Biomass Fluctuation in Alpine Pastures of Kashmir Himalaya

Abstract

In a free grazing alpine pastureland of Kashmir Hiimalayas, the plant biomass fluctuation had no definite trend at both grazed and protected sites. Above ground (live) biomass ,attained its peak value of 146.1 g m^-2 at grazed sites in August and 170.8 g m^-2· at fenced sites in the first week of September. Root:shoot ratio was higher at grazed site than at protected site. In alpine meadows of Kashmir Himalaya (Rupri marg), the seasonal grazing by the transhumant and nomadic grazing societies significantly affect the structural and functional attributes of alpine pasturelands of the state.