CONTRIBUTION OF GROUND VEGETATION IN THE LITTERFALL OF THE BALA FORT RESERVE FOREST IN ALWAR, RAJASTHAN

The Bala-fort tropical dry deciduous forest in the Aravalli ranges is located in Alwar district of Rajasthan (27o4’ to 28o4’ N and 76o7’ to 77o13’ E). It supports a dense layer of herbs and shrubs because of its open forest canopy. Hence, the role of dominant herb and shrubs in the litter dynamics has been evaluated in this forest. The total annual litter of the forest floor was 328 g m-2 out of which more than 32 % was contributed by the selected shrubs of the ground vegetation. The shrub Grewia flavescens contributed from September to March, Capparis sepiaria from March to June whereas Justicia adhatoda throughout the year. It seems from the study that Justicia adhatoda plays greater role whereas the common herb Achyranthes aspera played the lowest role in the litter dynamics of this forest.