DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH BALOCHISTAN, ARI, SARIAB QUETTA
AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF BALOCHISTAN
CONTENTS
S.NO. / ZONES & ITS DISTRICTS / PAGE NO.1 / UPLANDS ZONE / 1
i / Quetta………………………………………………………………. / 2
ii / Pishin………………………………………………………………… / 2
iii / Killah Abdulla……………………………………………………… / 3
iv / Killah Saifulla……………………………………………………….. / 3
v / Loralai……………………………………………………………….. / 4
vi / Zhob…………………………………………………………………. / 4
vii / Sherani ………………………………………………………………
viii / Musakhel……………………………………………………………. / 4
Ix / Kalat………………………………………………………………… / 5
X / Mastung………………………………………………………………. / 5
Xi / Khuzdar………………………………………………………………. / 6
xii / Ziarat…………………………………………………………………. / 6
xiii / Harnai………………………………………………………………… / 6
xiv / Barkhan……………………………………………………………… / 7
xv / Panjgur……………………………………………………………… / 7
xvi / Awaran……………………………………………………………… / 7
2 / PLAINS ZONE / 8
i / Kholu………………………………………………………………. / 9
ii / Bolan……………………………………………………………… / 10
iii / Sibi………………………………………………………………… / 10
iv / Jhall Magsi………………………………………………………... / 11
v / Dera Bugti………………………………………………………… / 11
vi / Jaffarabad…………………………………………………………. / 11
vii / Nasirabad…………………………………………………………. / 12
3 / DESERT ZONE / 12
i / Nushki…………………………………………………………….
Ii / Chagai……………………………………………………………. / 12
iii / Kharan……………………………………………………………. / 13
iv / Washuk ……………………………………………………………
4 / COASTAL ZONE / 14
i / Lasbella…………………………………………………………… / 14
ii / Kech………………………………………………………………. / 14
iii
iv / Gawadar…………………………………………………………..
References………………………………………………………… / 15
15-16
UPLAND DISTRICTS
Districts / Area sq: km / Altitudemeter / Temperature
◦c / Rainfall
mm / Soil type
Quetta / 2653 / 1700 m / 01-1.7 ◦c
34-36 ◦c / 226-308 mm / Sandy clay silt loan
Pishin / 7819 / 1700 m / 1.7 ◦c -0.1 ◦c
34-36 ◦c / 308 mm / Clay silt
Killaabdullah / 3293 / 1750-2450 m / 0.1– 1.7 ◦c
35.4-35.9 / 308 / Silt clay and clayey silt and sandy clay
Killahsaifullah / 6831 / 1550-7170 m / Below 10 ◦c
21-32 ◦c / 271-392 / Loamy, sandy loan clayey
Loralai / 9830 / 1085-1676 m / 0.5 ◦c
35-37.2 ◦c / 296 mm / Calcareous sandy silt
Zhob / 20297 / 0.3-0.4 ◦c
35-35.8 ◦c / 320-359 mm / Clayey silt, sandy clay
Musakhal / 5728 / 1200-2400 m / 10 degree
21-32 ◦c / 325-750 mm / Loamy, silt
Kalat / 6622 / 2054-2.3-5.6 / 28-31.7 / 220-240 mm / loam
Mastung / 5896 / 1704-023.6 / 28.4 / 220-240 mm / Clay loam
Kuzdar / 5380 / 1237-0210 / 28-32 / 250 mm / Clay, silt
Ziarat / 1489 / 2454 m / ( - )16 ◦c 20 ◦c / 206 mm / Loamy ,stony
Harnai / 2500m / Silt
Barkhan / 3514 / 1200-2400 m / 10 degree
21-32 ◦c / 325-750 mm / Loamy, silt
Panjgoor / 16891 / 900-1530m / Below 10 ◦c
32-38 ◦c / 100-115 mm / Silt loam, clay
Awaran / 29510 / 900-1530m / Below 10 ◦c
32-38 ◦c / Silt loam, clay
AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF BALOCHISTAN
Balochistan is divided into four agro-ecological zones such as:
- Uplands
- Plains
- Deserts
- coastal
- UPLANDS ZONE
(Subtropical continental highlands with dry temperate continental winter rains) with cold winters and general winter and spring rains. Upland were grouped further in to sub-Zone. The area above 5,000-8,000 feet like, Quetta, Pishin, Killa Abdulla, Killa Saifulla, Loralai, Muslim bagh, Zhob, Musa Khel, Kalat, Mastung, Toba Kakri, Toba Achakzai, Ziarat and Kan Mehtharzai or northern Balochistan were designated as sub-zone I. Sub-zone II comprised of southern areas of khuzdar, part of kharan, Wadh, Naal , Barkhan and Kholu.
