Plant Archives Vol. 18 No. 1, 2018 pp. 279-287
ISSN 0972-5210
FODDER DIVERSITY, AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION PATTERN IN GARHWAL HIMALAYA, UTTARAKHAND. Meena Nautiyal1*, P.Tiwari1, J.K.Tiwari1 and Dinesh Singh Rawat2 1
Department of Botany and Microbiology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal)–246174 (UK) India. 2 Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah-711103 (West Bengal) India.
Abstract In Garhwal Himalaya, livestock are the important source of income in rural areas. Livestock mostly rely on fodder from forest. The diversity, utilization pattern and season of availability is important to prioritization of fodder species in the area. The present study attempts to enumerate 165 fodder species representing trees (68 spp.), shrubs (28 spp.), herbs (65 spp.) and climbers (4 spp.). Poaceae (27 spp.) and Moraceae (12 spp.) amongst families and Ficus (9 spp.) amongst genera are rich in species. 30 species are used in summer, 32 in winter, 47 in rainy and 28 in all over the year. Herbs are used as fodder mainly in rainy season. Amongst the recorded species 148 species are used as green fodder while 5 spp. as dry species while remaining species are used both as green and dry. Key words: Fodder, diversity, used pattern, availability status, Garhwal Himalaya.
Introduction Fodder and fuel wood are the two most important livelihood resources for mountainous regions, of the Himalayas (Ramakrishnan et al. 2000). Fodder plays a critical role in the crop, livestock, manure and soil nutrient cycle in traditional farms in the mountains of the Himalaya. Collection of fodder is the first step that turns the wheel of the agricultural economy of the village community (Makino, 2009). This complex interrelationship between forests, grasslands, livestock and crops in mountain farming systems has contributed to the sustainability of mountain agriculture for generations (Singh, 1994). Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) supports diverse habitats, species, populations, communities and ecosystems. Vegetation is ranges from tropical to alpine types. It supports about 18,440 species of plants, of which about 8,000 species are angiosperm (Singh and Hajra, 1997). The goods and services such as fodder, fuelwood, wild edibles, medicine, house building, agricultural implements, religious and various other purposes are being used by local communities (Samant and Dhar, 1997). In hills, fodder trees, shrubs and grazing in the forests are the main sources for the livestock feed including use of agricultural residue (Singh and Sundriyal, 2009). In the *Author for correspondence : E-mail :
[email protected].
mid-hill of Himalayas, about 30-50% of total animal feed mainly grass and tree fodder is from forests and grasslands (Singh and Naik, 1987; Bajracharya, 1999). As per another study, approximately, two-thirds to three-fourth of the fodder requirement are met from the forest in mid hills and 26-43% in the lower hill (Singh, 1999). Interestingly, it has also been reported that dairy cattle are also dependent on forest resources particularly in the Himalayas (Tulachan et al., 2002). Livestock rearing is an integral component of mountain farming systems. In the Uttarakhand Himalaya, there is a dynamic relationship among common property resources (CPRs), livestock, and crops in the mixed croplivestock farming systems. Livestock depend, to a great extent, on fodder grown on the community land, forestland, and as well as on crop residue. Meanwhile, the animals provide milk, manure, and much needed draught power. Livestock are therefore, an important to the sustainability of hills and mountain farming. About 80% of the population’s livelihood is based on livestock rearing under subsistence cereal farming systems. Uttarakhand, inspite of being a small state, has certain key features that make it distinct from other states of the country and highlights its potential for development, tourism, poultry and wool-based livelihoods, agriculture
