Rainwater harvesting for increasing livestock forage on arid rangelands of Pakistan

Abstract

This study determined forage production and cover of several plant species resulting from the use of water harvesting catchments with catchment: cultivated area ratios of 1:1 and 1.25:1 and contributing aprons with 7, 10, and 15% slope gradients. Plots with 1.25:1 ratios produced more forage and had more cover than plots with 1:1 and 0:1 ratios. Plots with 7, 10, and 15% slope gradients had similar forage production and cover. Tuft planted plots produced more forage and cover than seeded plots. Ghorka (Elionurus hirsutus (Vahl) Munro), blue panicum (Panicum antidotale Retz.), and buffer (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) grasses produced similar forage and cover, which was higher than khev grass (Sporobolus helvolus (Trin.) Th. Dur. & Schinz) production and cover.