Deepak Gautam

1. RANGE MANAGEMENT
B.Sc. Final Year 1st Semester
Credit Hours: 2
Full Marks: 50(TH: 40 & PR.10)
By: Deepak Gautam

2. 1.2 Rangeland (RL) of Nepal
 Tropical RL: Phragmitis (नरकट) – Saccharum (Kaans)-
Imperata (Siru) type
 Sub-tropical RL: Themeda (Khar)- Arundinella type
 Temperate RL: Andropogon type
 Sub-alpine RL: Danthonia type
 Alpine RL: Kobresia type
Note: Distribution of rangeland in Nepal (LRMP, 1986).
Tropical Region: 2.92%
Subtropical Region : 1.21%
Temperate Region: 17.20 %
Sub alpine Region: 29.80%
Alpine Region: 48.87%
Note: (LRMP: Land Resource Mapping Project)

3. 1. Tropical Rangelands
 Location: Southern Nepal
 Area: Covers 2.92% of the total land of Nepal.
 Elevation: Up to 1000m from the sea level.
 Climate: Humid - warm tropical.
 Season: Summer is hot (35-38oC) and cool winter.
 Rainfall: Heavy during monsoon (July to September).
 Average rainfall: 1900 mm/yr.
 Most of the growth of the grasses takes place during monsoon period.
 Humid tropical rangelands are more confined protected area.
 Dominated grass vegetation: Phragmites, Sacharum, and Imperata
spp.
 These grasses have low feeding value, however, these grasses
provides excellent shelter to the wildlife.
 Rangelands of this zone are associated with evergreen hardwood
forest.
 Dominated Tree species: Acacia spp. in river sides and Shorea,
Termaniallia etc.
 Wild animals: Rhino , Arna , S.Deer, tiger etc.

4. Phragmitis (नरकट)

5. Saccharum (Kaans)
Imperata (Siru)

6. 2. Sub-tropical Rangelands
 Elevations of 1,000-2,000 m.
 In this zone, sub-tropical climate is found.
 Average temperature: 15- 20oC and rainfall is 1,700 mm/yr.
 These are the open grazing-lands appears in a small patches associated
with the evergreen forests around the vicinity of human dwellings.
 The forest vegetation is Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii); Chilaune (Schima
wallichii) and Castenopsis spp).
 The characteristic feature of these rangelands is the domination of the
Arundinella; Themeda, Thysanolaena and other grass species.
 Eupatorium (Banmara), Pteridium spp. (bracken fern), Urtica spp. (Sisnoo)
 Most of the rangelands suitable for crop cultivation are converted into the
croplands.
 Most of these rangelands are heavily grazed out and are in poor conditions.
 Barking deer, common leopard etc are found here.
 Hilly reasons having fewer plants and low shrub lands/ including valleys/
(barren areas near by river and lakes)
 The productivity of these rangelands are estimated to be about 1.5 to 2.0 mt
DM/ha of herbaceous forage and 300 kg/ha of browse materials

7. Khar (Themeda) Arundinella (Dhmiso)

8. Thysanolaena (Amliso)

9. 3. Temperate Rangeland
 Altitude: 2000-3000m
 Season: Summer mild and winter cold.
 Average temperature: 10-15 degree Celsius.
 Average rainfall : 1500-1700 mm/yr.
 Vegetation dominated by: Andropogon type and Poa spp.
 Due to heavy grazing palatable species are decreasing.
 Very dry seasons (upper hilly regions /lower mustang, Humla and
Jumla)
 Most common species such as Pennisetum flaccidum (grass family)
(Nepali name: Dhimso) is used to make hay by the farmers of these
region.
 This rangelands are associated with the evergreen oak (Quercus spp)
and Pinus forest.

10. Poa species and Arundinella species

11. 4. Sub Alpine Rangeland:
 Altitude: 3,000m- 4,000m
 Region: Semi-arid
 Season: Shorter growing season
 Average temperature: 3 – 10°C
 Annual rainfall is very low varies from 150-500mm/yr
depending on location.
 Lower mountains (seasonal snow fall)
 These rangelands are the important sources of animal feed
for the migratory stock.
 Nomadic herds of yak, chauris and sheep heavily depend
on these grazinglands during summer.
 The grasses are associated with Rhododendrons, Betula
spp, Tsuga dumosa, Danthonia etc.
 Example: Berberis and Caragana and danthonia are
common.

12. Berberis and Caragana and danthonia

13. 5.Alpine rangelands
 Altitude: Above 4,000
 Cold area with mostly snow.
 High mountain region
 Land mostly covered with snow most of the year.
 During summer when snow melts the grasses grow very quickly and
complete the life cycle.
 During these period these rangeland provides 3 - 4 months of grazing
to the nomadic herds of Yak, Chauris and sheep.
 Dominant vegetation: Aster and Poa spp etc.
 Lichens, mosses, dwarf plants including Rhododendron shrubs and
junipers shrubs.
 Snow leopard, musk deer, mountain goats, wild yak etc.

14. Kobresia type
Poa spp
Aster

15. Natural grass land
Perennial grass dominant
Few shrubs presence