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diversification, ambient natural resources beside this, the state faces the challenge of promoting livelihoods to minimize migration through local employment and income generation, and to enhance the quality of life of people living in villages. Uttarakhand is well endowed with forests, which constitute about 63.87% of the total geographic area; about 4.04% is estimated to be under permanent pastures and other grazing lands. Out of the total population of uttarakhand nearly 74.33% of the state lives in rural area, more than three-fourths of Uttarakhand’s total population depends on agriculture for their livelihood (Mittal et al. 2008). Forests of the State are the repositories of great biological diversity and are extremely important as they provide ecological stability, timber, fodder and a variety of other produce to the local inhabitants. Livestock and animal husbandry have made these people more dependent on their immediate environment, to meet their daily requirements of fuelwood and fodder supply. In the Uttarakhand Himalaya, farmers maintain naturally regenerating tree species, particularly on edges of terraced agriculture fields without any significant input of manpower. This reduces the pressure from forest resources in terms of fodder and fuelwood along with site improvement . Several tree species are used for fodder purposes in Garhewal Himalaya. Grewia oppositifolia, Morus serrata, Bauhinia variegata, Quercus leucotrichophora, Quercus floribunda, Ilex dipyrena, Oogeinia oojeinensis, Boehmeria rugulosa, Morus alba ,Celtis australis are common species which are used as fodder in Garhwal Himalaya. Several species of fodder yielding plants including herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs are present in the submontane and montane zones in the mountains of Uttarakhand Himalaya. A few studies have been conducted on fodder resources in the Uttarakhand Himalaya by Anonymous 1982, Jackson 1985, Bhatt and Rawat 1993, Singh 1985, 1989, 2002, 2005, Jodha and Shrestha 1990, Singh and Bohra 2005, Singh and Gaur 2005, Bohra 2006 and Singh et al. 2008. In the present paper attempts has, therefore, been made to enlist plant species which are commonly used for cattle growing in the area. Thus the present study deals with diversity and utilization pattern of fodder species in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. Study Area The study covers some areas of Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand, which lies in between 29031.9’ N to 31026.5’N lat and 77033.5’E to 80060’ E long. Physiographically, the whole terrain is mountainous and can be divided in to three zones-lower Himalayan zone
(300-500masl); middle Himalaya (600-1000masl); and upper Himalaya (1100 -2500masl). The mainland of Uttarakhand constitutes about 92.6% of the total geographical land of the state. It is characterized by dominance of subsistence cereal crops. It is also a main source of livelihood. Besides, livestock rearing for milk and manure and forest-based non-timber products constitute major parts for livelihood. The availability of natural resources as forest, water, and soil and manpower is enormous as the forest (mostly temperate) covers about 60% land and the rivers are fed by the glaciers, which are perennial. The vegetation is predominantly of forest communities with frequent interruption of scrub jungles, savannas, grassy localities and crop fields. The vegetation is categoriesed into:- (i) Submontane vegetation adjacent to Gangetic Plains, (ii) Submontane and montane intermixed vegetation and (iii) Montane (temperate-like) vegetation. Several environmental factors control the distribution of vegetation, however, usually in the hilly tracts vegetation is demarcated on the basis of altitudinal gradient. In general, the climate of Garhwal Himalaya is with less severe summer, higher precipitation and more prolonged winter (Gaur, 1999).
Methodology Research was conducted by means of community based questionnaire survey. Surveys were conducted during the years 2014 - 2015. For collection of fodder specimens frequent field trips were made during different seasons of the years. For this some areas of Garhwal Himalaya like Joshimath, Shivpuri and Adhwani were visited. Information regarding locality, feeding period, mode of use, part used, and vernacular names were recorded by interviewing the villagers, old ladies, and shephereds of the studied villages. Traditional knowledge system plays a key role in the use of any plant species as fodder with species preference, the inhabitants of the area, especially old aged peasants and shepherds were consulted for determination of any plant species as fodder. Fodder collection sites were visited along with the villagers during collection of fodder to mark the fodder species. Surveys were carried out for seasonal lopping and utilization pattern of each species. Seasonal mode of use (green and dry) were studied through direct observation. The collected plant specimens were identified with the help of regional flora and herbaria (BSD, DD & GUH).
