Research Article Details

Abstract

An alien plant also referred to as exotic, introduced, foreign, non-indigenous or non-native, is one that has been introduced by humans intentionally or through human agency or accidentally from one region to another. Loss of plant species is due to these invasive plants. In India, many invasive exotic weeds have been reported but very little has been done on IAS in Punjab so far. Parthenium hysterophorus, one of the commonest weed of Punjab is considered for study as it causes decline in the amount of native species in the invaded area (commercial area). Impact assessment of Parthenium hysterophorus is done in roadside and wastelands of commercial areas of Jalandhar, Punjab (India) with the help of ground based mapping. There was significant increase in density of invasion, abundance and dominance in commercial areas and significant decrease in species richness (Margalef’s index of Richness r1) in invaded areas as compared to non-invaded areas. Total 75 species in commercial areas were noted in roadside and wastelands of Jalandhar. The invasion of Parthenium hysterophorus highly reduced the growth of other useful plant species in commercial areas as comparison to residential areas. They directly or indirectly become responsible for the loss of productivity and diversity of species in the invaded areas. So P.hysterophorus species drastically alters the structure, function and dynamics of invaded habitats. Thus, there is an urgent need for the management of these indigenous plants in the invaded areas under their natural habitats.