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D. S. Gandhi and S. Sundarapandian
Fig. 2 Mean monthly rainfall (44 years) and temperature (study period) of the Sathanur reserve
forest, Eastern Ghats
black soil and the red loam soil is predominantly found in Sathanur reserve forest
(NADP 2008). The texture of the soil was sandy loam in most of the plots while the
plots near to the rivulet were sandier than the other study sites. However, pebbles are
abundant in the soil in most of the plots.
2.2 Vegetation Analysis
Thirty square plots of 1 ha each were laid approximately at 500 m intervals in the
Sathanur reserve forests during the period of November 2013 to February 2015
(Fig. 1) which were further sub-gridded into 10 m × 10 m size (100 m
2 ) quadrats as
easy, workable units. All the individual plants with ≥10 cm GBH were enumerated
and their girth were measured at 1.37 m from the ground level. In multi-stemmed
trees, GBHs were measured separately, after which basal area was calculated and
summed up. Within each plot, 50 quadrats of 5 m × 5 m were laid in a systematic sampling method to enumerate shrubs and climbers. Similarly, fifty quadrats of
1 m × 1 m each were laid for herbs in each 1 ha plot and studied during October
and November (peak growth period). Shrubs and herbs, the diameter was measured
D. S. Gandhi and S. Sundarapandian
Fig. 2 Mean monthly rainfall (44 years) and temperature (study period) of the Sathanur reserve
forest, Eastern Ghats
black soil and the red loam soil is predominantly found in Sathanur reserve forest
(NADP 2008). The texture of the soil was sandy loam in most of the plots while the
plots near to the rivulet were sandier than the other study sites. However, pebbles are
abundant in the soil in most of the plots.
2.2 Vegetation Analysis
Thirty square plots of 1 ha each were laid approximately at 500 m intervals in the
Sathanur reserve forests during the period of November 2013 to February 2015
(Fig. 1) which were further sub-gridded into 10 m × 10 m size (100 m
2 ) quadrats as
easy, workable units. All the individual plants with ≥10 cm GBH were enumerated
and their girth were measured at 1.37 m from the ground level. In multi-stemmed
trees, GBHs were measured separately, after which basal area was calculated and
summed up. Within each plot, 50 quadrats of 5 m × 5 m were laid in a systematic sampling method to enumerate shrubs and climbers. Similarly, fifty quadrats of
1 m × 1 m each were laid for herbs in each 1 ha plot and studied during October
and November (peak growth period). Shrubs and herbs, the diameter was measured