Important of Grassland management.....pptx

Grassland management

1. Grasslands: Range management

2. Grasslands: Define Ecosystem in which the dominant component is herbaceous species Natural land surface predominantly covered with grasses (i.e. true grasses, grass like plants, plants grazed by livestock) “Range” is a land of natural grassland in which climax or potential plant community is principally comprised of grasses and shrubs valuable for forage & in sufficient quantity to justify grazing use.

3. GRASSLAND One fifth of the Earth's land surface is grassland - a biome found on every continent except Antarctica Sources: Earth Observatory; Grassland biomes can be found in the middle latitudes, in the interiors of continents Most of the world's natural grasslands have been converted to wheat or corn fields

4. Conversion of grasslands into agriculture Narok, Kenya 1975: The agricultural expansion is just beginning 2000: This image shows the degree to which farmlands have expanded

5. Pastoralism and climate change   “ New study results are warning that the conversion of pasturelands to croplands will be the major contributor to global warming in east Africa. “  “the greatest amount of contribution to global warming in the east Africa region is not going to be motor vehicles or methane emissions from livestock or conversions of forests to pastures but rather conversion of pasturelands to cropland.” -ILRI website

6. Pastoralism - worldwide

7. Grasslands in India India has 15% of world’s cattle population which depends on 2% of worlds forest area. Grass cover 12.47 m. ha. 4.1% of the total geographical area (mainly tropical) Grassland distribution is dependent on:- Climate ( rainfall, mean annual temp.) Topography ( altitude) Edaphic (soil-moisture relationship) Grassland types botanically:- Sehima-Dichanthium type (SD) Dicanthium-Cenchrus-Lasiurus type (DCL) Phragmites-Saccharum-Imerata type (PSI) Themeda-Arundinella type (TA1) Temperate alpine type (TA2)

8. Ecology of Grasslands of India Climatic climax : typical grassland formations are associated with temperate climates found in High Himalayas and Nilgiris (mainly because of frost, frequent dispersed rainfall, warmth & moisture during growing season) Intermediate stage in succession : As the climate is suitable either for forest (humidity) or desert (aridity), the grasslands correspond to an intermediate stage in succession. Edaphic climax : occur only locally on wet soils or marshy or periodically flooded lands and in frost packets in the sal belt (stage in primary succession). Biotic climax : Tropical grasslands owe their stability to the equilibrium maintained due to constant biotic interference e.g. grazing, burning, lopping, shifting cultivation i.e. on account of degradation of various forest ecosystems. “Grasslands in India changes to one or the other type of forest under natural conditions. Wherever these are stable, the equilibrium has been maintained due to biotic interferences”.

9. Grasslands in India Temperate alpine type (high mountains) North-West and East Himalayas (J&K,HP,UK, WB, Assam) Snow in winter, Rainfall approx 370mm, Alt. 1500m(E) & 2100m (W) Perennials: Andropogon , Agropyron , Chrysopogon , Poa partensis , Agrostis Annuals: Poa annua , Poa stewartiana , Polypogon fugax Management: Highly nutritive forage Reseeding Fertilizers Rotational grazing Intro of legumes

10. Grasslands in India Themeda-Arundinella type (hills) Hilly regions & plains (J&K,HP,UK, WB, Assam) Snowfall frequent, Rainfall 100-2000mm, Alt. Plains to 2100m, MA temp. 27C Perennial: Arundinella nepalensis , Arundinella bengalensis , Cynodon dactylon Annual: Apluda mutica , Eragrostis unioclide Management: Minimum biotic interference (light or moderate grazing) Encourage stall feeding Contour trenching & terracing, gully plugging Manuring

11. Grasslands in India Phragmites-Saccharum-Imerata type (marshy indo- gangetic plains, subtropical) Gangetic plains, Brahmputra valley, Punjab plains, UP, Bihar, WB, M-T, Assam Low lying ill drained lands with high water table, swampy region, varying Rainfall, Alt. 150-300m Perennial: Phragmatis karka , Imperata cylindrica , Saccharum arundinaceum , Saccharum bengalense , Saccharum spontaneum Annual: Apluda mutica , Eragrostis unioclide Management: No special mngmnt practise High yielding palatable grasses can be introduced

12. Grasslands in India Dicanthium-Cenchrus-Lasiurus type (Sandy loam, subtropical) Subtropical & Semiarid (Rajasthan, Gujarat, West UP, Punjab) Approx MA temp. 32C, alluvial grey & brown soil with low water holding capacity, Alt. level with broken spurs & sand dunes Perennial: Dicanthium annulatum , Cenchrus ciliaris , Lasiurus sindicus , Cymbopogon Annual: Eragrostis ciliaris , Chloris barbata Management: High biotic interference Grazing should be restricted Reseeding Encourage stall feeding

