Phenology, diversity, community characteristics, and regeneration status of an endangered tree, Aquilaria malaccensis in homegarden of Tripura, Northeast India
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Abstract. Chowdhury BD, Debnath A, Debnath B. 2024. Phenology, diversity, community characteristics, and regeneration status of an endangered tree, Aquilaria malaccensis in homegarden of Tripura, Northeast India. Asian J For 8: 136-146. The present study was conducted in 90 tropical homegarden (HG) from 18 selected villages in Northeast India for the assessment of various ecological parameters of the agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) agroecosystem. Vegetation was studied using the quadrat method. Our result shows that all the HGs are important sources of forest genetic repositories. Phenological observation showed initiation of the reproductive phases is strongly correlated with the monsoon period in the state. The result also bared a total of 207 plant species to 186 genera, and 98 families were recorded. The A. malaccensis is accounting 100% frequency, and 823 individual ha-1 of the total tree density of 1635 ha-1. The A. malaccensis contributed 26.17 m2/ha of total basal area of woody species 89.59 m2/ha. The ecological indices showed that the distribution of various woody species in homegardens is even and consistent. In different woody species, the Important Value Index (IVI) of A. malaccensis was the highest, followed by Areca catechu, Mangifera indica, and Litchi chinensis. The findings also showed that Poaceae is the dominant herbaceous family with 18 species, followed by Asteraceae and Areceae. The population structure of agarwood trees showed good regeneration status. The result clearly showed that the homegardens of NE India could serve as a valuable tool for the on-farm conservation of A. malaccensis and other associated commercially important plants' genetic diversity in this region. Sustainable uses and declaration of the agarwood tree as an agricultural crop could help to conserve these critically endangered taxa and promote the rural economy.
2017-01-01
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