The cultural importance of indices: A comparative analysis based on the useful wild plants of Noorpur Thal Punjab, Pakistan

Shaheen, Hamayun; Qureshi, Rehmatullah; Qaseem, Mirza Faisal; Amjad, Muhammad; Bruschi, Piero

doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2017.04.003

Cited by 15 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Information was gathered by using different approaches i.e. group discussions with participants, individual semi-structured questionnaires and participant observation (Fig 2) [23,24]. The questionnaires were drafted in the local language (Seriki and Punjabi) and included the following major questions: (i) Which grasses/sedges are used as fodder?…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Identification of the gathered species was carried out by the herbarium specialist Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad and by the taxonomist Dr. Humaira Shaheen (Fig 3). Botanical nomenclature of species and families complies with online Flora of Pakistan (http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=5) [24] and the herbarium specimens were kept in the Botany Department of Pir Mehr Ali Shah University of Arid Agriculture.…”

Section: Collection and Identification Of Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The fodder grass resources for ruminants: A indigenous treasure of local communities of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan

et al. 2020

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Indigenous people have been using local grasses for rearing their animals for centuries. The present study is the first record of traditional knowledge of grasses and livestock feeding system from the Thal desert in Pakistan. A snowball sampling method was used to identify key participants. Information was collected from the respondents from six districts of Thal Desert through semi-structural questionnaire and site visits. The data was analyzed through Smith's salience index and Composite Salience using ANTHROPAC package in R software. On the whole 61 grasses were recorded from the study area: most of them belong to the Poaceae family (52 species). Based on palatability grasses were categorized into three major groups i.e. (A) High priority, (B) Medium priority and (C) Low priority. Species in Group A, abundantly present in the study area represent a source of highly palatable forage for all ruminants. 232 (141M +91W) local participants were interviewed. Participants were grouped into three major age categories: 20-35 (48 participants), 36-50 (116 participants) and 51-67 years old (68 participants). ANTHROPAC frequency analysis confirmed the Smith's salience index and Composite Salience; Cynodon dactylon was the favorite species (6.46 SI, 0.6460 CS) followed by Cymbopogon jwarancusa (5.133 SI, 0.5133 CS) and Sorghum sp. was the third most salient species (5.121 SI, 0.5121 CS). Grasses were mostly available during the months of August and October and had also ethnoveterinary importance. This document about the traditional feeding of livestock in Thal Desert can underline the importance of conserving a traditional knowledge, which was poorly documented before.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Collection and Identification Of Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The fodder grass resources for ruminants: A indigenous treasure of local communities of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan

et al. 2020

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“…These results seem to reflect composition and distribution patterns of the local flora. In a floristic checklist of Thal desert, Shaheen et al [22] observed that Poaceae was the leading family with 52 species. Of the 52 Poaceae naturally occurring in the area, 48 (94%) were reported to be used as fodder in our study; 5 were not cited by informants and 4 ( Brachiaria reptans , Eragrostis atrovirens , E. cilianensis , Themeda anathera ) were reported in our study but not in the floristic inventory.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3). Botanical nomenclature of species and families complies with online Flora of Pakistan (http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=5) [22] and the herbarium specimens were kept in to the Botany Department of Pir Mehr Ali Shah University of Arid Agriculture.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The fodder grass resources for ruminants: A indigenous treasure of local communities of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan

Shaheen

Qureshi

Qaseem

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Indigenous people have been using their regional grasses for rearing their 11 animals for centuries. The present study is the first recorded traditional knowledge of 12 grasses and feeding system for livestock from the Thal desert in Pakistan. Snowball 13 method was used to identify key informants. Information was collected from 232 14 informants from six districts of Thal Desert through semi-structural questionnaire and site 15 visits. The data was analyzed through Smith's salience index and Composite Salience 16 using ANTHROPAC package in R software. On the whole 61 grasses were recorded 17 from the study area and most of the species belongs to the Poaceae family (52 species).18 Based on palatability grasses were categorized into three major groups i.e. (A) High 19 priority, (B) Medium priority and (C) Low priority. Species in Group A, abundantly 20 present in the study area, highly palatable forage for all ruminants. 232(141M +91W) 21 local informants were interviewed. Informants were grouped into three major age 22 categories: 20-35 (48 informants), 36-50 (116 informants) and 51-67 years (68 23 informants). ANTHROPAC frequency analysis conformed the Smith's salience index 24 and Composite Salience; Cynodon dactylon was the favorite species (6.46 SI, 0.6460 CS) 25 followed by Cymbopogon jwarancusa (5.133 SI, 0.5133 CS) and Sorghum sp. was the 26 third most salient species (5.121 SI, 0.5121 CS). Grasses were mostly available during 27 the season of August and October and had also ethnoveterinary importance. This 28 document about the traditional feeding of livestock from Thal Desert can strengthen the 29 value of conserving our traditional knowledge, which was poorly documented before. 30 Keywords: Fodder, Thal Desert, livestock, pairwise comparison, ANTHROPAC 31 Introduction 2 32 In rural areas of Pakistan, agro-pastoral activities play a crucial role in the development 33 of the local economy, accounting for more than half of the total agricultural income and 34 10.6% of the national GDP [1]. These activities are particularly important in the economy 35 of the country's desert regions where land cultivation is difficult and livestock is the main 36 and often unique survival strategy and income source for the local communities. 37 Moreover, milk and meat production may counteract the impact of climatic 38 unpredictability on fluctuations in food availability, especially in areas facing frequent 39 crop shortages. According to data reported by Farooq et al. [2], in Pakistan 8.1% of 40 buffaloes, 13.5% of cattle, 15.3% of sheep and 14.4% of goats are raised in desert 41 districts. However, husbandry in these areas is often an uncertain and low-paid activity; 42 shortage of fodder as a result of severe climatic conditions, high rate of diseases, limited 43 availability of veterinary services and poor access to animal vaccination are important 44 constraints limiting the local livestock productivity [2]. The sustainable production of 45 livestock under harsh climatic conditions needs efficient strategies for impro...

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Introducing two new members of the genus Candolleomyces (Agaricales, Psathyrellaceae) from Punjab, Pakistan

Izhar,

Asif,

Khan

et al. 2023

Plant Syst Evol

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The cultural importance of indices: A comparative analysis based on the useful wild plants of Noorpur Thal Punjab, Pakistan

Cited by 15 publications

References 12 publications

The fodder grass resources for ruminants: A indigenous treasure of local communities of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan

The fodder grass resources for ruminants: A indigenous treasure of local communities of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan

The fodder grass resources for ruminants: A indigenous treasure of local communities of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan

Introducing two new members of the genus Candolleomyces (Agaricales, Psathyrellaceae) from Punjab, Pakistan

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