Phytosociological Studies on Natural Populations of Terminalia chebula Retz. in Malghat Area of Western Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra, India

The present study was done on the phytosociological status of Terminalia chebula Retz. in Malghat area of Western Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The ten natural populations of T. chebula distributed in study area was selected with the objective to study distribution pattern and associative tree species of T. chebula in these 10 populations. The vegetation survey was conducted wherein, 10 quadrats of size 20 m × 20 m (400 m2) size was laid down randomly. The result shows that all the individuals of T. chebula are in the range of 80-220 cm GBH with a density of 45 trees/ha and more than 55% of the individual trees of T. chebua are in the girth class of 160-180 cm. There was complete absence of natural regeneration of T. chebula in study area. Further, the most of the individuals of T. chebula adult trees was found to be almost of the same size producing flowers and fruits but no seedlings were successfully established. The major associate tree species found to be Tectona grandis, Madhuca longifolia, Dyospyros melanoxylon, Butea monosperma, Teminalia bellirica, Buchanania lanzan and Pongamia pinnata. The complete absence of natural regeneration of T. chebula confirm the urgency of propagation of the species with the help of artificial techniques, and reduction in destructive harvesting methods such as hacking tree branches and looping pressure.