Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

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1.1
Deltaic Ecosystem:
3.3
The fan-shaped or triangular Indus Delta
is the fifth largest delta and unique by the
fact that it experiences the highest wave
energy among all river deltas in the world
(Wells and Coleman 1984). The main
features of Indus delta are seventeen
major creeks and innumerable minor
creeks and mud, sand and salt flats,
marshes, lagoons and fringing
02
mangroves (Meynell and Qureshi 1995).
It covers an area of 600,000 ha out of
which 160,000 ha is occupied by the
mangrove vegetation (Hoekstra et al.,
Mangroves of Indus Ecoregion
1997;Anwar 2004).
These forests are unique in a sense that they are the largest arid mangrove forests in the
world. Eight species of mangroves have historically been reported in the area, only four
remain. These are Avicennia marina, Aegiceras corniculata, Ceriops tagal and Rhizophora
mucronata (Meynell and Qureshi 1995, Hoekstra 1997; Anwar 2004; Ismail et al. 2006). In
addition to floral diversity, the Indus Delta is also rich in faunal diversity, which includes fishes,
reptiles, aves, and from small mammals to large sized mammals. Located southeast of
Karachi, the large delta has been recognized by conservationists as one of the world's most
important ecological regions. The Indus River Delta is a highly productive area at the juncture
of both fresh water and marine systems. It falls under arid climatic condition with an average
rainfall of about 220 cm and 76 % of relative humidity. It is characterized by moderate tide and
high wave energy.
3.4
Agroecosystem:
The economy of Sindh is dominates by agriculture, making it the second largest province the
area under agriculture. In this sense economic development of Sindh is largely dependant on
the development and growth of the agriculture sector. The province contributes significantly
to the overall national agriculture production in major crops: 32% in National Rice Production,
24% in National Sugarcane Production, 21.75% in National Cotton Production, 16% in
National Wheat Production (Federal Govt. latest communication 2008).
Rice is considered a ‘luxury crop’ and is cultivated in areas with sandy soils, particularly in the
deltas. Wheat is a staple food of the inhabitants of the province. It is grown throughout the left
bank side. The main Kharif crops of the province are cotton, rice, sugar cane, millet,
maize/corn and a few pulses. Cotton is mainly found in areas that are hot and dry and have
sandy clay soils. Sugar cane grows only in irrigated areas throughout the province.The total
cultivated area in Sindh is 5.88 million hectares and the net area sown is 2.39 million hectares.
The total cropped area is 3.10 million hectares, of which 0.71 million hectares are sown more
than once (Stewart 1982). Among valuable fruit trees mangoes, bananas, dates, papayas,
chikus, citrus, guavas and wide range of vegetables are grown.
The lands now under agriculture were originally under the tropical thorn forest, comprising
species like Prosopis cineraria, Acacia senegal, Capparis decidua, Salvadora oleoides,
Salvadora persica, Comiphora stocksii,
etc. The spread of agriculture has badly decimated
these species, and thus the tropical thorn forest is regarded as the most threatened
ecosystem in the subcontinent (Khan 1994).