81. Assessment of resource-use strategy of some common woody plant species grown under semiarid climatic condition of Quetta Balochistan-Pakistan
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the resource use strategy of some woody plants in semi-arid climatic condition of Quetta, Balochistan Pakistan. The plant sample were collected from eleven selected different woody plant species namely; Fraxinus xanthoxyloides, Robinia pseudoacacia, Ficus carica, Morus alba, Morus nigra, Ailanthus altissima, Melia azedarach, Pinus halepensis. Malus domestica, Prunus armeniaca and Tamarix sp. during three seasons spring, summer and autumn, in 2017-18. The resources-use strategy of the selected plant species was determined by commonly used indicators such as Leaf Relative Water Content (LRWC), Leaf Dry Matter Content (LDMC) and Live Fine Fuel Moisture Content (LFFMC). Data regarding annual average RWC, LDMC and LFFMC in all the investigated plant was found in ranged between 25.12-73.89 %, 0.21-0.40 mg/g and 58.0-221.0 mg/g, respectively. The maximum annual average RWC, LDMC and LFFMC was reported in Ficus carica, Pinus halepensis and Melia azedarach, while the minimum was found in Alianthus altissima, Fraxinus xanthoxyloides and Alianthus altissima, respectively. Among seasons; the highest RWC was found during spring which followed by summer and minimum was originated in autumn season. The higher LDMC was recorded in autumn season as compared to summer and spring, suggesting a more efficient conservation of nutrients and the maximum LFFM contents were found in autumn followed by summer and lowest was in spring.
Keywords: Balochistan; Plant species; Relative water content; Live fine fuel moisture content; Dry matter content