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) in Mustang and
Manang Districts, Nepal
Khilendra Gurung and Vimal N P Gupta
Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Abstract
Seabuckthorn (Hippophae L.), or Dalechuk, as known at local level, is a multipurpose plant
species of high Himalayan habitat. There are two species of Seabuckthorn viz Hippophae salicifolia
D. Don and Hippophae tibetana Schlecht., found frequently in the high Himalaya. They are known
to bear root nodules and fix nitrogen. Similar to H. tibetana in habit but with more prostrate
structure, lower plant population, and distribution largely limited to southerly exposed
riversides was also found (H. rhamnoides L.?). In this study, they are included under H. tibetana.
Based on quadratic measurements ecological studies on Seabuckthorn were carried out in
Mustang and Manang districts. Range of distribution, density, and frequency of associated
species were also recorded. Composite sampling of soil was also done and the samples were
analyzed for major nutrients (NPK). Comparison between NPK content and organic matter were
studied for the habitats with and without Seabuckthorn.
Results showed that H. salicifolia occurred between 2,000 m to 2,800 m in Mustang and 2,100 m to
3,600 m in Manang. Associated species of plants were Pinus wallichiana, Salix sp., Arundinaria
falcata, and Berberis aristata. H. tibetana occurred in relatively drier habitats with elevations
between 2,900 m to 3,950 m in Mustang, while in Manang the range appeared to be pushed
above i.e. between 3,300 m to 4,200 m. As usual to the high altitude central Himalayan habitats,
the associated species were found to be Berberis erythroclada, Caragana brevispina, Lonicera spinosa,
Rosa sericea and Juniperus indica.
Organic matter content varied as 0.1 to 5.03, Nitrogen content-ranged from 0.012% to 0.941%,
Phosphorus from 12.15 kg/ha to 170.77 kg/ha and Potassium from 127 kg/ha to 778 kg/ha. In
general, soil analysis indicates that nutrient contents in Seabuckthorn available sites were more
than that of barren mountain lands. They are nitrogen-fixing plants and therefore, considered
potential for soil fertility improvement.
Introduction
Seabuckthorn (Hippophae L.), locally known as Dalechuk is native to mountain region of
Nepal. It is a multipurpose plant species suited for soil conservation and well known for
its nutritional and medicinal values. National Herbarium and Plant Laboratory, Plant
Research Division; Nepal at Godawari has specimens of three species of Hippophae,
namely Hippophae salicifolia D.Don, Hippophae tibetana Schlecht. and Hippophae
rhamnoides L. However, only two species of Hippophae viz, Hippophae salicifolia and
Hippophae tibetana are identified in the high mountain areas of Nepal (Rongsen, 1992;
Shrestha, 1999 and Gupta et al., 2001).
The plant has a very strong tap and horizontal root system. A symbiotic association has
been found on roots of Seabuckthorn resulting root nodule formation. Soil requirement
of Seabuckthorn is sandy and silt loam with good drainage (Rongsen, 1992). Characters
such as wide ecological adaptation, fast growth, strong coppicing and suckering habits
coupled with efficient Nitrogen fixation (60-180 kg/ha per year) make Seabuckthorn
well suited for soil conservation, soil improvement and marginal land reclamation
(Rongsen, 1992; Khosla et al., 1994).
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Though Seabuckthorn is a multipurpose plant species, it is one of the least known and
unexplored species in Nepal. Thus, this work attempts to study the ecology and range
of distribution of Seabuckthorn in Manang and Mustang districts of Nepal.
Analytical Study
Quadratic studies of Seabuckthorn were done based on well-established methods
(Kershaw, 1973). Requisite size of the quadrat was determined by species area curve
method (Barbour et al., 1980). Appropriate size of the quadrat for the study of
Hippophae salicifolia was 400 m2 (20 m x 20 m) and Hippophae tibetana was 25 m2 (5 m x 5
m). Plant specimens were identified with the help of National Herbarium and Plant
Laboratory, Plant Research Division, Godawari (KATH).
