Publication Date
1997
Description
Grasslands in the Himalayan ranges, particularly in the middle altitudes, are over-exploited by both sedentary and nomadic flocks. No systematic studies have been made to assess the productivity and carrying capacity of these grasslands so that suitable improvement measures could be adopted. A study conducted in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh (HP) at 2092, 2400 and 2895 meters above mean sea level (amsl) and varying soil conditions, showed that protection alone increased dry matter production between 9 and 188% over a three year period and average production in the third year from lower to higher altitude grasslands was 101.1, 27.98 and 31.86 q/ha. The herbage from grassland at 2895 m was nutritionally superior that the others. Carrying capacity on the basis of dry matter intake varied between 0.6 and 2.77 animal units per ha. Productivity and carrying capacity of the grasslands can be increased significantly by application of split doses of N @ 80 kg/ ha. Experiments conducted on the adaptibility of temperate grass/ legume species in the cold, dry areas of the middle Himalayas revealed that Red clover (Trifolium pratense), White clover (T. repens), Lucerne (Medicago sativa) among legumes and Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata), Timothy (Phleum pratense) and Wheat grass (Agropyron species) among grasses are quire adapted and can be used to increase grassland productivity.
Citation
Sharma, J R. and Ghosh, A N., "Grassland Productivity in the Indian Himalaya and Performance of Introduced Temperate Forage Species in Cold and Semi-Arid Environment" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 20.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session21/20
Included in
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Grassland Productivity in the Indian Himalaya and Performance of Introduced Temperate Forage Species in Cold and Semi-Arid Environment
Grasslands in the Himalayan ranges, particularly in the middle altitudes, are over-exploited by both sedentary and nomadic flocks. No systematic studies have been made to assess the productivity and carrying capacity of these grasslands so that suitable improvement measures could be adopted. A study conducted in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh (HP) at 2092, 2400 and 2895 meters above mean sea level (amsl) and varying soil conditions, showed that protection alone increased dry matter production between 9 and 188% over a three year period and average production in the third year from lower to higher altitude grasslands was 101.1, 27.98 and 31.86 q/ha. The herbage from grassland at 2895 m was nutritionally superior that the others. Carrying capacity on the basis of dry matter intake varied between 0.6 and 2.77 animal units per ha. Productivity and carrying capacity of the grasslands can be increased significantly by application of split doses of N @ 80 kg/ ha. Experiments conducted on the adaptibility of temperate grass/ legume species in the cold, dry areas of the middle Himalayas revealed that Red clover (Trifolium pratense), White clover (T. repens), Lucerne (Medicago sativa) among legumes and Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata), Timothy (Phleum pratense) and Wheat grass (Agropyron species) among grasses are quire adapted and can be used to increase grassland productivity.
