Late Holocene vegetation, climate change and human impact in southwestern Madhya Pradesh, India

Authors

  • M.F. Quamar Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
  • M.S. Chauhan Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.2011.174

Keywords:

Late Holocene, Vegetation, Climate, Pollen analysis, Southwestern Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Pollen analysis of a 2 m deep sediment profile from the dried Kachhar Lake, Sehore District, has demonstrated that between 2050 and 1610 yr BP, open Acacia-scrub forest constituted of Acacia cf. nilotica, Grewia, Mitragyna, Sapotaceae flourished in the region under relatively warm and humid climate with moderate monsoon precipitation, than that prevails today. The retrieval of fragmentary charcoals implies the repeated forest fire incidences. The presence of Cerealia and ruderal plant taxa, viz. Cannabis sativa, Cheno/Am, Caryophyllaceae, etc. suggests the agricultural practices in the region. Between 1610 and 600 yr BP, Acacia-scrub forest turned profuse with expansion of Acacia cf. nilotica and other arboreals, viz. Shorea robusta, Terminalia, Grewia and Madhuca indica in response to more-humid climate with the onset of increased monsoon precipitation. Agriculture practice continued with same intensity as before. Since 600 yr BP onwards, the climate changed to less-humid as indicated by decline in Acacia-scrub forest. The decline in Cerealia reflects the low pace of agriculture practice.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Champion HG & Seth SK 1968. A Revised Survey of Forest Types of India. New Delhi.

Chauhan MS 1995. Origin and history of tropical deciduous Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) forests in Madhya Pradesh, India. Palaeobotanist 43: 89-101.

Chauhan MS 2000. Pollen evidence of Late-Quaternary vegetation and climatic changes in northeastern Madhya Pradesh. Palaeobotanist 49: 491-500.

Chauhan MS 2002. Holocene vegetation and climatic changes in southeastern Madhya Pradesh, India. Current Science 83: 1444- 1445.

Chauhan MS 2004. Late-Holocene vegetation and climatic changes in eastern Madhya Pradesh. Gondwana Geological Magazine 19: 165- 175.

Chauhan MS 2005. Pollen record of vegetation and climatic changes in northeastern Madhya Pradesh during last 1600 years. Tropical Ecology 46: 265-271.

Chauhan MS & Quamar MF 2010. Vegetation and climate change in Southeastern Madhya Pradesh during late Holocene, based on pollen evidence. Journal of Geological Society of India 76: 143-150.

Erdtman G 1943. An Introduction to Pollen Analysis. Chronica Botanica Mass. USA.

Khan AA 1992. Quaternary deposits of Narmada with special reference to hominid fossil. Journal of Geological Society of India 39: 147- 154.

Yadav DN, Chauhan MS & Sarin MM 2004. Geochemical and pollen records from northeastern Madhya Pradesh: An appraisal of Late Quaternary vegetation and climate change. Journal of Geological Society of India 68: 95-102.

Downloads

Published

2011-12-31

How to Cite

Quamar, M., & Chauhan, M. (2011). Late Holocene vegetation, climate change and human impact in southwestern Madhya Pradesh, India. Journal of Palaeosciences, 60((1-2), 281–289. https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.2011.174

Issue

Section

Research Articles