Results Diversity In the present study 165 plant species of fodder under
Fodder Diversity, availability and Utilization pattern in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand
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Table 2: Some important fodder plants of the study area Species name (1) Abies pindrow Brandis Acer acuminatum Wallich ex D.Don Acer caesium Wallich ex Brandis Achyranthus aspera L. Aesculus indica Hook. Agrostis pilosula Trinius Alnus nepalensis D.Don Amaranthus viridis L. Anemone vitifolia Buch.-Ham. ex DC. Apluda Mutica L. Aplula aristata L. Artemisia nilagirica Arthraxon lancifolius Hochst. Arundinella pumila Steudel Astilbe rivularis Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Bauhinia purpurea L. Bauhinia semla Wunderlin Bauhinia vahlii Wight & Am. Bauhinia variegata L Betula alnoides Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Bidens pilosa L. Boehmeria macrophylla D.Don Boehmeria platyphylla D.Don Boehmeria rugulosa Wedd. Bothriochloa pertusa A. Camus Brachiaria villosa A. Camus Bridelia retusa Sprengel Broussonetia papyrifera Ventenat Carpinus viminea Lindley Celtis australis Hook. f. Cenchrus ciliaris L. Chenopodium album L Chenopodium botrys L Chrysopogon fulvus Chiovenda Chrysopogon gryllus Trinius Commelina benghalensis L. Corylus jacquemontii Decne. Cotoneaster bacillaris Wallich Cymbopogon martinii W. Watson Cynodon dactylon Persoon Cynoglossum glochidiatum Wallich ex Benth. Debregeasia longifolia Wedd. Debregeasia salicifolia Rendle. Dendrocalamus strictus Nees Desmodium elegans DC
Local name
Family
(2) Raga Til- kanjul Kanjul Sajji Pangar
(3) Pinaceae Aceraceae Aceraceae Amranthaceae Hippocastanaceae Poaceae Betulaceae Amranthaceae Ranunculaceae Poaceae Poaceae Asteraceae Poaceae Poaceae Saxifragaceae Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Betulaceae Asteraceae Urticaceae Urticaceae Urticaceae Poaceae Poaceae Euphorbiaceae Moraceae Corylaceae Ulmaceae Poaceae Chenopodiaceae Chenopodiaceae Poaceae Poaceae commelinaceae Betulaceae Rosaceae Poaceae Poaceae Boraginaceae Urticaceae Urticaceae Poaceae Fabaceae
Utees Chaulai Tachlu Kunjaa Kanglya
Guiral Semla Malu Guriyal Bhojpatra Kumraya Khagsa Genthi Malchu Ghayya Ghagynyu Kharik Godla Bathua
Kabasi/ Bhotia-badam Ruins Dubla Lachkuru Ghinghara Tusharu Bans Chamla
Life form (4) Tree Tree Tree Herb Tree Herb Tree Herb Herb Grass Herb Shrub Herb Herb Shrub Tree Tree Climber Tree Tree Herb Shrub Shrub Tree Herb Grass Tree Tree Tree Tree Herb Herb Herb Grass Grass Herb Tree Shrub Herb Grass Herb Tree Shrub Grass Shrub
Feeding Mode time of use (5) (6) w G R G R G O G R G R G R G A G R G R G R G S G O G R G R G S/W G A G W G W G S G O G S/W G/D S G S/W G R G R G W G A G S/W G S G R G S G S/R G S/W G/D R G R G S G S G R G S G R G S/W G W G W G R G
Continued on.............
