Abstract

In the present study soil, water and plant samples were collected from seven different natural populations of I. dixitei which are found growing on the tablelands of Satara and Kolhapur districts of Maharashtra, India. The collected soil and water samples have been analysed for the colour, texture, available plant nutrients, electrical conductivity, pH and BOD. The soil and water factors along with biotic factors are compared with the number of plants per m2, length of plants, number of leaves and roots per plant to understand the morphological diversity and biology within different populations of I. dixitei. The result of present analysis reveals that these ecological factors such as organic carbon, iron, phosphorus and potassium in soil and low pH of soil and water have positive relationship with the growth, robustness and diversity of I. dixitei. However, copper, zinc and electrical conductivity in the soil have negative significant role in influencing the plant characters. The role of manganese appears to be not significant. The biological factors play major role in controlling the diversity (number of plants per m2) of this taxon.

Keyword: Biotic factor, Isoetes dixitei, Maharashtra, plant characters, soil, water.