IMPACTS OF SEASONAL LIVESTOCK GRAZING ON PLANT COMMUNITY FEATURES: A CASE STUDY ON GRAZING PASTURES AT SONAMARGAREA IN KASHMIR HIMALAYA

Abstract

The main objective of the study was todescribe the seasonal dynamics in some phytosociological attributes of dominant plant species under uncontrolled livestock grazing at three sites of Sonamarg area in Kashmir Himalaya.Vegetation was tested for A/F ratio and distribution pattern was assigned as regular (0.025), random (0.025-0.05) and contagious (> 0.05). Frequency, abundance, density andimportance value index(IVI) were also calculated to observe dominant species. Raunkaier’s law of percentage frequencies was introduced to find the composition of plant community and changes thereafter brought by seasonal livestock grazing under uncontrolled stocking density. Bothriocloa pertusa, Poa annua, Sambus whightiana, Stipa siberica, Cyanodon dactylon were the dominant plant species at all the three sites. IVI values of these species were increased after experiencing peak grazing season showing their resistance to grazing. Distribution pattern also changed from contagious to random as evident from A/F ratio. Vegetation composition also showed a tendency from homogenity to heterogenity after grazing period. Stocking density was also recorded. It was maximum for Sonamarg main site (121.50 animal units per hectare during peak seasonal grazing) followed by Baltal site (86 animal units per hectare) in the month of September and minimum for Thajiwas site (24 animal units per hectare) in October. Stocking density showed a close relationshipwith the change in number of palatable plant species and consequent change in ratio of palatable to non palatable plant species.