Vegetation zonation along the geological and geo-morphological gradient at Eastern slope of Sulaiman range, Pakistan

The vegetation of gypsiferous strata of Sulaiman range (30 degree 33' N to 30 degree 41'30" north latitude and 70 degree 32' E to 70 degree 41'30" east longitude, annual rainfall more than 100 mm) was analyzed using ordination (DECORANA) and classificatory cluster analysis techniques. Four plant associations were recognized in the study area. The application of the classification to the ordination allowed an interpretation of vegetation distribution in terms of topography and redistribution of rainwater, the nature of soil, bed rock and geological strata. The pattern of plant communities along the first ordination axis suggested that beside the landscape, substrate plays an important role in determining the boundaries between the plant communities. The assessment of the floristic suggested that there were three classes of plants: first there are plants of alluvial sandy plains (psymophytes), secondly; those of permanent water courses (hydrophytes) and thirdly, there are plants that grow on rocky hard strata (xerophytes/lithophytes). The observed pattern in available soil calcium seems related to long term redistribution of water that occurs during rainfall events because soil calcium, magnesium and moisture content have similar distributions along the transect. High calcium content for rocky strata was due to its parent geological gypsiferous formation. Although the boundaries across the landscape were associated with down slope movement of water, soil particles and cations, it was difficult to assess the relative importance of these factors in comparison with landscape level. The vegetation patterns revealed are discussed in relation to environmental factors and problems of plant assemblage in vegetation of the area.