Soil samples of 0-15 cm depth layers were collected from five sample plots of 5X5 m established on the invaded and non-invaded areas during the study period September, 2015 to May, 2016 and analysed for pH, moisture, organic carbon and organic matter content. It was found that values of soil pH, moisture, organic carbon and organic matter content were higher in the invaded area than the non-invaded area and it revealed improve fertility of the soil. Species compositions were found to be low in the areas invaded by T. diversifolia than the non-invaded areas indicating the reduction of other plant species when invaded by this plant.