Swaran Lata*, Vivek Chauhan, Tanay Barman and Shiv Paul
Silviculture and Forest Management Division, ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer Campus, Panthaghati, Shimla-171013, Himachal Pradesh, India
Email: swaranswaras86@gmail.com
Received-02.12.2024, Revised-13.12.2024, Accepted-30.12.2024
Abstract: The present study was conducted on herbage carrying capacity of silvipastoral systems in 12 representative villages in all four agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh. The study revealed that there is a great disparity between the carrying capacity and stocking rate of existing silvipastoral systems in Himachal Pradesh. The mean carrying capacity (ACU ha1 year1) and stocking density (ACU ha1 year1) in agroclimatic zone I, II, III and IV of Himachal Pradesh were 0.40 and 1.52, 0.57 and 2.17, 0.17 and 6.99, and 0.50 and 1.90 respectively. The higher stocking density of silvipastoral land than carrying capacity in long-term will significantly affect if this pattern continues, it will lead to overgrazing and land degradation. Thus, the study suggested introduction or integration of fast-growing multipurpose leguminous trees and high-yielding nutritive grasses, along with the development of climatically suitable silvicultural models.
Keywords: Agroforestry system, Carrying capacity, Himachal Pradesh, Productivity, Silvipastoral system
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