EVALUATION OF HONEY BEE FLORA OF THE NORTH EASTERN REGION OF HARYANA

摘要

Floral, resources of the north eastern region of Haryana (epicenter at Karnal) were evaluated for their utility to the honeybees as neclur (N) and pollen (P) sources followed by their confirmation melissopalynologically and a "floral calendar" for theregion was prepared. Honeybees foraged on 123 plant species comprising 6 oilseeds, 9 pulses, 3 cereals, II fruit trees, 19 vegetables. 19 trees. 30 ornamentals, 24 weeds and 2 forage plants. Eighty-eight plant species .(72.1%) were foraged both for N and P, 19 (16.4%) for N alone and 16 (11.5 %) lor P only. Seven plants served as major P source accounting lor 65.1 percent of the total pollen loads. Brassica juncea (15.4% of total P loads). Eucalyptus sp. (14.9%) and Helianthus annuus (13.1%) were significant pollen sources accounting Tor 43.4% of pollen loads. Foenicvlum vulgare (6.7%). Zea mays (5.4%). Coriandrum satlvum (5.2%) and Trifolium alexandrinum (4.4%) were the olher major sources. Ten species served as medium pollen sources (23.2%) comprising of Callistemon citrinus, B. campestris var. toria, Pisum sativum, Cucumis melo. Ageralum conyzoides, Pyrus communis. Pntnus persica, Lagerstroemia indica, Stellaria media and strawberry. Rest of the plant species (90) served as minor pollen sources (11.7%). Four distinct beekeeping seasons lor the region were identified; starting with toria from October-November followed hy mustard bloom from December-February, eucalyptus from February-mid April and sunflower from mid April-May. A major nectar and pollen dearth occurred in the rainy season months of mid June to September. The changing agro-ecological scenario in the region along with steps taken to augment the availability of bee flora during the dearth period has also been discussed in the paper.