PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND SPECIES DIVERSITY AROUND NAJAFGARH LAKE, DELHI NCR, INDIAPriyanka Verma, Aakanksha Kasania and PamposhAbstract Najafgarh Lake is located in the southwest part of Delhi straddling Haryana and Delhi border. Every year hundreds of migratory birds visit the lake and most of the studies have been concentrating on bird diversity. The present study was undertaken around Najafagrh lake from 2018-2019 to evaluate the plant community structure of the area. The data was quantitatively analyzed for different community characteristics. A total number of 33 species, representing 32 genera from 21 families of aquatic and terrestrial plant species were recorded in the study site. The most common plant species based on the importance value index in tree species were Eucalyptus sp. (IVI=54.32) followed by Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (IVI=52.21) and Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC (IVI=42.19). Among the herb and shrub species, the dominating species were Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. (IVI= 47.38), Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (IVI=46.3) followed by Saccharum sp. (IVI=39.31) and Ricinus communis L. (IVI=37.65) respectively. The dominant diversity curve showed lognormal series for trees, herbs, and shrubs. The maximum species diversity was observed at Dhansa barrage and upstream canal region. This study provides baseline information on the vegetation around the Najafgarh Lake area. Appropriate conservation and management can considerably improve the botanical value of vegetation around the lake area, and consequently their value for other life forms |