QUETTA
Climate
The climate of the district is generally dry. Fairly arid climate prevails in the Quetta valley.
District, Area Sq/Km, Altitude, Temperature,Rainfall and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeQuetta / 2653 / 1700 m / 01-1.7 ◦c
34-36 ◦c / 226-308 mm / Sandy clay silt loam
Vegetation
Artemisea maritime, cymbopogon, Nepeta Juncea, Astragalis, Shkarai, Andropogo, Camelarom, Juniper and Pistachio.(Shkarai, Andropogo, Artemisea are used as a fodder).
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsQuetta / Cereal Crop, Cumin, Pulses, Vegetables, Fodders, Sunflower, Oil Crop,Tobacco, PomeStone Fruits, Berries & Figs.
PISHIN
Climate
The climate of Pishin is generally dry and on the whole temperate. None of the different parts of the district present any marked variations. Quetta and Killa Abdullah, two adjoining districts, owing to their higher elevation are cooler than Pishin & Mastung.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypePishin / 7819 / 1700 m / 1.7 ◦c -0.1 ◦c
34-36 ◦c / 308 mm / Clay silt sandy clay & Loamy
Vegetation
Salsolaspp,Holoxylon resurrum, Wild Pistachio, (Khinjak) wild flora and grasses. Pistachio use as a fodder for livestock.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsPishin / Cereal Crop, Cumin, Pulses, Vegetables, Fodders, Oil Seed, Tobacco, Pome & Stone Fruits, Berries & Figs.
KILLA ABDULLAH
Climate
The climate of the district Killa Abdullah is generally dry and temperate. The adjoining districts have somewhat deviating temperatures, owing to different elevations.
The climatic conditions of the district are particularly suitable for fruits and vegetable.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeKilla Abdullah / 3293 / 1750-2450 m / 0.2– 1.7 ◦c
35.4-35.9 / 308 / Silt clay, clayey silt and sandy clay
Vegetation
Tarkha, Shorai, Makhi & Shkrai
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsKilla Abdullah / Cereal Crops, Vegetables, Fodders, Tobacco, Pome & Stone Fruits, Berries, Figs Pomegranate.
KILLA SAIFULLAH
Climate
The climate of Killa Saifullah is semi arid (steppe).It can be placed in “warm summer and cool winter” temperature region.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeKillahsaifullah / 6831 / 1550-7170 m / Below 10 ◦c
21-32 ◦c / 271-392 / Loamy, sandy loam clayey
Vegetation
showanWild olive, shung (wild ash), ghaz (tamarix galica), willow, crysopogan, sympogan,Pistachio & various grasses.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsKilla Saifullah / Cereal Crops, cumin, tobacco, pulses, Vegetables, fodder Stone fruits, Pome fruit, Nuts & Pomegranate
LORALAI
Climate
The climate of the area is dry but varies with the elevation. At high elevation it is cold and dry with occasional snowfall and severe frosts. Whereas in the lower elevation, especially in the south and east, temperature is more uniform but hot in summer. The district lies outside the monsoon area, therefore the rainfall is scanty.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeLoralai / 9830 / 1085-1676 m / 0.5 ◦c
35-37.2 ◦c / 296 mm / Calcareous sandy silt, Loam & clay
Vegetation
Juniper,Wild Pistachio, Wild Olive grow in lower hills. Acacia Modesta,Glidetovbia Tricanthois, Ulnus Pennataramosa (alder), Gangu (Orthonopsis Intermedia) Gandenae (Nerium Ordorum), Leghunae (Daphne Oleoides), Tirkha (Artemisia), Makhae (Caragana), Oman (Ephedra), Cynodon Dactylom (Khabal), Desmostachya Bipinata (Dab), Peganum Barmala (Harnal, Spand), Haloxylon Qriffithi (Lana), Rosa Beggeriana (Surai), Nannborbops Ritehiana (Mazari), Acacia Modesta (Phulai), wild flora(Olive Leaves is use as a fodder).
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsLoralai / Cereal Crops, fodder, Pome fruit, stone fruits, nuts, pomegranate, and vegetables.
ZHOB
Climate
The climate of the district is cold. In summer the weather does not get very hot. In autumn the weather becomes very dry. The region receives heavy rainfall during summer.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeZhob / 20297 / 0.3-0.4 ◦c
35-35.8 ◦c / 320-359 mm / Clayey silt, sandy clay
Vegetation
Pinus Geranandiana (Chilghoza Pine), Acadia Modusta (Palosa), Wild Olive, Wild Pistachio and also medicinal Plants/Bushes.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsZhob / Cereal Crops, fodder, Pulses, Pomegranate, Pome fruits, Stone fruits, Nuts barriers, Olive and Vegetables.
MUSA KHEL
Climate
The climate of Musakhel is semi-arid. It can be placed in the “warm summer and mild winter” temperature region.The region receives heavy rainfall during summer.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeMusakhal / 5728 / 1200-2400 m / 10 degree
21-32 ◦c / 325-750 mm / Loamy, silt & clay
Vegetation
The vegetation in Musakhel consists mainly of grasses, spiny scrubs, Grass and fodder plants are fairly numerous in the district. Some are used as medicine. Other plants shrubs & wild Olive are used as fodder for goats, sheep, cattle, and camels.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsMusakhal / Cereal Crops, Oil Crop, pulses, Vegetables, fodder, Pome Fruits, Stone Fruits, Nuts, Pomegranate and barriers.
KALAT
Climate
The climate of the district is dry in summer and cold in winter. It is one of the coldest districts of Pakistan. Kalat city, owing to its higher elevation, is cooler than the rest of the district.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeKalat / 6622 / 2054 m / 28-31.7◦c / 220-240 mm / Loam clay, silt clay
Vegetation
Juniper, Pistachio, mash monk (Prunus Eburnea), archin (Pranusamyydalug), wild onion, Wild Flora, Wild Olive, Black Zira (cumin seed) and Medicinal Herbs.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsKalat / Cereal Crops, cumin, fodder, vegetables, pome fruits & stone fruits
MASTUNG
Climate
The climate is characterized by dry hot summers and mild to cool winters. The variation between day and night temperature is large in almost all parts of the district. Rainfall is scanty.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeMastung / 5896 / 1704 m / 28.4oC / 220-240 mm / Clay loam, silt loam, silt
Vegetation
Juniper, Pistachio, mash monk (Prunus Eburnea), archin (Pranusamyydalug)m wild onion wild flora, black cumin seed.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsMastung / Cereal Crops, cumin, fodder, vegetables, pome fruits, stone fruits, barriers, nuts, Tobacco, Mulberry and Russian Olive.
KHUZDAR
Climate
The climate of Khuzdar is in “warm summer and mild winter”.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeKuzdar / 5380 / 1237 m / 28-32 oC / 250 mm / Clay, silt, sandy clay
Vegetation
Wild olive, tamarisk, dwarf palm, acacia, parpuk or loiro,belellium,guggul tree,Hawe, gorkha,kashum, fodder grasses wild flora.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsKhuzdar / Cereal Crops, cumin, Pulses, Pome fruits, Stone fruits, Vegetables, fodder, Nuts, Pomegranates and Tropical fruit.
ZIARAT
Climate
The area is refreshingly cool in summer, from May to August. It starts getting cold in September and is extremely cold during November - March. In winter, it gets a good amount of snowfall.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeZiarat / 1489 / 2454 m / ( - )16 ◦c 20 ◦c / 206 mm / Loamy ,stony, loam clay
Vegetation
Juniper, (accounting for the bulk of the forest trees); wild ash; wild almond; Olea species, Pistachio, (a medicinal herb), Wild Flora and Wild Shurbs.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsZiarat / Pome fruits, Stone Fruits, Nuts, Cherry & Some Vegetables.
HARNAI
Climate
Not available
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeHarnai / 891m / Silt
Vegetation
Not available
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsHarnai / All Vegetables, Sugarcane, Cereal Crops, Fodders, Loquat, Tropical & temperateFruits and Pomegranate are grown on limited scale.
