Forage production and soil fertility as affected by introduction of high yielding species in dry temperate pasture of north western Himalaya

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of improved grasses and legumes and fertilization on the productivity, nutrient uptake, soil fertility buildup and biological properties of pasture at Highland Research and Extension Centre, Kukumseri, Lahaul & Spiti (Himachal Pradesh). Planting of introduced high yielding grasses registered a green fodder yield increase of 10.08 tonnes (t) over local system, introduced high yielding legumes 8.20 t, introduced grasses + legumes 12.81 t, introduced grasses +legumes +shrub 13.29 t, grasses + legumes + shrub + fodder tree 13.17 t per hectare. The green forage production was maximum with planting of high yielding grasses + legumes + Salix and was followed by high yielding grasses + legumes, high yielding grasses and least was in the local grasses. Soil moisture was higher in improved system than the local system. Fertilization proved effective in increasing the moisture content and also herbage production over no fertilization application. Soil pH was not affected by planting of different improved species, however fertilization brought about a slight decrease in soil pH. Soil organic carbon content decreased with fertilization, while an increase was noticed with the introduction of high yielding grass and legume species. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) uptake increased with fertilization as well as the planting of introduced forage species. The activities of phosphatase and dehydrogenase enzymes also increased with fertilization and introduction of species.