International Journal of Farm Sciences

Quercus semecarpifolia is a high altitude oak, ranging up to the timberline in the Himalayan region and forming the climax community on the southern aspect. A study was carried out in Himachal Pradesh to determine the community dependency on oak fodder and to evaluate the effect of season, aspect and altitude on the nutritive composition of oak in 2018-2019. Leaf samples of oak were collected from different provenances starting from 2,400-3,300 m amsl. It was found that leaf ash content didn’t vary significantly in different seasons. The nutritional parameters namely moisture (13.93%) and crude fat (4.66%) in winter, crude fibre (32.61 and 32.50%) in monsoon and winter respectively, crude protein (12.17%) in summer and carbohydrates (39.97%) in spring collection were found to be highest. Leaf carbohydrates didn’t vary significantly among different aspects. The mean values of nutritional parameters namely ash (4.98%) and crude fibre (33.14%) were found to be significantly better in northern aspect. However, moisture content was at par in northern (14.26%), eastern (13.92%) and western (13.68%) aspects; crude fat in northern (5.11%) and eastern (4.98%) aspects and crude protein in northern (11.68%) and eastern (11.23%) aspects. The ash (5.05 and 4.22%), crude fat (6.12 and 5.95%) and crude protein (10.97 and 10.69%) content was highest >3,200 and 3,000-3,200 m amsl respectively. Moisture content was higher (14.41, 14.08 and 13.97%) >3,200, 3,000-3,000 and 2,800-3,000 m amsl respectively than lower altitudes. However, crude protein was highest (33.09%) >3,200 m amsl and carbohydrates <2,600 m amsl.