Soil and water conservation measures for developing silvi-pasture system on degraded lands with slopes in semi arid region.

摘要

A field experiment was conducted during 2006-07 at the research farm of Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, to study different tree species and their planting methods for establishing silvopastural system on sloping degraded land in the semiarid region of India. The treatments comprised two soil and water conservation measures (control and 'V' ditch contour bund with vegetative barrier Saccharum munja), four fruit and fodder tree species, viz., Ailanthus excelsa, Acacia nilotica, Emblica officinalis [Phyllanthus emblica] and Ziziphus mauritiana, and three tree sapling planting methods (planting above V ditch, inside V ditch and beyond V ditch). Result showed that in developing Cenchrus pasture on sloping degraded lands, plantations of fruit and fodder trees showed no significant variation in plant population, plant height, dry weight of Cenchrus and other grasses per square metre, relative percentage of Cenchrus and tillers/plant of Cenchrus at 45 days and at harvest stage. A significantly higher survival of tree species was observed when planted with V-ditch contour bunds in comparison to without V-ditch contour bunds in December 2006 and March 2007. Maximum survival was recorded when tree species were planted inside V-ditch followed by above V-ditch planting and outside V-ditch planting.