Khalida Khan, M. Ikram

1. Influence of Temporal/Spatial Variability on Agricultural biodiversity of Jhelum Potwar Region-Punjab-Pakistan The Fourth IPSI Global Conference (IPSI-4) (13-14 September) in Fukui Japan Khalida Khan, M. Ikram Centre for Integrated Mountain Research (CIMR), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan Email:- cimrpu87@gmail.com This research study is very much in line with the IPSI Activity Cluster 3 (Indicator Research) and Cluster 5 (On-the-Ground Activities) . The area is divided into five zones keeping in view the management for Agriculture development: Well Diversified Crop Zone (353 km2; 9.8%) Old river terrace, Sub-recent & Recent floodplains irrigated by tube-wells with moderately deep, well drained, silty & loamy soils highly suitable for a wide variety of crops, very responsive to good management Dry-farmed Crop Zone(1021 km2; 28.5%) Piedmont Plains, Loess Plains & Withered Rock Plains with well drained silty & loamy soils, highly suitable for dry-farmed crops A small part (87 km2; 2.4%) comprises clayey soils, used for restricted cropping of wheat & millets with low yields Riverine Belt (138 km2; 3.8%) Active floodplains along River Jhelum seasonal flooding Ground-water, allows tube-well installation for irrigated crop production, Very high yields potential of common crops wheat, sugarcane and vegetables Salt Affected Zone (231 km2; 6.4%): severely saline soils, mainly uncultivated Miscellaneous Areas (1757 km2; 49%) Gullied land, Rough mountainous land, Gravelly & stony land, Rough broken land, Open water, River/torrent Bed & Urban Land – not suitable for arable agriculture Abstract: Identification of the past and present soil and agricultural biodiversity & change detection in vegetation cover has been made. Keeping in view the area ecosystem and the maintenance of biodiversity in future, the area is divided in five zones. The 1st Zone comprises Old river terrace, Sub-recent and Recent floodplains with moderately deep, well drained with silty and loamy soils irrigated by tube-wells. The 2nd Zone mainly covers Piedmont Plains, Loess Plains and Weathered Rock Plains with moderately to well drained, silty, loamy and clayey soils. The 3rd Zone covers Active floodplains along Jhelum River. A salt affected area covers severely saline soils, grown on these soils are used for very poor grazing. However, low levels of patchy vegetation of the area has been decreased due to climate change or has been cleared over most of the level parts of the area to make place for arable cultivation. The uncultivable low-quality soil material supports remnants of the original natural vegetation of the area. Uncontrolled grazing and cutting has considerably deteriorated the density and quality of vegetation. Some of these areas are partly protected. The main species are Olea cuspidate, ZizyphusJujuba, Acacia Arabica, Acacifornesiaria, Acacia modesta, Dalbergiasisso Shrubs and forbs etc. Investigations have revealed that most of the area has a very low potential for agricultural development on account of a lack of moisture. A great variation has also been observed in soil properties and vegetation cover due to variable environmental conditions. • Results: • In 1963 the area consisted of four different soil series but in 2011 the soil of the study area consists of seven different soils, which shows that the soil characteristics are changed from 1963-2011 (Fig. 2). Presently the soil consists of seven series as follows:- • Sambrial Association:- cropping of wheat, gram, millets and vegetables with residuals moisture/ tube-well irrigation • Missa Complex:- dry-farmed cropping of wheat, millets, Oilseeds and gram with moderate yields under traditional management • Rajar Complex:- cropping of wheat, gram, millets & vegetables with residuals moisture/ tube-well irrigation • Dhulian Association:-dry-farmed cropping of wheat, millets and oilseeds with moderate to poor yields • Gullied Land, Rough Broken land & Rough Mountainous land:- support sparse cover of scrubs which provide some grazing • Fig. 2. Noticeable change detection in the soil types of the study area from 1963 to 2011 • Fig. 3 A railway track passing within the Hilly areas & Piedmont • plain  with sparse vegetation Constraints Barriers Policies Poor Cooperation Knowledge Gaps Lack of Awareness Land Tenure System Introduction Out of 79.6 million hector of total land of Pakistan just 20 mha is suitable for agriculture. Jhelum District extends over 3587 km2 of Piedmont Plains, River Plains, Loess Plains and Weathered Rock Plains. It is bounded by Hazāra Hills (N) & Salt Range (S) with altitudinal range of 300 m to 600 m asl & placed among the Indus and Jhelum Rivers. The area receives moisture from tube-wells, precipitation and seasonal flooding of Jhelum River. The climate of the area ranges from semi-arid to sub-humid sub-tropical and sub-mountainous with hot summers and severe winters. The rains are erratic and fall in two seasons Fig. 1 Land use pattern and distribution of study area Fig. 5 shows the present land use trends of study area Agricultural Depletion of Soil nutrients Decrease in growing period Decrease in forests cover Flooding, disturbed water flows into river system Destruction of Soil Structure& Organic Matters Soil Alkalization Un sustainable water Management ( Flood controls) Rise in sea level Deforestation Overgrazing Urbanization Soil & Water Pollution Accelerated Soil Erosion Salinization Challenges/Threats Objectives Study of temporal variations and their impacts on the vegetation cover & the indirect impacts on the local community & natural resources. Assessment of climate change Conclusions/ Measurements Adjustment of crop cultivation with the normal growing period Provision of sufficient water supplies to irrigated crops at normal intervals with special coverage of critical stages Making use of minimum tillage expenditures Making use of Family/or mutually shared labour as and when required, for different cultural operations Maintenance of a medium level of inputs for fertilizers and biocides to be used at appropriate time  Adoption of normal soil and water conservation measures The selection of alternative land utilization types Location with respect to market facilities and availability of inputs Availability of agricultural machinery implements Quantity and quality of irrigation water Size of land holding Capital resource and credit facilities Availability of manpower Technical know-how of the farmer Control of pest and diseases Fig.4.shows the difference in vegetation condition of 1992 & 2011 Recommendations For food security it is suggested that the land should not be damaged due to mismanagement as soil is not easily renewable. Prime agriculture land should not be placed under urbanization, industrialization and other infrastructure. Keeping in view the challenges/ constraint & findings of the Study it is to be suggested that a collaborative venture may be initiated in context with Stoyama Initiative by implementing SELP model for better biodiversity management options. This study may be applied in similar environmental conditions. Methods: The literature reviews and field investigation carried out at reconnaissance level Soil groups are mapped & old soil mapping units delineations on topo sheets (1: 50,000) were digitized with major land uses Interpretation of the Spot images were carried out in the GIS/RS laboratory Questioner was prepared to collect data by interviewing community & observing crop stand. Ground checks were made & soil mapping on spot image were digitized by using ARCINFO software. Acknowledgements: We wish to acknowledge the every support from Centre for Integrated Mountain Research Punjab University Lahore-Pakistan, through its small Research grants program. Our appreciation also goes to our students Youns Shamoon & Qasim Ali, of M.Sc in Mountain Conservation & Watershed Management conducted by the CIMR.