DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN CHOLISTAN DESERT, PAKISTAN: A PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL STUDY

Abstract

Medicinal plants are economically beneficial to heal various diseases and have been significant source of many important drugs. The Cholistan desert has arid type climatic conditions with scattered xerophytic vegetation which have been adopted to intensely high temperatures, humidity fluctuations and wide variety of edaphic conditions. In summer season, the temperature is extremely high but in winter season, it is mostly mild with no frost conditions. The amount of rainfall annually is greatly changing both on temporal and spatial levels. The main objective of the present study was to identify the relationship between soil and atmospheric conditions (temperature, rainfall and humidity) on the growth of medicinal plants during winter and summer seasons. Secondary data of rainfall, humidity and temperature was collected from Agriculture extension department of Bahawalpur and Meteorological department, Islamabad. The analysis carried out using quadrate method and locations were marked with Global Positioning System (GPS). The Geographical information system (GIS) software ArcGIS 10.5 used to illustrate the maps of the study area and the quadrates. In the study area, four sites on the basis of soil structure i.e. Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 were selected. Phytogeographical parameters of plants i.e. number (frequency), density and cover were tapped during October, 2021, February, 2022 and May, 2022. The relative frequency, relative density, and relative cover were counted to ascertain the importance value index (IVI). Based on IVI, in each quadrat the communities of medicinal plant were delimited. The highest IVI bearing medicinal plants was conceived as dominant. Correlation results of Plants with different Soil Types and Rainfall is found positive. The strongest correlation with high R2 value was noted on Interdunal Sandy Soil Area (Q3) and low correlation was existed on Hard Clayey Soil Area (Q4).