2. Range Management
Range is a grassland meant for grazing
animals.
Range management is linked with the:
1. The functioning of grassland
ecosystem,
2. The effects of grazing
intensities on grassland on
above ground and below
ground production by plants
3. The structure of grassland
communities.
3. Importance of grassland
Grasslands are important because grasslands
provide natural pastures for grazing animals.
But the domesticated grazing animals have
destroyed or disturbed most of the grasslands
The principal agricultural food plants have evolved
from grasses, therfore men has converted most
of the grassland into agricultural croplands.
4. To manage grazing with reference to range management
under environmental stress followings steps should be
followed:
a) The rate of removal of grasses should be
regulated to a level up to the system can rebuild itself.
For example, enough productivity should be left in the
range so that the range may remain stable in case of
adverse climatic conditions i.e., drought etc.,
For this purpose number of grazing animals may be
regulated properly.
5. b) The intensity and frequency of grazing
have to be regulated.
For this purpose the forage production may be
maintained at higher rate.
The range may be divided into compartments
and grazing may be allowed alternately i.e.,
grazing year must alternate with non-grazing
year.
6.
7. c) Geographical races of palatable grasses with high
nutrient value may be into the ranges.
d) Fire, herbicides and pesticides may be used to
destroy unwanted species so that palatable species
may grow better.
