Track 2-3-2: Impact of Grass and Legumes on Livestock Production, Soil Conservation and the Nitrogen Cycle in Grassland and Forage Ecosystems

Description

A high proportion of grazing lands on the semi-arid Deccan plateau of Maharashtra, India are severely degraded and have experienced considerable loss of perennial vegetation and soil due to erosion. Consequently, these grazing lands have very low levels of pasture and animal productivity, water use efficiency is low and in combination these factors are threatening grazing systems of the local shepherd community. In Maharashtra 42% of the land is either covered with forest or scrub vegetation or left as culturable wasteland. Much of the efforts in land management have been directed towards forestry land with little attention given to private lands. These efforts have been directed largely to the establishment of trees or pasture as an aid to reduce soil erosion and not to increase available fodder resources. The failure to address the causes of land degradation on private lands has contributed to the marginalization of the pastoralist communities. The threats to pastoralism coincide with a sharp increase in the demand for animal protein, which is expected to continue in future. Current production of small ruminants in India will not be able to meet this increased demand and attempts to increase production from existing systems will accelerate land and water degradation. For grassland production and utilization each of the components viz. soil, plants, animals and humans is equally important. Grassland development can potentially increase soil organic carbon which in turn has a potential to offset greenhouse gas emissions (Lal, 2004) and benefit soil ecosystems (Whitbread et al., 1998). Increased fodder production will be beneficial to both the animals and humans. The two plant species which are the most suited for conservation of and improving the productivity of rangelands in Maharashtra are Stylosanthes and Cenchrus. The legume Stylosanthes establishes well on poor and severely eroded soils under dryland conditions. According to Mohamed-Saleem (1994) its ability to improve soil bulk density, infiltration rate and water holding capacity makes it a useful species for the conservation, stabilization and sustainable development of land and water resources. According to Pathak et al., (2004) Stylosanthes seabrana (Caatinga stylo) with enhanced adaptation is expected to increase the potential areas and prospects for the use of stylo in India. It being adapted to heavier-textured soils has a potential for incorporation into farming systems on better cropping soils in addition to integration into pastures (Hall and Glatzle, 2004). The use of S. seabrana for wasteland and watershed development as well as in large-scale plantation and forestry projects can help develop a large seed industry. Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass) is a versatile and diverse grass species, which is fairly easy to establish. C. ciliaris is native to India and for many centuries has been the predominant plant species in “Korangadu” – the traditional pastureland farming system existing in the semi-arid tract of Tamil Nadu state in South India. C. ciliaris often occurs in the wild on sandy soils, but is also welladapted to deep, freely draining sandy loam, loam, clay loam and red earth soils. Being most drought-tolerant of the commonly sown grasses, C. ciliaris occurs naturally in areas with average annual rainfall from as low as 100 mm up to about 1000 mm, but most commonly between 300 and 750 mm.

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Cenchrus ciliaris and Stylosanthes seabrana for Grassland Development in Semi-Arid Areas of Maharashtra

A high proportion of grazing lands on the semi-arid Deccan plateau of Maharashtra, India are severely degraded and have experienced considerable loss of perennial vegetation and soil due to erosion. Consequently, these grazing lands have very low levels of pasture and animal productivity, water use efficiency is low and in combination these factors are threatening grazing systems of the local shepherd community. In Maharashtra 42% of the land is either covered with forest or scrub vegetation or left as culturable wasteland. Much of the efforts in land management have been directed towards forestry land with little attention given to private lands. These efforts have been directed largely to the establishment of trees or pasture as an aid to reduce soil erosion and not to increase available fodder resources. The failure to address the causes of land degradation on private lands has contributed to the marginalization of the pastoralist communities. The threats to pastoralism coincide with a sharp increase in the demand for animal protein, which is expected to continue in future. Current production of small ruminants in India will not be able to meet this increased demand and attempts to increase production from existing systems will accelerate land and water degradation. For grassland production and utilization each of the components viz. soil, plants, animals and humans is equally important. Grassland development can potentially increase soil organic carbon which in turn has a potential to offset greenhouse gas emissions (Lal, 2004) and benefit soil ecosystems (Whitbread et al., 1998). Increased fodder production will be beneficial to both the animals and humans. The two plant species which are the most suited for conservation of and improving the productivity of rangelands in Maharashtra are Stylosanthes and Cenchrus. The legume Stylosanthes establishes well on poor and severely eroded soils under dryland conditions. According to Mohamed-Saleem (1994) its ability to improve soil bulk density, infiltration rate and water holding capacity makes it a useful species for the conservation, stabilization and sustainable development of land and water resources. According to Pathak et al., (2004) Stylosanthes seabrana (Caatinga stylo) with enhanced adaptation is expected to increase the potential areas and prospects for the use of stylo in India. It being adapted to heavier-textured soils has a potential for incorporation into farming systems on better cropping soils in addition to integration into pastures (Hall and Glatzle, 2004). The use of S. seabrana for wasteland and watershed development as well as in large-scale plantation and forestry projects can help develop a large seed industry. Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass) is a versatile and diverse grass species, which is fairly easy to establish. C. ciliaris is native to India and for many centuries has been the predominant plant species in “Korangadu” – the traditional pastureland farming system existing in the semi-arid tract of Tamil Nadu state in South India. C. ciliaris often occurs in the wild on sandy soils, but is also welladapted to deep, freely draining sandy loam, loam, clay loam and red earth soils. Being most drought-tolerant of the commonly sown grasses, C. ciliaris occurs naturally in areas with average annual rainfall from as low as 100 mm up to about 1000 mm, but most commonly between 300 and 750 mm.