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Continue ............ (1) Desmodium laxiflorum DC. Dicliptera bupleuroides Nees Dodecadenia grandiflora Nees Echinochloa crus-galli P. Beauv. Eleusine coracana Gaertner Engelhardtia spicata Leschenault ex Blume Eragrostis sp. Eranthemum palchellum Andrews Euonymus pendulus Wallich Euonymus tingen Wallich Eurya acuminata DC. Fagopyrum dibotrys Hara Fagopyrum esculentum Moench Ficus auriculata Lour. Ficus hederacea Roxb Ficus hispida L. f. Ficus neriifolia Smith Ficus palmata Forsk. Ficus racemosa L. Ficus sarmentosa Buch-Ham. ex J.E.Smith Ficus semicordata Buch.-Ham. ex J.E. Smith. Ficus subincisa Buch.-Ham. ex J.E. Smith; Galinsoga parviflora Cav. Galium elegans Hara & Gould Geranium wallichianum D.Don ex Sweet Girardinia diversifolia Friis Grevia optiva Drummond ex Burret Hedera nepalensis K. Koch Heteropogon contortus P. Beauv. ex Roemer & Schultes Holarrhena pubescens Wallich ex G.Don Hordeum vulgare L. Hypericum choisianum Wallich ex N.Robson Hypericum elodeoides Choisy Ilex dipyrena Wailich Ilex excelsa Hook, f Impatiens balsamina L. Impatiens scabrida DC. Indigofera heterantha Wallich ex Brandis Justicia simplex D.Don Leucaena leucocephala De Wit Leucas aspera Lonicera quinquelocularis Hardwicke Lyonia ovalifolia Drude. Machilus duthei King ex Hook, f. Mallotus phillipiensis Muell.-Arg. Maoutia puya Wedd
(2) Kodi Jhavara ghas Mandua Ginni ghas Thunarya
Kanaya Ougal Timla Ghogsu Khilku Bedu Gullar Moraceae Khainu Chanchari Banglya/ Angeraji ghas
Bhimal
Bakara Jau
Jannu Sakina Kurmurya
Anyar Kaulu Ruina
(3) Fabaceae Acanthaceae Lauraceae Poaceae Poaceae Juglandaceae Poaceae Acanthaceae Celastraceae Celastraceae Theaceae Polygonaceae Polygonaceae Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae Shrub Moraceae Moraceae Asteraceae Rubiaceae Geraniaceae Urticaceae Tiliaceae Araliaceae Poaceae
(4) Shrub Herb Tree Grass Grass Tree Herb Tree Tree Tree Tree Herb Herb Tree Shrub Tree Tree Tree Tree A Tree Tree Herb Herb Herb Herb Tree Climber Grass
(5) A W S R/W W S A S S/W S W R S/R W A W A S S G S W R/W S/R R W W S/R A
(6) G G G G/D D G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
Apocynaceae Poaceae Hypericaceae Hypericaceae Aquifoliaceae Aquifoliaceae Balsamiaceae Balsamiaceae Papilionaceae Acanthaceae Mimosaceae Lamiaceae Caprifoliaceae Ericaceae Lauraceae Euphorbiaceae Urticaceae
tree Grass Shrub Herb Tree Tree Herb Herb Shrub Herb Tree Herb Shrub Tree Tree Tree Shrub
S S/W S R A A R R R A S/W O S/W O S/W S R
G D G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
G G G/D G G D G G G/D
Continued on.............
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Continue ............. Continue on............. (1) Melia azedarach L. Meliosma dilleniifolia Walpers Miscanthus nepalensis Hackel Morus alba L. Morus serrata Roxb Murraya koeinghii Sprengel. Neolitsea cuipala Kostermans Nicandra physalodes Gaertner Oogeinia oojeinensis Hochreutiner Oryza sativa L. Oxalis corniculata L. Pennisetum orientale L Persicaria capitata H. Gross Persicaria nepalensis H. Gross Phoebe laceolata Nees Pilea scripta Wedd. Pimpinella achilleifolia C.B. Clarke Pimpinella acuminata C.B. Clarke Pistacia khinjuk Stocks Polygonum amplexicaule D.Don Polygonum capitatum Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Polypogon fugax Nees ex Steudel Populus ciliata Wallich ex Royle Potentilla sp. Pouzolzia zeylanica J. Bennett & Brown Prinsepia utilis Royle Prunus armeniaca L Prunus cerasoides D.Don Prunus cornuta Steudel Pyrus pashia Buch.-Ham ex D.Don Quercus leucotrichiphora A. Camus. Quercus semecarpifolia J.E. Smith Quercus floribunda Lindley ex Rehder. Quercus glauca Thunb. Reinwartia indica Dumortier Rhamnus persica Boissier Rhododendron arboreum Smith. Rubia manjith Roxb. ex Fleming Rubus ellipticus Smith Rubus niveus Thunb. Rubus paniculatus Smith Salix acenophylla Boissier Salix denticulata Anderson Salix tetrasperma Roxb. Sarcococca saligna Muell-Arg. Schleichera oleosa Oken Scurrula elata Danser
