Edaphic Characteristics of Woodland Habitat of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve , Meghalaya and their Relationship with its Flora

The present investigation deals with edaphic characteristics of woodland habitat of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve and their relationship with its flora. It is concluded from the results that majority of the soil types of the habitat possess high proportion of sands in their mechanical composition. Soils as a whole are acidic in reaction , poor in energy materials , available nitrogen and phosphorus , poor to moderate in water holding capacity , but highly conducive in porosity. It is further elucidated that soils contain high quantum of silica (93.2 percent) an inert element and against this element the integrating agents like energy materials (organic) and sesquioxides , ironoxide and liming materials (inorganic) are relatively low. The habitat receives maximum injury/damage from its jhum. The commencement of the jhum causes terrestrial media to lose their acquired characteristics rapidly and leave the floral vegetations exposed to interact directly with soils inherent characteristics , which have been observed to be un conducive for their proper growth and development. Soils mechanical and physical characteristics are mainly responsible for the plant species distribution within the biosphere reserve than their chemical characteristics.