Density
Density is calculated by using the following formula according to Zobel et al. (1987)
Total number of individuals of species" A"
Density ( pt / ha) = x 10,000
Total number of quadrats sampled x Area of quadrats (m 2 )
Frequency
Frequency is calculated as follows according to Zobel et al. (1987)
Total number of plots in which species" A" occured
Frequency ( F ) = x 100
Total number of plots sampled
Soil Analysis
Sampling Technique
About 1kg of soil was collected from Seabuckthorn growing areas and from the barren
lands from the depth of 10 cm and collected samples were packed in a clean polythene
bags tightly. NPK and Organic matter content were analyzed in NARC, Khumaltar.
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Nitrogen (N)
The organic Nitrogen in the form of ammonium was analyzed by using modified
Kjeldahl method (PCARR, 1980).
(T − B ) x N x 14
Percentage N in soil = x 100
S
Where,
T = Sample titration, ml of standard acid
B = Blank titration, ml of standard acid
N = Normality of standard acid
S = Oven-dry weight of sample in mg
Results
Range of Distribution
Hippophae salicifolia occurred naturally between 2000m- 2800m, from Ghansa to Yamkin
khola in Mustang. The luxuriant growth of H. tibetana was recorded between 3450m-
3950m from Jhongkhola to Thengar in Mustang.
In Manang, Hippophae salicifolia were observed at the altitudes between 2100m- 3660m
from Tache and Dharapani to Tijilon. Similarly, H. tibetana were recorded in between the
altitude of 3300m - 4200m from Pisang to Lattar.
Density of Seabuckthorn
The density of species, H. salicifolia and H. tibetana were calculated as given in figures (1,
2, 3 and 4).
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Figure1: Density of H. salicifolia in M ustang
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Altitude (m) Density (no/ha)
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
Altitude (m) Density (no/ha)
4000 Dharapani
3500 Thonche
3000 Bagarchhap
2500 Tilche
2000
Latamarang
1500
Thanchow k
1000
Surki khola
500
0 Chame
Altitude (m) Density (no/ha) Tijilon
20000 Manang
Khangsar
15000
Gunsang
10000
Yakkharka
5000 Tilichobasecamp
0 Lattar
Altitude (m) Density (no/ha)
4
Figure No. 5: Common Associates of Hippophae salicifolia in Mustang and
Manang.
Frequency %
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
P inus wallichiana Salix sp. Berberis arist at a Arundinaria falcat a Alnus nepalensis
Species
Manang
Mus tang
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Berberis Caragana Lonicera Ephedra Rosa sericea Cotoneaster Artemisia sp. Clematis sp. J uniperus indica
erythroclada brevispina spinosa gerardiana microphyllus
Species
Manang
Mus tang
Soil Analysis
Table: 1 Soil Analysis of H. salicifolia growing area of Mustang District
Organic matter Nitrogen Potassium
S.N. Location Phosphorus kg/ha
(%) (%) kg/ha
1 Ghansa 1.21 0.070 36.49 175
2 Lete Khola 3.48 0.203 35.03 136
3 Larjung 0.13 0.127 24.81 136
4 Barren 0.10 0.059 21.51 129
5
land
The result showed that organic matter content varied as 0.1% to 5.03%, Nitrogen content
ranged from 0.012% to 0.941%, Phosphorus from 12.15 kg/ha to 170.77 kg/ha and
potassium from 127 kg/ha to 778 kg/ha in the study site.
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contents in Seabuckthorn available sites were more than that of barren land without it.
Rongsen (1992) identified the symbiotic mycorrhizal/actinorrhizal associations as
Frankia found in Seabuckthorn root. This symbiosis between the association and
Seabuckthorn results in root nodule formation that can fix the maximum amount of
atmospheric Nitrogen to soil. Quangzhong et al. (1989) and Daiqiong et al. (1995)
reported the same results in North and North and Northwestern China. Hence,
Seabuckthorn is Nitrogen fixing plant and therefore considered potential for soil fertility
improvement.
Recommendations
• The role of local people is quite important for the conservation and management of
Seabuckthorn. The plans for the development and promotion of Seabuckthorn must
justify the following facts:
• Importance of Seabuckthorn on soil conservation, soil improvement and soil
reclamation should be transferred to local people directly, in order to reduce the
resource loss and the barren land reform.
• Intercropping practices of Seabuckthorn with horticultural varieties should be
encouraged for soil fertility improvement.
Acknowledgement
We are thankful to TISC/NARMSAP for technical support and members of
ecological survey team for their painstaking assistance during the field visit.
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