DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT Intro: The Khawarmung study area is situated in the Subtropical humid zone (Champion et al., 1965) about 40 km northwest of Muzafarabad along the left bank of river Neelum. The altitude is 1200 meters with an average rainfall of about 600 mm. Soil is mainly formed of shale and sandstone with a moderate amount of organic matter suitable for plant growth. Pinus roxburghii forms the major overhead storey with shrubs Myrsine africana, Berberis lycium, Indigofera spp. as understorey. The ground flora is occupied by grasses like Digitaria spp., Agrostis gigantea, Agropyron dentatum, Cymbopogon spp., Eleusine compressa, Themeda anathera, Panicum antidotale, Heteropogon spp., Chrysopogon aucheri, Dicanthium annulatum, whereas Trifolium pratense, Taraxicum officinale, Plantago lanceolatus, Fragaria vesca are among the major forbs present. The present study was aimed at to determine the affect of closure on forage production both inside and outside the exclosure.