Fodder shrubs plantations

Seedlings of Atriplex canescens and Salsola vermiculata were planted on degraded community rangeland during 2007. Initially, the seedlings of these species were raised in polythene bags at Arid Zone Research Centre, Quetta. Six to nine months old seedlings were transplanted on the community rangelands during late winter or early spring months. Micro-catchment water harvesting (MCWH) structures were developed on sloping lands. Contour-bunds were made by a tractor-mounted plough. Spacing between ridged was maintained at 15 m and two shrubs (Atriplex canescens and Salsola vermiculata) were planted in each micro-catchment basin with 2 m spacing. The number of shrubs in each strip ranged from 40-80. Shrub survival rate and shrub biomass was monitored. Shrub biomass production data were recorded during June 2010. Fifty shrubs from each species were randomly picked for recoding forage production. Harvested shrubs were separated into leaves and wood and oven dried for calculation of dry matter forage production. Descriptive analysis was used for calculation of average forage production of both species