13. Grasslands in India Sehima-Dichanthium type (Red/Black soil, tropical) Tropical India & central Indian plateau (MP, Mah , Gujarat, Orissa, AP, TN, Karnataka, South WB & Bihar) MA temp 27-38C, undulating areas with valleys, Rainfall 500-1250mm Perennial: Sehima nervosum , Dicanthium annulatum , Aristida setacea Annual: Eragrostis gangeticus , Chloris barbata Management: Contour furrowing, Trenching Manuring

14. Pastoralism in India: An overview Khurana (1999) reports that „more than 200 tribes comprising 6 per cent of the country‘s population are engaged in pastoralism“. Number not well documented. Indian pastoralists can be classified into groups that practice horizontal movement patterns and vertical movement like in the mountainous regions. Nomadic pastoralism is prevalent in the drylands of western India, the Deccan Plateau, and in the mountainous reaches of the Himalayas. Some examples of pastoralists are: Golla (cattle), Kuruma (sheep) of Andhra Pradesh. Monpa (yak) from Arunachal Pradesh. Rebari (cattle, sheep and goats) and Bharwad (small stock) from Gujarat. Kuruba (sheep) and Dhangar (sheep) from Karnataka. Raika/Rebari (camel, sheep and goats) and Gujjar (buffalo and sheep) from Rajasthan.

15. Pastoralism – Advantages Pastoralism is crucial for: Wild plant diversity Wild animal diversity Domesticated Animal Diversity Eco-system and Landscape diversity Nutritional Diversity

16. Pastoralism – challenges Focusing on the western region of India, some of the challenges can be summarised as follows: Decrease of pasture due to reasons like enclosure of forests, expansion of irrigated agriculture, breakdown of village institutions governing use of CPR, deterioration of pastureland due to disappearance or reduction of traditional grasses(due to presence of invasive species). Little or no access to veterinary care. Lack of infrastructure for processing and production of value-added livestock products (for instance:chilling plants). Dependence on middlemen for marketing of products. Dilemma between continuing with pastoralism and being educated.

17. Assessment of Range condition Whether improving or deteriorating? Plant vigour Reproduction & Regeneration Plant composition Plant residues Condition of soil Forage yield (qualitative & quantitative) ‘Range condition’: present state of vegetation vis a vis climax for that site ( Ex 76-100, Good 51-75, Fair 26-50, Poor 0-25

18. Range depletion: Reasons Grazing beyound carrying capacity Early grazing affecting reproduction Change in plant composition (entry of unpalatable sp as desirable sp has been over-grazed) Abnormal climatic conditions Extent & Period of misuse Soil-Moisture regime degradation Why manage range? Production enhancement of Range & therefore livestock. (Large deficit in milk, meat and green fodder, crop residue) Protection aspect (soil erosion control, raindrops interception, reduced run-off, increased percolation)

19. Range Management: principles Soil stability (cover) Regulated stream flow Max product harvest Most desirable combination of species Introduce high yield, nutritive value, perennial, palatable, adaptibility , veg propg , large root system, trampling proof, temp & moisture variation tolerant,easy establishment species Reduce undesirable/unpalatable species No. of livestock grazing=carrying capacity Type of livestock grazing commensurate with the vegetation Distribution of livestock over entire range

20. Information required for Range Mngmnt Target Group (wildlife/domesticated) Species study ( Productivity, Propagation methods, seasonality, nutrient contents etc.) Cow unit fixation (1 for a cow having body weight of 300kg, Buffalo 2, camel 8, goat 0.5) Productivity of the land (cow units it can sustain; 1cow unit= 10kg forage per day; 60 cow units/100ha is Indian forest productivity) Seasonality of utilization Carrying capacity (no. of animals that a land can sustain in a lean production period

21. Direct Methods of Range Mngmnt Controlled Grazing (control no. of cow units grazing as per grazing & carrying capacity, no degradation of vegetation & soil) Closure of Area (complete closure for 3-5 years, improve land, natural regeneration) Deferred grazing (postponed grazing during particular season or period of growth) Rotational grazing (blocks opened & closed with rest period) Rotational-cum-deferred grazing

22. Indirect Methods of Range Mngmnt Lopping (forage trees, annual or biannual, retain 15% of top) Cut and carry ( during closure, fire hazard, stall feeding, no trampling) Silage making (packing fodder in containers & fermentation under anaerobic conditions, no loss of nutrients, longer storage) Hay making ( green to dry form without affecting the quality, more storage) Regulations (heavy grazing fees for unproductive breeds, Fix no. of cattle allowed, Improved cattle breed)

23. Range Improvement Soil & Water conservation measures ( watershed basis, harrowing, contour furrowing at 10-15cm vertical interval brushwood check dams) Weed Control Eradication of noxious plants (livestock graze selectively, noxious multiply; controlled burning, Hormone application) Legume crop planting ( Sesbania , Dolichos , Phaseolus , Cyamopsis , Crotolaria etc.) Fertilizer application (20-40kg N/ha) Reseeding & Replanting (of high forage yielding perrenial grasses)