R.C. SUNDRIYAL¹, E. SHARMA¹ and S.S. NEGI²

¹G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Sikkim Unit, Tadong, Gangtok, India
²Department of Forest Corporation, Kotdwara, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The seasonal changes in the biomass of top growth and litter in a temperate grassland with a 6-month growing season in the central Himalayan region were investigated. Treatments consisted of 2 cutting schedules (30 and 60-day intervals) and 2 cutting heights (5 and 15 cm) and an unclipped control. Chrysopogon montanus, Heteropogon contortus and Eulalia trispicata were the dominant grasses having 41, 12 and 33% respectively of the total basal cover, and contributed 72–77% of total above-ground biomass. Cutting at 5 cm height decreased net above-ground productivity compared with the unclipped control, whereas cutting at 15 cm produced an increase. Cutting at 30-day intervals reduced productivity compared with 60-day intervals when pastures were cut at 5 cm, but had less effect at 15 cm. Annual above-ground biomass ranged from 5730–8860 kg/ha. The best management option is to protect the grassland and cut-and-carry at the end of the growing season.