STUDIES ON MANGROVE DIVERSITY IN CORRELATION WITH SOIL SAMPLES OF SAJINAKHALI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, WEST BENGAL

Abstract: The present study aims to make a quantitative study of the mangrove diversity along with soil quality analysis of Sajinakhali Wildlife Sanctuary inside the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve. Total 28 plant species belonging to 19 genera under 15 families were found. The most dominant family is Rhizophoraceae and the most dominant species is Ceriops decandra showing highest frequency, abundance and density. The soil is mainly sandy-loam in nature. The soil pH values are in the alkaline range and vary from 7.3 to 7.6. This alkaline nature is due to high salt content of the soil. The differences between pH values of the soils are not very prominent. Soil salinity inside Sajinakhali ranges from 2.4 ppt. to 2.6 ppt. Keywords: Mangrove, wildlife sanctuary, salinity, biosphere reserve.