PLANT-BIODIVERSITY AT AJMIRIGANJ HAOR HOMESTEADS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the plant biodiversity and distribution of fruit, timber and vegetable species in the Haor homestead of Bangladesh and to explore the relationship between plant grower's characteristics and plant biodiversity. Ajmiriganj upazila of Hobigonj district of Bangladesh was the study area. The study covered 300 homesteads from five tinions. The information was collected by using questionnaires. focused group discussion and field observations. Plant biodiversity was described by Species richness, Relative prevalence and Species diversity. Twenty seven fruits. 23 timbers. 17 summer vegetables and 12 winter vegetables species were identified. None of the plant species was found in the 100% haor homestead. Coconut and mango were found in the highest number of homestead (79%) in the study area. The relative prevalence of most common fruit plant like betel nut, banana, mango were 115.074, 63.558, 74.358 respectively while the lowest relative prevalence was observed for very rare timber species like Indian Gum Tree, Champa and Jami. The highest species diversity was found in Mango (0,992), Coconut (0.990), Papaya (0.987) and that of lowest was found in fig. Ipil-ipil and Champa. Various kinds of problems were identified in the study area. According to the farmer's opinion, "Lack of improved plant species" was identified as the topmost problem. No relationship was observed between age of the farmers and fruit diversity, while education, family size, area of homestead, area under fruit have low and non-significant positive relationship with the plant diversity. There was no significant correlation between the demographic characteristics of the homesteads plant grower and plant Biodiversity.