Publication Date
1989
Description
The grassland and shrubland range types in upland Baluchistan have a climate which is continental, arid to semi-arid, and Mediterranean in character. Winter precipitation predominates but significant summer monsoonal rainfall occurs in the grassland areas. The latitudinal zone is from 28° to 32°N. Dominant species in the shrubland type are Artemisia maritima and Haloxylon griffithii, where the annual precipitation is 200 mm, with 80 % occurring during winter. Dominant species in the grassland type are Cymbopogon jwarancusa and Chrysopogon aucheri, where annual precipitation is 300 mm, with 40 % occurring in summer. Range stocking densities, mostly from sheep and goats, have increased six-fold in the past 30 years. To mitigate range retrogression the Arid Zone Research Institute is testing plants and planting methods which could be useful for introduction of new grasses and shrubs into these rangeland ecosystems. Improvement of livestock production is a key objective of these efforts. The present range forage is deficient in both quantity and quality during some seasons even in higher rainfall years. This problem is especially serious when forage deficits coincide with critical stages in the animals' production cycles, e.g. during the breeding season, late gestation, or early lactation.
Citation
Aro, S R.; Sultani, M I.; Asghar, M; and Keatinge, J.D H., "Introduction of Fourwing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens) into Degraded Rangelands in Upload Baluchistan" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 5.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session13b/5
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Introduction of Fourwing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens) into Degraded Rangelands in Upload Baluchistan
The grassland and shrubland range types in upland Baluchistan have a climate which is continental, arid to semi-arid, and Mediterranean in character. Winter precipitation predominates but significant summer monsoonal rainfall occurs in the grassland areas. The latitudinal zone is from 28° to 32°N. Dominant species in the shrubland type are Artemisia maritima and Haloxylon griffithii, where the annual precipitation is 200 mm, with 80 % occurring during winter. Dominant species in the grassland type are Cymbopogon jwarancusa and Chrysopogon aucheri, where annual precipitation is 300 mm, with 40 % occurring in summer. Range stocking densities, mostly from sheep and goats, have increased six-fold in the past 30 years. To mitigate range retrogression the Arid Zone Research Institute is testing plants and planting methods which could be useful for introduction of new grasses and shrubs into these rangeland ecosystems. Improvement of livestock production is a key objective of these efforts. The present range forage is deficient in both quantity and quality during some seasons even in higher rainfall years. This problem is especially serious when forage deficits coincide with critical stages in the animals' production cycles, e.g. during the breeding season, late gestation, or early lactation.
