Assessment of Species Composition and Carrying Capacity in Pothwar Scrub Rangeland of Kherimurat, Punjab
Assessment of Species Composition and Carrying Capacity in Pothwar Scrub Rangeland of Kherimurat, Punjab
Ashar Farooq1*, Farrukh Waheed1 and Asad Abbas Khan2
ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to assess the species composition and carrying capacity in scrub rangeland of Kherimurat, Punjab. For field data collection, two homogeneous sites i.e., grazed and un-grazed were randomly selected in Compartment No.12 of Kherimurat, scrub rangeland. Reconnaissance of the study area was carried out to layout the transect lines and quadrat method was used to collect the vegetation parameters such as cover percent and forage production. Three transect lines, each of 100 m long, were stretched in the sample area. On each transect line, ten (10) equally spaced one meter square (1mx1m) quadrats were placed at a distance of 10 meters. Thus, 30 quadrats from the area were studied. The clipping of grass was made at 2.5 cm above the collar point. Data were statistically analyzed using t-test. Results revealed that forage production in un-grazed site was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the grazed site. The results further revealed that air dried forage production and cover percent of Cenchrus ciliaris and Cynodon dactylon were significantly higher in the un-grazed area. This is attributed to protection from grazing while the cover percent and air dried forage production of Eleusine flagellifera and Cymbopogon jwarancusa were higher in grazed area. Apparently, grazing animals have shown lesser preference to these species when found in association with Cenchrus ciliaris and Cynodon dactylon. Therefore, it is recommended that there is a need for ecological management of the degraded rangelands through restoration efforts, manipulation of grazing system and regularization of grazing according to carrying capacity of the area to make the conditions better.
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