Publication Date
1989
Description
The alpine areas in Yunnan (alt. > 3 000 m) amount to about 10 % of the total land area in the province. (He et al., 1982) The main crops in this area are potatoes, oats and barley. The potential for livestock production is far greater than that for crop production, but steep slopes are cropped and erosion is an increasing problem. The pressure on the land from greater stock numbers grazing common land is leading to over grazing caused dominance by less palatable species, limited seeding and recruitment and severe seasonal shortages of quality feed. The native vegetation (once coniferous forest) now mainly consists of Festuca ovina and prostrate growing weeds, mainly Potentilla fulgens. The aim of this work was to critically assess in the short and long term, different methods of establishment appropriate to resources available and to the potential erosion risk. In areas where uncontrolled common grazing is practiced, grazing management was also seen as a vital component of the pasture establishment strategy, especially where grassland had deteriorated to less palatable species.
Citation
Jia-Xiang, Kui; Glencross, R N.; Huai, Liu; and Xiong, Chen, "Methods of Establishment of Improved Pastures in Steep, Non-Arable Alpine Lands of Yunnan Province, China" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 3.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session13/3
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Methods of Establishment of Improved Pastures in Steep, Non-Arable Alpine Lands of Yunnan Province, China
The alpine areas in Yunnan (alt. > 3 000 m) amount to about 10 % of the total land area in the province. (He et al., 1982) The main crops in this area are potatoes, oats and barley. The potential for livestock production is far greater than that for crop production, but steep slopes are cropped and erosion is an increasing problem. The pressure on the land from greater stock numbers grazing common land is leading to over grazing caused dominance by less palatable species, limited seeding and recruitment and severe seasonal shortages of quality feed. The native vegetation (once coniferous forest) now mainly consists of Festuca ovina and prostrate growing weeds, mainly Potentilla fulgens. The aim of this work was to critically assess in the short and long term, different methods of establishment appropriate to resources available and to the potential erosion risk. In areas where uncontrolled common grazing is practiced, grazing management was also seen as a vital component of the pasture establishment strategy, especially where grassland had deteriorated to less palatable species.
