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BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) 2011, 57 (1&2), 97-103 PK ISSN 0006 - 3096 Appraisal of ecological significance of Ricinus communis Linn. in the wasteland of Lahore, Pakistan *FERHAT MEHMOOD1, AMIN UL HAQ KHAN2 & ZAHEER UD DIN KHAN3 1,3 Botany Department, G.C. University Lahore, Pakistan, Department of Sustainable Development, G.C University Lahore, Pakistan. 2 ABSTRACT The objectives of this work was to document the ecological significance of Ricinus communis Linn., which is generally considered a wasteland plant. The ecological significance in terms of productivity and production of organic and inorganic minerals indicates that Ricinus communis Linn., is an ideal plant for restoring disturbed soil because such disturbed habitat appears to be ideal for achieving maximum growth as compared to undisturbed soils. Its biomass production and nutrient supplying power could make it an ideal plant for colonization of wasteland. Similarly it is a plant of great consumptive and productive value on marginal agricultural land. Planned promotion of Ricinus communis Linn., on wasteland would not only restore poor soils but at the same time it would provide subsistence economy to the poor farmers. Key words: Ricinus communis, wasteland, disturbed soil INTRODUCTION Ricinus communis Linn., commonly called as Castor Oil plant, is wide spread on waste places. Ecologically, it is generally regarded as a good colonizer of waste places (Roger & Rix, 1999). Economically it is important because it yields oil, with a wide range of uses including its most popular medicinal use as an effective laxative (Kamal & Joshi, 2006). World and national conservation strategies are attempts to find balance between ranges of attitudes toward the natural world. Conservation of a wide variety of plant species can be justified on the grounds that they are of direct economic importance to humans. As available natural resources may place a serious constrain on future consumption and utilization, conservation is necessary consideration for sustainable development. Conservation of resources is increasingly major concern of both conservationist and developers (Mc Nelly, 1988). The costs and benefits must be assessed for various types of nature reserves (Hanemann, 1988). Plant harvested as raw products for drugs have productive use value, this is related to the value of end product (Principe, 1988; Devendra & Raghavan, 1978). In developing countries the contribution of wild plants is greatest in direct economic terms (Mc Neely, 1988). Ricinus communis Linn., is a common colonizer of marginal lands and waste places (James & Harden, 1990). It’s ecological significance as a colonizer plant (Anonymus, 2006) could be of great value, but has not much been appraised. Ricinus communis Linn., is a very important plant both ecologically and can be assigned the status of biological resource. In this work ecological aspects have been focused upon. *Corresponding author: [email protected] 98 F. MEHMOOD ET AL BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) MATERIALS AND METHODS Ecological valuation of Ricinus communis Linn., Estimating the return of organic matter did ecological valuation of the species and inorganic minerals in the form of above and below ground biomass of the plant growing at different sites where it is naturally colonized. The objective was to estimate the contribution of plant in increasing the fertility of disturbed soil. The experiment was planned in the following steps: 1. Preliminary observations to select appropriate sites for detailed investigation: Ten different sites were identified for this purpose as per location of site, percent cover of R. communis, percent litter on the ground, type of litter, topography and soil texture Three sites were finally selected v.i.z GOR I Shadman, Lawrence garden and Near Saggian Bridge at River Ravi Lahore, keeping in mind habitats supporting monoculture of R. communis. 2. Detailed productivity analyses of sites were done by: a. Plant harvest (Seasonal) Seasonal productivity was determined above and below the ground at different sites. For this purpose destructive harvests were carried out at the three selected sites. Root, shoot length, weight along with number of leaves, inflorescence and seeds were recorded for interpretation of results. Plant material was stored for further chemical analyses. b. Litter and soil sample collection Similarly all the litter above the soil was removed and 3 cm topsoil thus exposed was collected and kept in plastic bags and stored for chemical analyses. 3. Chemical analyses of Plant, litter and Soil Samples: Chemical analysis of plant material, litter and soil was done. Plant material and litter were subjected to estimation of Nitrogen by Kjeldal method (AOAC, 1990), Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium and Carbon by Flame photometer method (Moore & Chapman, 1986). Similarly soil samples were analysed for Phosphorus by Rapid and sensitive colorimetric method, exchangeable calcium determined by substracting exchangeable Na and K from cation exchange capacity. 4. Statistical analyses: Applying ANOVA using Two-way ANOVA through statistical soft ware SPSS 13.0 did statistical analysis of the data obtained. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION There is a significant difference of shoot length of individual plants between plants growing near drainage channel (Shadman) compared to plants growing on the two well-drained sites (Lawrence & Saggian). The shoot height was much shorter in Shadman compared with that of Lawrence and Saggian, although there was little difference between the total numbers of plants. This Vol. 57 (1&2) Ecological significance of Ricinus communis Linn. 99 trend is also significantly reflected in the shoot weight of individual plant. The shoot weight per meter square area, although not very significant, is much higher in Lawrence and Saggian compared to Shadman. When the shoot weight per meter square area is combined, inclusive of the three harvests, per site the results become more variable but still the trend persists (Table I). Table I. Statistical analyses of attributes of Ricinus communis Linn. Sites/Plant parts Shoot height (cm) Root length (cm) Shoot weight (g) Root