(2) Daikan Dab Shatoot Kaimu Kadipatta Dhatura Sandan Dhan Musaya Rangaya Sara Chau
kakhad
Bhainkal Chulu Painyaa Melu Banj Kharsu Tilonj Phaniyat Phyuli Jhnu Burans Hisar
Gad-bhains
Chathul Kusum
(3) Meliaceae Sabiaceae Poaceae Moraceae Moraceae Rutaceae Lauraceae Solanaceae Fabaceae Poaceae Oxalidaceae Poaceae Polygonaceae Polygonaceae Lauraceae Urticaceae Apiaceae Apiaceae Anacardiaceae Polygonaceae Polygonaceae Poaceae Salicaceae Rosaceae Urticaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Fagaceae Fagaceae Fagaceae Fagaceae Linaceae Rhamnaceae Ericaceae Rubiaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Salicaceae Salicaceae Salicaceae Buxaceae Sapindaceae Loranthaceae
(4) Tree Tree Grass Tree Tree Shrub Tree Herb Tree Grass Herb Grass Herb Herb Tree Herb Herb Herb Tree Herb Herb Herb Tree Herb Herb Shrub Tree Tree Tree Tree Tree Tree Tree Tree Herb Tree Tree Climber Shrub Shrub Shrub Shrub Tree Tree Shrub Tree Shrub
(5) O A W S/W S S W R W S/W A W R R W R R R S R S A S/R R R R W W S S W W W W R W O W O O O A S S/W R S R
(6) G G G G G G G G G D G/D G/D G G G G G G G G G G/D G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G/D G G G G G G G G G
Continued on.............
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Continue ............ (1) Senecio nudicaulis Buch-Ham. ex D. Don Setaria pumila Roemer & Schultes Smilax glaucophylla Klotzsch Solanum nigrum L. Spiraea canescens D.Don Sterculia villosa Roxb. Swida oblonga Sojak Symplocos paniculata Miq. Symplocos ramosissima Wallich ex G.Don Synotis rufinervis C. Jeffrey & Y.L.Chen Taraxacum officinale Weber Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth Terminalia bellirica Roxb. Terminalia chebula Retz. Thalictrum foliolosum DC. Thamnocalamus falconeri Hook. f. ex Munro Themeda arundinacea Ridley. Thysanolaena maxima Kuntze Toona Hexandra M Roemer Triticum aestivum L. Ulmus wallichiana Planchon Urtica dioica L. Viburnum erubescens Wallich ex DC. Vigna vexillata A. Richard. Woodfordia fructicosa Kurz. Rhus parviflora Roxb.
(2)
Kukurdara Makoi Mairad Karnal
Pharpatti Asin Baheda Harara Ringal Ulla Ball ghas Toon Genhu/ Chilau Mairu Kandali Teeling Dhaula Tungla
(3) Asteraceae Poaceae Smilacaceae Solanaceae Rosaceae Sterculiaceae Cornaceae Symplocaceae Symplocaceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Combretaceae Combretaceae Combretaceae Ranunculaceae Poaceae Poaceae Poaceae Meliaceae Poaceae Ulmaceae Urticaceae Carpifoliaceae Fabaceae Lythraceae Anacardiaceae
(4) Herb Grass Climber Herb Shrub Tree Tree Tree Shrub Herb Herb Tree Tree Tree Herb Grass Grass Herb Tree Grass Tree Shrub Shrub Herb Shrub Shrub
(5) R R S/R S/R R/W A R S/R S/R W R W S S R S/W R R S/R R S W R A w w
(6) G G/D G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G/D G G D G G G G/D G G
Table 2: Seasonal availability of fodder from main species in Garhwal Himalaya. 125 genera belonging to 60 families have Summer Rainy Winter been identified and documented (table 2). Tree leaves Amongst the families, maximum species Celtis australis Quercus leucotrichophora were represented in family Poaceae (27 Morus alba Q. floribunda spp.) followed by Moraceae (12 spp.), Machilus duthei Q. semicarpifolia Rosaceae (12 spp.) Urticaceae (10 spp.), Acer caesium Grewia optiva Asteraceae and Polygonaceae (6 spp. Each) Acer acuminatum Machilus duthei and Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Salicaceae, Oogeinia oojeinensis Caesalpiniaceae and Lauraceae (4 spp. Other green fodder Each) (fig 1). In remaining families
