Study the vegetation capacity and physical characteristics of protected and open rangeland in District Dir (Lower).

摘要

This study was conducted in a split plot design to determine the vegetation cover of herbage in the rangeland. Three locations Dramdal, Rahimabad and Hashimabad were selected near Temergara, district Dir, North-West Frontier (Pakistan). In each of three locations, two adjacent communal rangeland viz. protected rangeland (totally banned from grazing animals) and open rangeland (free for grazing animals) were used for herbage sampling for a period of four months (June to September 2003). Each of the protected and open rangeland was randomly divided into three sites. A quadrate of 1 m2, was used for herbage sampling and for recording physical characteristics of the soil. The vegetation cover significantly varied due to location (P<0.001) and grazing treatment (P<0.001). In comparison to protected land, grasses reduced (P<0.001) while forbs were higher (P<0.01) in open grazing land and the shrubs remained the same. A total of 16 species of grasses, 28 species of forbs and 5 species of shrubs were identified on the open rangeland in the present study. Among these, the frequency of palatable species of grasses were higher (P<0.05) in the protected rangeland. Marked difference among locations was recorded in the soil features. Plant base (P<0.01), litter (P<0.01), cryptogram (P<0.001) and bare soil (P<0.001) varied due to location and also responded to grazing treatment (P<0.01). In the protected rangeland, plant base was almost twice higher (P<0.01) than open rangeland (35 vs. 16%). It is concluded that remarkable increase in herbage yield through protection of grazing land and were associated with the growth of desirable grass species. However, the nutritive value of herbage on these grazing lands needs further improvement. Protection of grazing land may be adopted as a useful strategy for rehabilitation of deteriorated grazing land in Dir area..