This study aimed to identify tree species indicative of groundwater availability in Chintamani, Karnataka, India. Electrical resistivity surveys of two 5-acre plots identified areas with high and low groundwater potential. In high potential areas, tree species from the Leguminaceae and Caesalpinaceae families like Cassia, Pongamia and Subabul were common. Soil analysis found higher water holding capacity and pore space in these areas. Across both sites, 32 tree species were recorded, with Leguminaceae and Meliaceae species often found near existing borewells and water bodies. The study suggests certain tree species can help identify zones with greater groundwater potential.

1. Trees species as indicators of
ground water & recharge
Rinku Verma, Jagadeeshwara K, Shivappa, Jayanti T, A.N.S. Gowda
College of Sericulture, Chintamani,
University of Agricultural Sciences., Bangalore

2. Objective of the study
• Identifying areas of ground water potential
using electrical resistivity.
• Studying tree species present in these regions
(near aquifer points and non aquifer points)
sites.
• Soil study of the same region.
• Study of tree species near lakes/ponds/water
bodies

3. Methods and Materials
• Geophysical survey using electrical resistivity instrument
was carried out (for 10 acres land).
• The area near to the yielding aquifer point/ near an
existing bore and the other regions were studied for the
tree species prevalent in the region/ i.e. taxonomical
identification.
• Soil analysis was carried out to give the status of the soil
type existing in the given location (aquifer and non-
aquifer points).
• Keen’s cup experiment for the determination of bulk
density, particle density, maximum water holding
capacity, percentage pore space and volume of
expansion have been carried out.

4. Methods and Materials conti.,
• Tree species existing in the nearby villages have been
identified.
• Identifying trees species existing near bore well
point/tanks of some of the villages surrounding
Chintamani, Kolar regions and moving towards
Bangalore, Karnataka, India were carried out and a
count of tree species were recorded.
• Details of rainfall trend have been listed in the table
over the last few years from (2004 to 2013).

5. Area of the
existing bore
plot 1 (5
acres)
Plot 2 (5 acres),
Area of the
depleted bore,
as water table
level has gone
down

6. Two plots of 5 acre each were surveyed
1- Plot one
2- Plot two of the same campus
Total surveyed area = 10 acre
&
Villages surrounding & Chintamani
Chintamani – Kolar
Chintamani - Bangalore

7. Study area

8. Chintamani, Karnataka, India
Famous for
1. Indian Silk /mulberry –water reduction
makes sericulture hard
2. Milk ?
3. Mango- shortage of water has led to
unhealthy growth of mango trees
4. Vegetable growing
5. Gold, KGF (Karnataka Gold Field) – no gold
Because of Climate Change: water shortage
change in rainfall patterns

9. Tree species seen
where Ground water
table is available.
Dalbergia spp

10. Results
Plot one
Camel foot tree ( few)
Cassia spp (24)
Pongamia (18)
Subabul (4)
Acacia mangium
Acacia spp (2)
Albizia lebbeck (3)
Tamarind (10)
Gulmohar
Sandal (16)
Plot two
Tamarind (1)
Jack fruit
Amla (1)
Aegel marmalos (1)
Champaka (3)
Spathodia (3)
Silver oak (22)
Acacia species
Cassia species
Acacia species

11. Referred to as water
indicator species
Mahagony Neem
Subabul

12. Family Number of Species Name of the tree species Water Indicator Species
Near yielding bore
Caesalpinaceae/ Leguminaceae 7 Camel foot tree ( few)
Cassia spp (24)
Pongamia (18)
Subabul (4)
Acacia mangium
Acacia spp (2)
Albizia lebbeck (3)
Referred to as Indicators from literature
Seen near water
Fabaceae 2 Tamarind (10)
Gulmohar
Referred to as Indicators from literature
Few near water
Santalaceae 1 Sandal (16) Few near water
The remaining portion of the area under survey
Leguminaceae 3 Pongamia (18)
Acacia auriculiformis (20)
Acacia (20)
Amaryllidaceae 1 Agave (6)
Myrtaceae 2 Eucalyptus (2)
Jamun (62)
Moraceae 2 Fig, Mulberry (20) Away from water, Near the well (unconfined aquifer)
Sapindaceae 1 Fern tree (24) No water/ rock area
Meliaceae 2 Mahogany (3) (24)
Neem (40)
Few near water (well)
Euphorbiaceae 3 Tapioca (20)
Jatropa (3)
Amla
FOR FIRST FIVE ACRES IN CAMPU
Moringaceae 1 Drumstick (3)
Poaceae 1 Bamboo (20)
Sapotaceae 1 Madhuca longifolia (20)
1 Hippae (3)
Combretaceae 4 Terminalia tomentosa (1)
Terminalia catappa (25)
Indian almond
Terminalia arjuna
Verbenaceae 2 Casuarina equisetifolia

