PHENOLOGICAL PATTERNS AMONG THE VEGETATION OF NIKYAL VALLEY, DISTRICT KOTLI, AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

Aim: The aim of this study was to report the seasonal variation in phenological pattern as a function of rain fall and temperature. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Nikyal valley located at altitudinal range of 1500-1900 m within the longitude 74o 04 to 10 east and latitude 33o 26 to 29 north during July 2012 to June 2013. Methodology: A phenological record of plant species was organized on the source of field trips and visits conducted every month. The plants were then classified in to different phenological stages. Results: There were 110 plant species of 51 families consisting of 5 trees, 29 shrubs, 55 herbs, 18 grasses and 3 ferns harbouring in Nikyal valley. The investigated area had only one flowering season. Majority of herbaceous, shrubby trees species flowered from April to May and the flowering reached to the peak during May and June. Conclusion: The variation in phonological patterns controlled by the amount and timing of precipitation inputs during the growing season.


INTRODUCTION
Phenology referred to the seasonal timing of life cycle events' (Rathcke and Lacey, 1985), can include a variety of events. It is a periodic phenomenon in plants that are tied to periodic environmental changes (Schwartz 2003). A hot climate has led to shift in timing of plant phenology over the past half century as determined both by observations and retrospective models (Menzel and others 2006;Schwartz and other 2006). Phenological information is important in monitoring all aspects of ecosystems and is essential to understanding the dynamics of plant communities (Lechowicz, 2001). This type of study envisages a relationship between climate and growing periods of plants of an area and such type of studies are essential for planning, regeneration, forestation and conservation in rangeland and forestry (Malik 2005).
Such relationships have been very rarely addressed in previous studies.

Study area
Nikyal Hills are situated in District Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of 1500-1900m. They are located 30 km away from Kotli towards North. The investigated area lies within longitude 74o 04 to 10 east and latitude 33o 26 to 29 north. It is surrounded by Kotli on south, on western side by Tatapani, on Northern side by Mender and on east by Pir-Panjal . (Anonymous, 2006

DISCUSSION
Phenology is the study of response of plants towards environmental changes. It is associated with plant growth rate (Taylor, 1976), nutrient transfer (Sosebee and Wiebe, 1973), thermal requirement (Nuttonson 1955), plant water relationship, and even evolutionary change (Kikuzawa 1989) Small variations in climate have great effect over vegetation. While vegetation can be characterized by different patterns of phenological events (Opler et al., 1980) In the investigated area phenological behavior was observed during February to August.
This type of study tells us about relationship between climate and growing period of an area.
Such studies are used in planning age classes, conservation in forestry and rangeland. The  (Huang, 2009). Similarly in our case, flowering was favored during April-May due to high temperature and further rise in temperature from June to September lead to the appearance and maturation of fruits. Kikim and Yadava, (2001) and Yadav & Yadav (2008) observed that maximum fruit maturation in eastern India occurred in the months of September to October. Climatic changes and day length variations might be responsible for differences as suggested by Kushwaha & Singh (2005).
Maximum fruiting in tree species in Gujrat India (700 28'to 700 27' north) was recorded during March, April and December by Jadeja and Nakar, (2010). Temperature and Photoperiod mainly affect fruiting in plants. In the investigated area fruiting of tree species was at peak in the July. Our findings in this respect disagree with him which might be due different latitude and presence of different species in Nikyal valley.

CONCLUSION
Several aspects of phenology and productivity such as seedling, flowering, fruiting and dormancy of different plant species varied during a twelve months study period, with much of the variation controlled by the amount and timing of precipitation inputs during the growing season. They are also influenced with respect to the size of the observation area, the number of observers, the duration of time observed, the type and number of species.