PJB-2020-524
Variation in productivity along the altitudinal gradients in Central Karakorum National Park (CKNP), Pakistan
Ghulam Raza, Sarwat N. Mirza, Muhammad Akbar, Muhammad Ali, Faisal Hussian, Alamdar Hussian, Salar Ali and Jamal Hussian
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 biomass and 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 Kg ha-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 was 23 ha-1AU-15 mo-1. The assessment of soil organic matter 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. The study highlighted low production which also vary along altitudinal gradient. This is 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 policy makers and managers in the planning of rangeland of CKNP
To Cite this article:
Raza, G., S.N. Mirza, M. Akbar, M. Ali, F. Hussian, A. Hussian, S. Ali and J. Hussian. 2022. Variation in productivity along the altitudinal gradients in Central Karakorum National Park (CKNP), Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot., 54(6): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2022-6(25)
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