An ecological survey of land use and soil erosion in the West Pakistan and Azad Kashmir catchment of the river Jhelum.
Abstract
Information is given on climate, soil types, vegetation, rural sociology, agriculture and land capability in the above survey area. There was a transition at 1350 m alt. from pearl millet to maize cultivation. At 6000 m alt., winter wheat and pearl millet were the most important crops. Maize could be grown up to about 2400 m alt., the only other crop which could be grown at high elevation was potato. Other crops grown were rice, sorghum, Phaseolus spp., Dolichos biflorus[Vigna unguiculata], groundnuts, barley for fodder, chickpeas, lentils, and Brassica campestris and Eruca sativa for fodder. A winter crop/summer crop/bare fallow rotation was generally employed but led to much soil erosion; its replacement by ley farming was recommended, as were the use of more NP and increased seed rates. -R.B.