Phytosociological patterns along a soil nutrient gradient in sacred groves of Haryana

Sacred groves (SGs) are patches of natural vegetation traditionally protected by local communities for religious, cultural, or spiritual reasons. This study evaluated the phytodiversity and soil nutrient profile of four SGs in semi-arid Western Haryana, outside the protected area network. Quadrat sampling recorded floristic composition, species richness, dominance, evenness, and Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’). Soil parameters included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density (BD), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic carbon (OC). Tree, shrub, and herb density was highest in Bidola SG, while basal area was greater in Sultanpur (19.77 m²/ha) and Dhingsara (15.51 m²/ha) than in Makrana Johra (7.69) and Bidola (4.49). Dominant species were Acacia tortilis (Bidola), Salvadora oleoides (Sultanpur), and invasive Prosopis juliflora (Dhingsara). H’ ranged 0.61-3.26 for trees, 0.05-0.58 for shrubs, 0.39-0.88 for herbs, and 0.32-4.59 for climbers. Soils showed highest EC, N, P, K, and OC in Makrana Johra, maximum BD in Dhingsara, and highest pH in Bidola. Findings highlight that SGs of Western Haryana sustain notable biodiversity and soil fertility, but agricultural expansion threatens their integrity, requiring urgent conservation and community-scientist collaboration.