R. A. MIR*, G. M. BHAT, T. A. RATHER AND KHURSHID A. SOFI
Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST Kashmir, Benhama Gandarbal -191201, India
*(e-mail : mirmohammadrafiq@gmail.com)
(Received : 9 December 2023; Accepted : 30 December 2023)
SUMMARY
This experiment constitutes part of a two-year research study, which was undertaken in spring 2020. The aim of this experiment was to study the seasonal & altitudinal variation in chemical composition of the grazable material in Doodhganga rangelands of Pirpanchal forest division N-W Kashmir Himalaya. The effect of altitude chemical composition (crude protein (CP), ash, ether extracts (EE) and crude fiber (CF)) were studied in herbage samples harvested from various quadrates (1m×1m) placed in 3 different altitudes (from 2200 m to 2800 m in two different seasons. Multistage random sampling method was used to collect sample from the whole area. Sample collection was accomplished by cutting aboveground biomass at a height similar to that grazed by small ruminants. Almost all nutritional parameters are strongly affected by altitudinal gradient. All the parameters show strong (p<0.001) correlation with each other. The CP and ash content increases with increase in altitude, almost during the whole experimental period. On the contrary, CF content non significantly decreases in value as altitude increases. In order to better exploit the pastures of this area it is considered wise, towards the end of spring, to move the herds from pastures of lower altitude to those of higher altitude for the summer.
Key words: Variations, forage, doodhganga range, pirpanchal forest and nutritional composition