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Bio-economic potential of pastoralsilviculture land use system in north-western Himalayas
Author
Sharma, H
Pant, KS
Bishist, R
Gautam, KL
Rathour, L
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

The present investigation was carried out to quantify carbon stock and economic potential of the pastoralsilviculture system along altitudinal gradient in Indian north-western Himalayas during 2019-2021. The area was divided into four altitudinal ranges as per agro-ecological classification of the state viz., altitudinal ranges viz., zone-I (<1000 m amsl), zone-II (1000-1500 m amsl), zone-III (1500-2500 m amsl) and zone-IV (> 2500 m amsl). Further, farmers practicing pastoralsilviculture system were divide d into three farmer categories viz. marginal (less than 1 ha land area), small (1-2 ha land area) and semi-medium (2-4 ha land area) as per Government of Himachal Pradesh standards. The results revealed that the total biological productivity (aboveground+belowground) of the pastoralsilviculture system ranged between 24.90-43.24 Mg ha-1, showing an increasing t rend along altitude with zone-III having maximum total biomass production. The bio-economic potential of the pastoralsilviculture system was not found to be significantly affected by the farmer category. Soil carbon density was maximum (31.65 Mg ha-1) at zone-I which was significantly at par with soil carbon density at zone-III (30.86 Mg ha-1). Total carbon stock potential, comprising vegetation carbon and soil carbon, of the system was recorded maximum (52.48 Mg ha-1) for Zone-III, while minimum (42.58 Mg ha-1) for zone-IV. Economic potential of the pastoralsilviculture system in terms of output:input ratio was found maximum (3.73) in zone-III which was significantly at par with output:input ratio in zone-II (3.62) and minimum was recorded in zone-IV (3.05).

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 1875-1879. Theme: Theme 6 / Poster presentations – Theme 6
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
Pastures
Carbon sequestration
Himalayas
Agroforestry
Sustainability