Pasture Production and its Use in The Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Rajasthan (India) and Kazakhstan (U.S.S.R.)

Abstract

Animal husbandry is the major occupation of the people living in the arid and semi-arid zones of India and Kazakhstan. Improvement of the grazing resources is therefore the key point in development of animal husbandry. Forage production from natural grasslands varies from one to 30 quintals per hectare in Indian arid and semi-arid zones whereas the same varies from 2 to 5 quintals per hectare in similar areas of Kazakhstan. Production from natural grasslands of the arid zone of India was increased by 60 per cent by soil working and seeding with Cenchrus ciliris and of Kazakhstan was increased by soil working and seeding with Agropyron de8ertorum and Kochia prostrata. Grazing stress in the pastures of the arid zone of India is comparatively higher than that in Kazakhstan.