Diversity of Herbage Species under Silvipastoral System

Abstract

Pasture grasses and legumes viz.; Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon fulvus, Sehima nervosum and Stylosanthes hamata were cultivated with fodder tree species Acacia tortilis and Leucaena leucocephala under rain fed condition in semi-arid climate of Jhansi (Bundelkhand). The canopy structure of Acacia tortilis and L.leucocephala tree stands at 4x4 m spacing attained de-current and ex-current type of tree architecture i.e. umbrella and club shape of crown with height growth of 4.9 m and 5.9 m respectively at six years. The structure of herbage community under tree canopy and open field was found directly related to the level of available climatic and edaphic features. Photosynthetically Active radiations played important positive role to govern the level of density and dominance, which were in order to open field> A.tortilis > L.leucocephala, while the level of species diversity increased with decrease of dominance. Thus after the six years of establishment of silvipasture system, the population of herbaceous species under the tree canopy and adjacent open land were studied to understand the process of colonization and community development as influenced by different canopy vigour of two tree species.