13. – Area surrounding the existing bore well

14. New bore next to the existing one

15. • Albezia lebback
• Cassia spp

16. spp

17. Prosphos juliflora
juliflorajuliflora
Acacia spp

18. Family Number of species Number of Species Water Indicator Species
Meliaceae 3 Mahogeny (3)
Melia duba (3)
Neem (47)
Water indicator species
Leguminaceae / Fabaceae 5 Acacia mendium (20)
Acacia auriculiformis (20)
Subabul Tamarind (10)
Dalbergia (20)
Near to the water region/ Few near water
Malvaceae 1 Simaroba (22) -
Proteaceae (Silver oak family) 1 Grevillea robusta (20) -
Verbenaceae 1 Teak (13)
Poaceae 2 Napier grass 2/ Bamboo (few) -
Sapotaceae 1 Mohwa (1) -
Anacardiaceae 2 Cashew (4)
Mango (17)
-
Malvaceae 1 Thespesia (20) -
Palmae 1 Coconut (4) -
Annonaceae 1 Ashoka (12) -
Pinnaceae 1 Christmas tree (2) -
Tiliaceae 1 Cherry (1) -
Moringaceae 1 Drumstick (5) -FOR SECOND FIVE ACRES IN CAMPUS
Myritaceae 3 Jamun (4), Eucaylptus (70), Guava (5) -
Near yielding bore
Fabaceae 1 Tamarind (1)
Moraceae 1 Jack fruit
Euphorbiaceae 1 Amla (1)
Rutaceae 1 Aegel marmalos (1)
Magnoliaceae 1 Champaka (3)
Bignoniaceae 1 Spathodia (3)
Tiliaceae 1 Japanese Cherry
Proteaceae 1 Silver oak (22)
Coniferae 1 Tuja (4)
Sapindaceae 1 Leechi (1)
Rutaceae 1 Lemon tree (2)

19. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Chin- Kolar Chin- Bangalore Bangalore -
International Airport
College of
Sericulture,
Chintamani 1
College of
Sericulture,
Chintamani 2
Series2
Series1
Figure 2. Study area indicating the presence of two families seen
predominately in various ground water available sites bores and ponds/
lakes. *Series 1 Leguminaceae and Series 2 Caesalpinaceae

20. Soil analysis results
• Maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) recorded
34%,
• Pore space 39.9%
• Volume expansion of soil 15.50% respectively. These
values were observed to be higher as compared to the
other soils, the bulk density was slightly lower
suggesting higher rain water infiltration rates. Thus
leading to more of recharge, the tree species present in
this region included Leguminaceae and
Casesalpinaceae.
• The regions were where the bores yielded water.
• Electrical resistivity of 53 ohms.

21. Table 3. Plant species identified in the complete 10 acre plot.
CN: African Tulip Tree
BN: Spathodia companulata
F: Bignoniaceae
CN: Mango
BN: Mangifera indica
F: Anacardiaceae
CN: Rose Apple
BN: Syzygium jambosa
F: Myrtaceae
CN: Custard Apple
BN: Annona squamosa
F: Annonaceae
CN: Hebbevu
BN: Melia dubia
F: Meliaceae
CN: Agati
BN: Sesbania grandiflora
F: Leguminaceae
CN: Champaka
BN: Michelia champaka
F: Magnoliaceae
CN: Cashew
BN: Anacardium occidenta
le
F: Anacardiaceae
CN: Jamun Tree
BN: Syzygium cumini
F: Myrtaceae
CN: Lantana
BN: Lantana camara
F: Verbenaceae
CN: Sisso (Sisham)
BN: Dalbergia sisso
F: Fabaceae
CN: Rubber Tree
BN: Ficus elastica
F: Moraceae
CN: Neem Tree
BN: Azadirechta indica
F: Meliaceae
CN: Sandal
BN: Satalum album
F: Santalaceae
CN: Indian almond
BN: Terminalia catappa
F: Combretaceae
CN: Terminalia (Asian)
BN: Terminalia tomentosa
F: Combretaceae
CN: Banyan Tree
BN: Ficus bengalensis
F: Moraceae
CN: Christmas Tree
BN: Araucaria cooki
F: Pinnaceae
CN: Camel Foot Tree
BN: Bahunia purpuria
F: Caesalpinaceae
CN: Opuntia
BN: Opuntia microdasys
F: Cactaceae
CN: Indian tulip
BN: Thespesia populnea
F: Malvaceae
CN: Terminalia
BN: Terminalia arjuna
F: Combretaceae
CN: Bael
BN: Aegle marmelos
F: Rutaceae
CN: Guava
BN: Psidium guajava
F: Myrtaceae
CN: Silver Oak
BN: Grevilia robusta
F: Proteaceae
CN: Fern Tree
BN: Felicium decipiens
F: Sapindaceae
CN: Gliricidia
BN: Gliricidia maculate
F: Fabaceae
CN: Mohwa
BN: Madhuca longifolia
F: Sapotaceae
CN: Drumstick
BN: Moringus oleifera
F: Moringaceae
CN: Sapota
BN: Achras zapota
F: Sapotaceae
CN: Eucalyptus Tree
BN: Eucalyptus grandis
F: Myrtaceae
CN: Amla
BN: Emblica officinalis
F: Euphorbiaceae
CN: Mahogany
BN: Swietenia mahogani
F: Meliaceae
CN: Teak
BN: Tectona grandis
F: Verbenaceae
CN: Cassia
BN: Cassia fistula
F: Caesalpinaceae
CN: Acacia
BN: Acacia auriculiformis
F: Leguminaceae