weight (g) No. of leaves No. of Inflorescence. No. of fruits No. of seeds GOR-1 Shadman Lawrence Garden Sagian Bridge 0.570.20 0.160.12 249.6 7.55.4 10.055.96 4309 44.6033.19 132.0100.24 1.450.78 0.220.10 5228.4 9.94.6 10.233.41 2.51.73 2816.75 8450.25 1.660.75 0.20.057 52.624 123.29 12.956.15 2.081.24 22.5813.70 67.7541.12 *Values indicated are of MeanS.D Root length difference is more significant between the sites. At the Shadman the root length is generally less than that of Saggian and Lawrence. The difference between Saggian and Lawrence is less significant though the trend is of longer roots at Lawrence as compared to Saggian. The root weight of individual plant is more variable though a general trend observed in the root length persists. No significant difference or trend is seen regarding number of leaves. But as far as number of inflorescence and fruits is concerned, there is great deal of variability. In spite of variability it appears that there is slight trend of higher number of inflorescence and fruits in Shadman and Lawrence as compared to Saggian. Results of the experimental plots showed that out of five plants established in plot 1, two plants reached upper limits of heights as observed in wild plants, whereas the other three were of average height. The taller plants also had above and below the ground biomass comparable to the shorter plants. The above and below the ground biomass of the taller plants was equal to the upper limits of the plants harvested from their natural habitat. Plot 2 and 3 having three plants each, had average height and biomass as compared to the plants of their natural habitat. The statistical analysis clearly suggests that time of harvest has not much effect on the plant variables and the differences due to the site factors which are much more important. In spite of more favorable moisture regime, being close to the sewage channel, the shoot height and length is significantly less as compared to the sites, which are located on more disturbed and welldrained sites. This indicates that although the species might form greater cover on many sites but it prefers sites, which are more disturbed and well drained. The significant longer root length at well-drained sites indicates that it is probably the texture (disturbed), which allows the roots to penetrate deeper, compared to 100 F. MEHMOOD ET AL BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) more stable less disturbed Shadman site. The soils of Shadman has higher values of N, P and K (Fig., 1 – 5), compared to Saggian and Lawrence but it appears that the amount in various tissues is more or less similar on the three ++ sites. Whereas Ca content at Saggian and Lawrence are in some cases higher than that of Shadman. It appeared that less fertile soils could be turned fertile where Ricinus communis Linn., is established. This is probably the reason that its products are used as fertilizers (Sastri, 1972) GOR I SHADMAN LAWRENCE SAGGIAN 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 SOIL LITTER ROOT STEM LEAF Fig., 1: Comparison of Nitrogen (mg/kg) soil, litter and plant Tissue GOR I SHADMAN LAWRENCE SAGGIAN 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 SOIL LITTER ROOT STEM LEAF Fig., 2: Comparison of Phosphorus (mg/kg) soil, litter and plant Tissue Vol. 57 (1&2) Ecological significance of Ricinus communis Linn. GOR I SHADMAN LAWRENCE 101 SAGGIAN 400000 350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 SOIL LITTER ROOT STEM LEAF Fig., 3: Comparison of Potassium (mg/kg) soil, litter and plant Tissue GOR I SHADMAN LAWRENCE SAGGIAN 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 SOIL LITTER ROOT STEM LEAF Fig., 4: Comparison of Calcium (mg/kg) soil, litter and plant Tissue 102 F. MEHMOOD ET AL GOR I SHADMAN LAWRENCE BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) SAGGIAN 1200000 1000000 800000 600000 400000 200000 0 SOIL LITTER ROOT STEM LEAF Fig., 5: Comparison of Carbon (mg/kg) soil, litter and plant Tissue CONCLUSION Appraisal of ecological value clearly suggests that this plant would help to improve the structure and stability of the disturbed soil. The results clearly point out that disturbed soil with good drainage and under natural climate conditions are more responsive to the growth of the R. communis Linn., Biomass production of individual plants of R. communis Linn., is higher as compared to other waste land species like Achyranthus aspera , Abutilon indicum, Cassia occidentalis and Withania somnifera (Rahat, 1996). REFERENCES Anonymus, 2006. National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) AOAC, 1990. Official method of analysis,JAOAC. Ed. Sidney William. North Nineteenth st. Suitte 210, Virginia U.S.A. 70: 970 Devendra, C. & Raghavan, G.V., 1978. Agricultural by-products in South East Asia: availability, utilization and potential value. World Rev. Anim. Prod., 14(4):11–27. Hanemann, W.M., 1988. Economics and the preservation of biodiversity. In biodiversity, Ed. E.O.Wilson Washington, D.C. National Academy of Sciences 193-199. James T A & Harden, G. J., 1990 Flora of New South Wales. National herbarium N S W. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydmey, Australia. Kamal, K.J. & Joshi, S.D., 2006. Medicinal and Aromatic plants used in Nepal, Tibet and Trans- Himalayan Region.Author House, Indiana, USA.pp 166167. Vol. 57 (1&2) Ecological significance of Ricinus communis Linn. 103 McNeely, J.A., 1998. Economics and biological diversity; Developing and using economic incentives to conserve biological resources, Gland, Switzerland:IUCN.p.119. nd Moore, P. D. & Chapman, S. B., 1983. Methods in plant ecology, 2 sd. Blackwell Scientific Publication, Oxford, p 285-336. Principe, P.P., 1988. The Economic value of biological diversity among medicinal plants, Paris, Environment Directorate, Organization of an Economic Cooperation and Development.p.106. Rahat, I., 1996. Observations on the growth strategies of 5 colonizers species of wasteland. (M.Sc. Thesis, Govt. College Lahore) Rojer, P. & Rix, M., 1999. Annuals and Biennials. London: Macmillan. 106 pp. Sastri, B. N., 1972. Wealth of India A dictionary of Indian raw material and industrial products Vol. Ix, Rh-So. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi. p. 24-40. 104 BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN)