Evaluation of High Value Medicinal Plants Used as Stop Wash Barriers to Intercept Runoff in Eroded Lands of Fateh Jang, Pakistan
Keywords:
Medicinal plants, Runoff, Stop wash barriers, Eroded lands, Fateh Jang.Abstract
Rainfed soils are more vulnerable to erosion as compared to other areas. The best strategy to conserve
these soils from degradation is to provide soil cover e.g., agronomic cover which plays a vital role to intercept
raindrop in situ which ultimately minimizes the rate of runoff. Farmers in rainfed areas mostly cultivate
forages and fodder crops which act as soil cover and source of feed for their livestock without significant
economic return. It has been anticipated that use of medicinal plants is increasing day by day for the cure of
diseases. Therefore, considering above objective research was planned to introduce high value medicinal
plants which improve soil health and quality. The research was conducted at Soil and Water Conservation
Research Station, Fateh Jang during 2019-2023. The selected plant species included were Steviarebaudiana,
Aloe barbadense miller, Menthapeperita, Melissa officinalis, Mentharoyleana, Salvia rosmarinus,
Origanumvulgare, Murrayakoenigii, Ocimumtenuiflorum. In addition, in Rabi season Foeniculumvulgare,
Lepidiumsativum, Trigonellafoenum-graecum, Nigella sativa and Carumcopticum showed best
performance. The outcomes of the study revealed that these plants species effectively, restored the soil health
and improve the soil physiochemical characteristics. So, cultivation of these plants as a cover crop will
ultimately uplift socio-economic condition of farmers in respect of more economic return from the same
piece of land by adopting innovative technology of medicinal plant cultivation.
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