BARKHAN
Climate
The climate of Barkhan is moderate and not very hot in summer. Dust storms are common. The winters are cold, especially when the winds blow form north-west. Storms are common and sometimes they damage crops. Precipitation has two peaks a year, the monsoon in summer en western storms in winter.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeBarkhan / 3514 / 1200-2400 m / 10 ◦c
21-32 ◦c / 325-750 mm / Loamy, silt, clay
Vegetation
Acacia, moetesta, gorgal, mourai, wild-figs, helanai, phulai and locally known trees, beri, lai, shora, uzma, gunal, bubal, raga, Pesh (dwarf palm), Wild bushes, tirkha (artemisia), gangu (orthonopsis intermedia), gandenae (nerium ordorum), leghunae (daphne olcoides)and makhae (Caragana).
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsBarkhan / Cereal Crops, fodder, vegetable, Pome fruit, stone fruits, olive Nuts.
PANJGUR
Climate
The climate of Panjgur, is dry Arid.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypePanjgoor / 16891 / 900-1530m / Below 10 ◦c
32-38 ◦c / 100-115
mm / Silt loam, clay
Vegetation
Grasses and spiny scrubs, Grass and fodder,barshonk, sorag, drug, kandar. kahur (prosopis spicigera),gazz (tamarix galica) or tamarisk trees, Fodder grass, pharmaceutical plants, aishark, guldir, morpuzo, danichk (Ispaghol), keraich and udesh, wild guan, chigird, gishtar and pish (nannorhops ritchieana).
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsPanjgoor / CerealCrops, Pulses, vegetables, fodder, nuts, Pomegranate, Barriers, Stone Fruits & Tropical fruit.
AWARAN
Climate
The climate of Awaran is hot in summer and cool in winter. Dust storms are experienced throughout the year. The storms become very severe from June to September when they are known as livar. Summer days are hot but nights are cool. The winter is cool.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeAwaran / 29510 / 900-1530m / Below 10 ◦c
32-38 ◦c / Silt loam, clay
Vegetation
Date Palm, Wild Fig, tamarix, willows, Otostegia Auohesi, Pyonotheco Spinosa and Convolvulus Spinosus.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsAwaran / Cereal Crops, Pulses, vegetables, fodder, nuts, Pomegranate, Barriers, Stone Fruits & Dates.
PLAIN DISTRICTS
Districts / Area sq: km / Altitudemeter / Temperature
◦c / Rainfall
mm / Soil type
Kohlu Barkhan / 7610 / 600-1200m / Below 10 ◦c
21-32 ◦c / Below 250 mm / Rock, loamy
Bolan / 625-1250ml / 175-325 mm / Alluvial stony
Sibi / 132
625 m above / Above 9-10 ◦c
34-35 / 191-312 / Alluvial stony
Jhallmagsi / 102 m / 0-9
39-45 ◦c / 75 mm / Alluvial stony
Dera Bughti / 450 / 22-39 ◦c / 138 mm / Silt clay silt loam sandy loam
Jaffarabad / 102 m / 0-9
39-45 ◦c / 75 mm / Alluvial stony
Naseerabad / 102 m / 0-9
39-45 ◦c / 75 mm / Alluvial stony
- PLAINSZONE
(Sub-tropical continental low land)
The plain areas are also very hot in summer with temperatures rising as high as 120 degrees F (50 degrees C). Winters are mild on the plains with the temperature, never falling below the freezing point.
With high summer temperature and late summer monsoon rains. It includes districts of Nasirabad, Jafarabad, Jalmagsi, Sibi, Bolan and Dera Bugti. The critical features of its climate are the high temperatures and clear skies, which prevail for most of the year, and the very low rainfall. Cultivation is possible only where water is available. Rainfall during the summer season is associated with monsoon depressions from the southeast, whilst winter precipitation is caused by western disturbances and occurs between November and February. Winter rainfall is relatively regular, widespread and uniform and contributes mostly to ground water recharge. Summer rainfall occurs generally from June to August. It is of short duration and high intensity, therefore it does not contribute so much to recharge. Within the plains, there are four Agro-ecological zones:
i)Zone H.1: The Arid Highlands, comprising the KhirtharRange in the west and Bugti Hills in the north.
ii)Zone P.1: The piedmont plain/outwash Fans including all lands at the foot of Arid Highlands. It has been further subdivided into:
a)P.1A: The northern sub zone, a plain with associated outwash fans 10 km from north to south and 130 km from east (Guddu Barrage) to west (the eastern margin of the Kachhi Plains.
b)The Kachhi Plains:, north of the Pat Feeder Protection Bund up to latitude 29 degree N, approximately 50 km from Dera Murad Jamali, and
c)P.1C:The western sub zone, covering the area between the Khirthar range and EPB, excluding the Piedmont wetlands (P.2) adjacent to the EPB and KhirtharCanal.
iii)Zone P.2: The piedmont wetlands occurring along the Flood Protective Bund (EPB) and Pat-Feeder Protection Bund. These may be either seasonally or perennially (PFPB) flooded.
iv)Zone L.1:MancharLake.
Most of the farmers of the plains zone have 0-50 acres of land. A few of the farmers have very large farms of more than 200 acres of farm land
The soils (89%) are heavy; clay or Silty caly. Eleven percent is medium in texture
Nasirabad is irrigated by canal and saline water is a serious problem in some locations.
Bagh is flood is flood irrigated and is dependent on rainfall. Water scarcity is the main problem in Bagh.
In Dhadar, water shortage is not quite so bad a problem as in Bagh, but salinity is more of a problem.
Crops grown in the Plains
Wheat, Mustard, Chickpea, Lentil, onion and tomato, Rice, Cotton, Sorghum, Fodder, squashes, melons and vegetables.
The climate of the upper highlands is characterized by very cold winters and warm summers. Winters of the lower highlands vary from extremely cold in the northern districts to mild conditions closer to the Makran coast. Summers are hot and dry. The arid zones of Chaghi and Kharan districts are extremely hot in summer.
KOHLU
Climate
The climate of Kohlu is warm in summer and cool in winter.
Rainfall, Temperature, Altitude and Soil Type
District / Area Sq/Km / Altitude / Temperature / Rainfall / Soil TypeKohlu / 7610 / 600-1200m / Below 10 ◦c
21-32 ◦c / Below 250 mm / Rocks, loamy,silt
Vegetation
Grasses, spiny scrubs,angúr (vitis vinifera), barar (periploca aphylla), barau (sorghum halepense), ber (zizyphus), ghozera (sophora grifithii), girdae butae (althaea ludwigii), Wild Rose, khar (suæda fruticosa), khokhae (allium sphærocephalum), kirar (capparis aphulla), leghunae (daphne oleoides), lúkha (typha angustifolia), mákhae (caragana), manri, mashkanri, mazari (nannorhops ritchieana), pah, palosa (acacia modesta), pannangi (boucerosia aucheriana), parwat (cocculus leæba), pilu (salvadora oleoides), raghbolae, sába (stipa capillata), sargarae, shang (fraxinus xanthoxyloides), shezgi (eremurus aurantiacus), shinbutae, shorae (haloxylon grifithii), showan (olive), shrawan (pistacia cabulica), sinzalae (elaeagnus hortensis), spalmai (calotropis gigantea), spánda (peganum harmala), sperkai (carum copticum), surai (rosa lacerans), tamand, tamarisk (tamarix indica), tindan (alhagi camelorum), Titok (convolvulus spinosus), turwawasha, uman (ephedra pachyclada), urgalami (rhazya stricta), uzhgai, wild olive (olea cuspidata), wizha, wulla (willow), zandan, zardalu (prunus armeniaca), zarga (prunus eburnea), zawal (achillea santolina) and zhizh aghzai.
Among these, spánda and sperkai are used as medicine. Most other plants and shrubs are used as fodder for goats, sheep, cattle and camels.
Major Crop of the District
Name of District / CropsKohlu / Cereal Crops, Pulses, Cotton, vegetables, fodder, nuts, Pomegranate, Barriers, Stone Fruits & Tropical Fruits.
BOLAN
Climate
Bolan district incorporates all kinds of weather types. The hilly areas are mild in summer and severe cold with snow in winter. Because of its low altitude, the plain area is extremely hot and humid in summer. In winter the climate on the plain area is pleasant. Day and night temperatures vary substantially. Dust storms are common in the plain area in the months of June, July and August.