22. CN: Eucalyptus Tree
BN: Eucalyptus grandis
F: Myrtaceae
CN: Amla
BN: Emblica officinalis
F: Euphorbiaceae
CN: Mahogany
BN: Swietenia mahogan
i
F: Meliaceae
CN: Teak
BN: Tectona grandis
F: Verbenaceae
CN: Cassia
BN: Cassia fistula
F: Caesalpinaceae
CN: Acacia
BN: Acacia auriculiformis
F: Leguminaceae
CN: Pongamia
BN: Pongamia pinnata
F: Leguminaceae
CN: Subabul
BN: Leucaena leucocephal
a
F: Leguminaceae
CN: Lebbeck
BN: Albizia lebbeck
F: Fabaceae
CN: Honne
BN: Pterocarspus marsupi
um
F: Meliaceae
CN: Simaruba
BN: Simaruba glauca
F: Malvaceae
CN: Manjium Tree
BN: Acacia manjium
F: Leguminaceae
CN: Agave
BN: Agave americana
F: Amaryllidaceae
CN: Gulmohar
BN: Delonix regia
F: Fabaceae
CN: Temple Tree
BN: Plumeria alba
F: Apocynaceae
CN: Casuarina
BN: Casuarina equisetifoli
a
F: Casuarinaceae
CN: Acacia
BN: Acacia nilotica
F: Leguminaceae
CN: Peacock Flower
BN: Caesalpinia pulcherrima
F: Caesalpiniaceae
CN: Tamarind
BN: Tamarindus indica
F: Fabaceae
CN: Jack Fruit
BN: Artocarpus heterophy
llus
F: Moraceae
CN: Japanese Cherry
BN: Muntingia calabura
F: Tiliaceae
CN: Peepal Tree
BN: Ficus religiosa
F: Moraceae
CN: Ashoka
BN: Polyalthia longifolia
F: Annonaceae
CN: Confiderate Rose
BN: Hibiscus mutabilis
F: Malvaceae
CN: Bamboo
BN: Bambusa vulgaris
F: Poaceae
CN: Fig
BN: Ficus carica
F: Moraceae
CN: Tapioca
BN: Manihot esculenta
F: Euphorbiaceae
CN: Indian Cork Tree
BN: Millingtonia hortensis
F: Bignoniaceae
CN: Mulberry
BN: Morus alba
F: Moraceae
CN: Golden cane palm
BN: Chrysalidocarpus lutesce
ns
F: Palmae
CN: Coconut
BN: Cocos nucifera
F: Palmae
*CN: Common Name
*BN: Botanical Name
*F: Family

