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VEGETATION ANALYSIS
AND WINTER SEASON CARRYING CAPACITY OF SUB-TROPICAL, SUB
HUMID RANGELANDS OF DHRABI WATERSHED,
PAKISTAN
SANA-UL-HAQ1.
S.N. MIRZA1, S.M. NIZAMI1, A. KHALIQ CHAUDHRY1, I.A. KHAN1
AND RAHMATULLAH QURESHI2*
Abstract:
Quantitative vegetation assessment of Dhrabi watershed Chakwal, Pakistan
was conducted to determine the productive potential and carrying
capacity during winter 2008-09. Twelve sites of watershed were selected
on the basis of variation in altitude using stratified sampling with
line transect method. Overall, average grasses cover was 64.09% in the
area with the highest value (73.41%) in the upper zone and lowest
(56.33%) in the lower zone. Average trees and shrubs cover was 19.74%
with highest value (29.72%) in the middle zone followed by upper
(21.54%) and lower zone (7.95%). The range was found in good condition
with overall carrying capacity of 2.41 ha/AU/4month. The main dominating
plant species found in the area were Heteropogon contortus
(Sariala ghaas), Cynodon dactylon (Khabbal ghaas),
Desmostachya bipinnata (Dab ghaas) and Acacia modesta
(Phulai).
1Department
of Forestry & Range Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture
University,
Murree Road Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
2Department
of Botany,
Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Murree Road Rawalpindi,
Pakistan.
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