PJB-2020-122
VARIABILTY OF BIOMASS ACROSS PLANT GROWTH FORMS AND SOIL PARAMETERS ALONG ALTITUDINAL GRADIENTS IN ALPINE RANGELANDS OF CENTRAL KARAKORUM NATIONAL PARK (CKNP), PAKISTAN 1. c/o Barbara Pembroke (UK) Department of Plant Protection School of Agricultur
Ghulam Raza
Abstract
The study was carried out in the Hushe Valley, CKNP region, Pakistan, during summer 2012. Sampling was performed along altitudinal gradients in rangelands of CKNP area Hushe.Five quadrats were laid on each of line transects (25m) in four dimensions at 5 meters’ intervals, on alternate sides of transect line. Biomass productivity and carrying capacity were estimated by using 1-m² quadrats (N=20 by site; total N = 60). The average standing biomassand carrying capacity was 48 Kg ha-1and 55.67 ha-1AU-15 mo-1 respectively. Furthermore, cumulative standing biomass of shrub, grass and forb at each altitudinal gradient of upper, mid and lower was estimated at18, 60 and 66 Kgha-1, respectively. The carrying capacity for the forb category was 16 months’ha-1AU-1/5 months-1 at the lower elevation, whereas at mid elevation the carrying capacity for the shrub category was23 ha-1AU-15 mo-1. Soil organic carbon at each site was highest (1.5%) at the high elevation, while P(27.9 mgkg1)and K (260 mgkg1) concentrations were highest at mid elevation. Results revealed that an alarming situation for the livestock farmers and wild ungulates under present and predicted climate change scenarios. Therefore, the results of the study would be beneficial for the policymakers and managers in the planning of rangeland of CKNP.
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