23. Soil Analysis
Si
No
Sample location With electrical resi
stivity values
pH Conductivit
y
Moisture c
ontent
Bulk de
nsity
Particle de
nsity
MWH
C
Pore sp
ace %
Volume expans
ion of
Soil in %
First 5 acre location (College)
1 I Near high ER (Fer
n trees)/ dyke
no bore 200 ohms 6.26 0.210 9.94 1.47 2.10 18 26.7 3.46
2 I Existing bore low
ER
2 inches water 0.59
ohms
6.70 0.326 9.98 1.14 1.91 34 39.9 14.50
3 I Near existing well Water filled 7.19 0.324 10.01 1.20 2.20 30.4 37.6 12.16
4 I Existing waste wa
ter collection pit
Water brought for r
ecycling
6.76 0.226 9.94 1.33 2.06 23.1 30.7 8.04
Second 5 acre location (Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Farm)
1II Near failed bore p
oint/ dykes prese
nt
No water 6.53 0.172 9.95 1.25 2.06 25.00 30.40 4.09
2II Near suggested b
ore point
0.63 ohms 6.12 0.209 9.92 1.04 1.70 37.30 38.80 8.93
3II Near failed bore No water 7.71 0.409 9.97 1.40 4.13 24.00 35.00 10.82
4II Near operational
bore
1 and half inches of
water
6.01 0.420 9.91 1.40 1.95 20.00 28.00 3.72

24. Trees identified as indicators of ground water
Si No Names of area Tree Species Near Borewe
ll
Near Pond
1 Chintamani, College of Seric
uture, (1st 5 acres)
Cassia, Camel foot tree, Acacia, Albizia sp
p, Tamarind, Gulmohar, Pongamia, Subab
ul, Sandal
Near bore
2 Chintamani, College of Seric
uture, (2nd 5 acres)
Mahogeny, Melia dubia, Neem, Subabul,
Acacia mendium, A. auriculiformis
Tamarind, Dalbergia
Near bore
3 Kaiwara Paramachanahalli C
hintamani
Jamun, Tamarind, Coconut, Teak
People tree
Near bore -
4 Konappalli Prosopis juliflora & Acacia spp Near bore -
5
Yadahalli Jamun, Jack, Pongamia, Coconut, mulberr
y
Near bore -
6
Ammanallur (towards Bang
alore)
Acacia spp & Pongamia
- Sited near p
ond
7 Ponds between college of S
ericulture and Kolar
Acacia, Pongamia & Tamarind - Sited near p
ond
8
Sited in another 20 villages
towards Bangalore via H- Cr
oss
Acacia nilotica, few other Acacia spp
Few Pongamia, very few Tamarinds.
One pond had Dalbergia sissoo surroundi
ng
Near bore
Sited near p
ond
9
Sited outskirts of Bangalore
heading toward Internation
al Airport (7 sites)
Acacia nilotica, Acacia auriculiformis
Copper pod / Peltophorum pterocarpum
-
Sited near p
ond

25. • Rainfall in the campus: College of Sericulture:
Chintamani, Karnataka, India
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Rainfall in mm over the years 2002 -2013
Rainfall in mm
Year
Amount
of rainfall
in mm

26. Electrical resistivity results indicated borewell regions had lower electrical resistivity
and other regions showed higher electrical resistivity values.
Families of tree species occurring near water regions have been identified as
Leguminaceae, Caesalpinaceae, and Meliaceae in the studied plot of 10 acres at
Agroclimatic zone 5, at College of Sericulture, Chintamani.
Soil analysis reveals more recharge in the regions which had predominant tree
species present in this region belonging to family Leguminaceae & Casesalpinaceae.
The species Prosopis juliflora has been identified in one of the villages (Konappalli,
Chintamani, Karnataka, India)
Outside the study area in a survey made towards Kolar and Bangalore, the
characteristic tree species prevalent near bores and ponds included Acacia species,
A. nilotica/ A. arabica/ Pongamia spp and very few Tamarind trees, most of them
belonging to the family Leguminaceae.
Identification of the species belonging to family Leguminaceae and Caesalpinaceae
are regarded as good ground water indicators and may suggest ground water
recharge sites. Trees act as discharge points as may be evident from soil analysis data
and low electrical resistivity values.
Conclusions

27. Note with reference to our
Mountains/Hills
With reference to the mountain regions this study will be
useful
1. Identification and planting specific species/
belonging to particular families.
2. Deep rooted/helps in water infiltration/recharge
3. Protect the region from soil erosion and landslides
4. Preventing disasters and maintaining
environmental balance
5. Sequesters maximum Carbon from the
surroundings

28. • Prosophus juliflora

32. Acacia arabica

33. • Mesquite

34. Prosphis fuliflora

35. Prosphis fuliflora

36. Acacia nilotica
& its seeds

37. Acacia arabica

38. Copper pod, Peltophorum
pterocarpum Caesalpiniaceae
(Gulmohar family)

39. Thankyou and Bye from India!
Fern tree

40. Taxonomical identification of tree species has
been carried out to help locate existing water
points.
Tree species and soil quality have been
correlated with existing bore wells and well
regions in the study area.
Specific families of tree species present near
ground water zones were identified and
recorded.