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Soil and Vegetation Analysis of Selected Roadside Greenbelts in Rawalpindi City, Pakistan

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, PAKISTAN

Int. Res. J. Biological Sci., Volume 3, Issue (3), Pages 89-98, March,10 (2014)

Abstract

Roadside urban greenbelts play an important role in increasing urban aesthetic, comport, and atmospheric qualities. This significant role of plants in urban roadside greenbelts cannot be denied. Therefore, a strong research is required to carve out the role of plants in both qualitative and quantitative terms for sustainable planning and management of urban areas. Unfortunately, Pakistan lags behind in such kind of research from other countries. The documentation of the planning of urban greenbelts is inaccessible and no proper reporting is available. In view of these facts, an attempt was done to assess three roadside greenbelts in Rawalpindi city in terms of their plants, their community formation and association with environmental parameters. The analysis through ordination techniques showed 2 major groups in each greenbelt with a significant association with EC, saturation, P, Zn, Cu and Mn. Few species showed affirmative response towards the environmental variables. The study provided base line data and information of plant communities. But it strongly emphasizes need of the comprehensive research on each of the multiple roles played by plants in such localities for the effective, sustainable planning and management.

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