Ecorestoration of Banni Grassland - Global Restoration Network
Ecorestoration of Banni Grassland - Global Restoration Network
Ecorestoration of Banni Grassland - Global Restoration Network
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competition. Even useful fodder bushes such as<br />
Zizyphus nummularia should not be allowed to<br />
grow more than 4 per cent in a grazing area, so as to<br />
maintain the forage production from the pasture<br />
(Ganguli et. al. 1964).<br />
With the above view, Prosopis juliflora and other<br />
unwanted bushes growing inside the restoration<br />
site were totally uprooted with the help <strong>of</strong> Gujarat<br />
Forest Development Corporation.<br />
3.3 Reseeding <strong>of</strong> Grass Species<br />
Succession <strong>of</strong> vegetation in a natural sequence is a<br />
time consuming process and can be expected to<br />
succeed in the desired direction only if the nucleus<br />
<strong>of</strong> the plant material is available in productive stage<br />
on a given site. Plantation <strong>of</strong> seed slightly below<br />
the surface after scratching it or in strips with<br />
appropriate species <strong>of</strong> grasses is the quickest and<br />
most ensured method <strong>of</strong> improvement <strong>of</strong> degraded<br />
grassland (Kanodia and Patil, 1983).<br />
For reseeding, first preference was given for<br />
indigenous grass varieties, which normally grow<br />
under arid climatic and soil conditions <strong>of</strong> <strong>Banni</strong>.<br />
Therefore, indigenous seeds were obtained from<br />
<strong>Banni</strong> Development Agency, Bhuj. Apart from this,<br />
seeds were also obtained from Indian <strong>Grassland</strong><br />
and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi. The<br />
indigenous species such as; Cenchrus setigerus,<br />
Sporobolus sp., Eurochondra sp., Dichanthium<br />
annulatum, Chloris barbata and Cenchrus ciliaris,<br />
were selected for sowing in the restoration site.<br />
The selection <strong>of</strong> indigenous species was based on<br />
the fact that they have genetically acquired several<br />
adaptations to survive in the harsh climatic and<br />
soil conditions. Therefore, they were expected to<br />
thrive well in the restoration sites where more<br />
suitable conditions for grass growth were already<br />
created. Apart from this, species such as;<br />
Chrysopogan fulvus and Pennisetum pedicellatum<br />
were also sown in small quantities. The later species<br />
was not reported from <strong>Banni</strong> area. The performance<br />
such as growth and productivity <strong>of</strong> this species in<br />
the restoration site would help in planning for future<br />
large-scale introduction <strong>of</strong> such species in entire<br />
<strong>Banni</strong> area. The reseeding activity, it is hoped,<br />
would increase the seed bank <strong>of</strong> the area and<br />
thereby enrich the grass density and diversity <strong>of</strong><br />
the restoration site.<br />
In arid area, under rainfed conditions, the sowing<br />
<strong>of</strong> grass seeds is normally done in the months <strong>of</strong><br />
June / July with the onset <strong>of</strong> monsoon. To enhance<br />
<strong>Ecorestoration</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Banni</strong> <strong>Grassland</strong><br />
the germination and uniform distribution <strong>of</strong> seeds,<br />
the seeds were mixed with soil and farmyard manure.<br />
Then they were thoroughly mixed by sprinkling<br />
water. This reduce the transport <strong>of</strong> seeds through<br />
wind and the moisture in the seed mixture hastens<br />
the process <strong>of</strong> germination. Care was taken that,<br />
the seed sown was covered by 1 to 2 cm soil layer.<br />
Since, the grass seeds are too small, the stored<br />
germplasm is insufficient to support the<br />
germination and growth <strong>of</strong> seedlings from deeper<br />
soil layers. The stocking rate <strong>of</strong> seeds varied with<br />
the species. Normal stocking rate <strong>of</strong> seed reported<br />
is; 2.5 kg/ha for Dichanthium annulatum, 5 kg/ha<br />
for Cenchrus ciliaris and Cenchrus setigerus, 5<br />
kg/ha for Sporobolus sp. etc. to 75 kg/ha for<br />
Lasiurus species. However, keeping the view <strong>of</strong><br />
the near absence <strong>of</strong> seed bank in the restoration<br />
sites, nearly 3-4 times higher seed rate than the<br />
normal were stocked.<br />
The Bhirandiyara restoration site was divided into<br />
four sub-compartments, each covering an area <strong>of</strong><br />
approximately 3.4 ha. The first compartment,<br />
covering an area <strong>of</strong> 3.4 ha was kept under natural<br />
condition (Compartment 1), where the fencing<br />
(trench and barbed wire) ensured complete<br />
protection from livestock grazing. Pure as well as<br />
mixed combination (for Eg. Cenchrus sp. with<br />
Sporobolus sp.) <strong>of</strong> grass seeds were sown within<br />
the compartment, however, a strip (10m width and<br />
250 m length) covering an area <strong>of</strong> 3750 m 2 was kept<br />
completely under natural condition where no<br />
sowing <strong>of</strong> grass seed was undertaken. The basic<br />
view was that, the area devoid <strong>of</strong> seed sowing<br />
resembled very much to that <strong>of</strong> the area out side<br />
the fenced area <strong>of</strong> the site. The only difference<br />
between these two was that the former received<br />
protection from grazing while the later was<br />
subjected to grazing pressures. Hence, a<br />
comparison <strong>of</strong> the productivity <strong>of</strong> grass species <strong>of</strong><br />
the said area with that <strong>of</strong> outside the fenced site<br />
would provide the effect <strong>of</strong> grazing pressure that<br />
existed in the area. The mixed combinations <strong>of</strong> seeds<br />
were used to understand the better species<br />
association in terms <strong>of</strong> productivity.<br />
At Dhordo restoration site, the whole area was divided<br />
into 30 m wide strips. Ploughing, broadcasting<br />
<strong>of</strong> grass seeds and adding <strong>of</strong> farmyard manure<br />
was carried out at alternative strips.<br />
3.4 Fertiliser Application<br />
In the natural pastures <strong>of</strong> arid regions, scope <strong>of</strong><br />
fertilisation is limited mainly due to uncertainty <strong>of</strong><br />
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