Abstract
This study was carried out for 6 years (1989-94) in the moist temperate zone of Mansehra District (NWFP) to investigate the effect of range improvement activities on protective and vegetation cover, forage production and species composition. Four major variables namely; no grazing, no grazing + over-sowing, conventional grazing + over sowing and conventional grazing only were tested in two replications. The variables were assigned randomly to 4 plots of 10 x 10 m. Each plot was subdivided into two subplots of 10 x 5 m and one sub plot under each major variable was fertilized for 1st 3 years with uniform dose of NPK (1:2:2) at the rate of 100 kg N, 200 kg P and 200 kg K per ha/year. The results indicated manifold increase in protective and vegetation cover and forage production under combined effect of fertilizer application, protection and over sowing compared to conventional grazing. Forage production was 5 times higher under fertilizer application. The study has demonstrated that range improvement activities will not only enhance the socioeconomic conditions of the graziers through increase in forage production but will also play an important role in the improvement of watershed values. This implied that appropriate range improvement activities are imperative for sound pastoral economy and sustainable watershed resources of the mountainous region of the NWFP.
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