A study on fuelwood consumption in two villages of Bhaderwah forest division (J&K), India

Abstract:

Maintaining livestock productivity on degraded pasturelands is one of the most pressing challenges facing semi-arid eastern India, where overgrazing and erratic rainfall have left large tracts with less than 30% vegetative cover. This research screened eight tropical forage grass species for drought tolerance, dry matter yield, ground cover, and nutritive value on a degraded pasture at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, over two seasons (2021-2023). A Drought Tolerance Index (DTI) compared yields under natural dry-spell conditions with irrigated controls. Cenchrus ciliaris recorded the highest DTI (0.83) combined with strong dry matter yield (6.84 t/ha) and broadest ground cover (74%). Panicum maximum produced the highest absolute yield (7.42 t/ha) but had the lowest DTI (0.54). Dichanthium annulatum balanced good drought tolerance (DTI 0.78) with the highest palatability ranking. A mixed re-seeding strategy combining C. ciliaris, D. annulatum, and Stylosanthes hamata is recommended for degraded pasturelands.