Over grazing

OVER GRAZING

  • The grazing pressure on grasslands is very high. In semi arid areas, carrying capacity in good range land is 1 adult cow unit (ACU) /ha but the actual pressure is 3.2 ACU/ha. But in arid areas, carrying capacity is 1 - 4 ACU / ha as against the actual pressure of 0.2 - 0.5 ACU / ha.
  • Due to over grazing run off and soil erosion are high. Results from IGFRI indicated that there was 41% run off from bare soil where as in the improved grass land vegetation, the run off was only 6.5 %. Over grazing also results in a shift in the natural succession (as seen in 3 d). Over grazing also results in greater run off and soil loss. Eg.

Results from IGFRI, Jhansi (96 -97)

  • Total quantum of water received through rainfall - 6035 cum/ha
  • Grazing pressure 1.5 ACU/ha. in grazing systems

Grazing system

Total run off (cum/ha)

Soil loss (t/ha)

Run off Co eff (%)

Rotational grazing

376

0.17

6.2

Differed grazing

423

0.26

7.0

Continuous grazing

457

0.46

7.5

Cut and carry system

383

0.13

6.3

Bare plots

1173

0.68

19.4

Last modified: Thursday, 24 November 2011, 9:17 AM