8.

3 PRINCIPLES OF GRASSLAND
MANAGEMENT
The grasslands normally considered to be the
cheapest source of animal feed are
in a degraded and denuded state because of
overgrazing and misuse over the
years. Therefore, the improvement and conservation of natural grasslands and
pastures deserve special and careful attention and priority in our drive for increasing
forage production. Management systems that have potentiality for improving
production and stability of the pasture are applied tor assuring higher productivity
and also its quality. Grassland management for its improvement can be achieved
by adopting the following approaches:
ecological succession
assisted ecological
intensive management
The ecological succession is a natural process of vegetation development under
protection which takes longer time. In case of assisted ecological. the process of"
succession is assisted by improvement in soil and water conservation, soil fertility
and seeding with better productive species. This method speeds up the deve'opment
process. Whereas, in intensive management, all the package of practices for
development of a productive pasture are followed and in a short time, the productive
pasture is ready for utilization. The sequence of activities for assuring a managed
grassland system are as follows:
Protection from grazing,
Soil and water conservation,

Bush cleaning.
Re-seeding.
Fertilizer application,
Legume introduction and cutting, and
Grazing management.
Protection from graing
Protection through fencing brings remarkable recovery of vegetation. Grazing
lands can be protected through barbed/woven/chicken wire chain links supported
by angle iron/cement/stone'wooden poles or through fencing by unpalatable bushes.
Efficacy and cost eftectiveness of various kinds of fencing material was worked
out and live hedge fencing was found cheapest, most effective for protecting large
areas. For live hedges, the suitable species are Madras thorn (Monkey pod),
shrub verbenas (lantanas), Karonda (Karamda), Sisal Agave (century plant), Indian
Nut), Henna
fig (prickly pear), Jharber (pala), danti (pratyanshranior Barbadoshas
management been also
etc. The concept of social fencing in aparticipatory
found effective and cheap. Earlier cattle prooftrenches (CPT) of 2.0x 1.5x 0.9m
dimension around the area were being used with seasonal repairs which gave
satisfactory performance.
ii) Soil and Water Conservation G

Mostly, degraded grasslands are situated on sBoppy, rocky and gravelly soils on
undulated surfaces where precipitation is lost faster due to runoff leaving the soil
dry. Proper land treatment under the principles of watershed with contour bunds,
staggered contour trenches. gabion structures, carthen chcck dams and masionary
check dams facilitates in-situ water conservation. The number and size of trenches
depend upon the target of checking rainwater storms. It has been possible to
check the runoff and soil loss on a degraded hill near Jhansi with 600 staggered
contour trenches / ha of3x0.5x0.4 m size. Water conservation increases soil
moisture level resulting in higher biomass production. increase in biomass production
due to moisture conservation in different grasses and legumes is shown in Table
8.1.
Table 8. i: Increase in Forage Yield due to Soil Moistmre Conservation

Grass /Legume Species Increase in Forage Vicld

Yellow Anjan Grass (Birdwwd) 73°%

Anjan Grass (Buffel) 41%

Aparjita (Butterlly Pea) 30%

Sewan Grass 35%

Caribbean Stylo (Pencil Flower) 124%

iii) Bush Cleaning

Heavy intestation of unpaatable bushes in degraded grazing lands not only adversely
afècts the availability of open space for growing grasses, but aiso forage production.
The standard practice of bush cleaning includes either manual or mechanical felling
and removal of stumps, or application of selective weedicides on the cut stunps
to kill them. Palatable leaf fodder yielding stumps, however, should be maintained
in the grazing lands as these provide fodder during lean period or drought. But
their number per hectare should not exceed 400. They should be regularly cut so
that grass production is not interfered due to shade. Efiect of bush density on
grass production in arid grasslands is given in Table 8.2.
Table 8.2: Bush Density - Dry Forage Yield Relationship in Desert Grazing Lands
Bush Density Yield of Leaf Yield of Combined Yield
(% canopy Fodder (kg/ha) Grass (kg/ha) of Fodder (kg/ha)
cover)

18 150 545 695

14 125 875 1000

11 105 770 875

iv) Reseeding
For the quick improvement of productivity of deteriorated grasslands/rangelands,
it is essential to replace low yielding annual grasses by re-seeding with high
yielding perennial grasses and legumes which are adaptable to the prevailing
condition of the region. Species choice depends upon the condition of site, soil
type and intended use. For arid and semi-arid zone, the most suitable grasses
nd are Anjan grass (Buflel), Yellow anjan grass for sandy loam soils, Dharaf grass
nt
(Goria) for red gravelly and sloppy lands, Sewan grass (particularly for extreme
arid conditions), Taman or guinchi(for sand dunes), Marvel grass (Karad grass)
for loamy soils ofbetter moisture status and Musal grass and Guinea grass (Green
panic) for clay soils with higher moisture status. Marvel grass and Anjan grass are
two versatile grasses possessing adaptability over a wide range of climate and soil
and are suitable for sandy or sandy loam soils in the areas having ranfall upto 750
mm. Under such situation, suitable legumes for reseeding are Stylo, Caatinga
stylo, Siratro, Rough chainpea, Lablab bean etc. The reseeding is carried out with
pellated seeds and light soilworking so that the process of seed germination and
establishment is facilitated. The seed rate and productivity of some grasses is
given in Table 8.3.
Table 8.3: Suitable Grasses and Recommended Seed Rate for Reseeding Degraded
Grasslands

Grass Seed rate Rainfall Soil Type Productivity

(kg/ha) (mm) (t/hal

Sewan Grass 68 250 Sandy 6/21

Taman or Guinchi 2-3 250 Sandy
Blue Panic Grass (Ghamur) 2-3 250 Light a
Dropseed or Sacaton Grass 34 >250 Heavy textured saline L5-2.0

Rat's Tail or White Grass 6-8 >250 Hilly terrain 3

Anjan Grass 46 >300 Light to medium 3

Yellow Anjan Grass 5-7 >300 Light to medium 3

Marvel Grass 2.5 -3.5 >400 Heavy

v) Fertilizer Application
Both forage production and quality of grasses in terms of per cent crude protein
can be improved considerably by application of nitrogen. Research studies have
revealed that application of 40-60 kg N/hectare and 20-30 kg P,0/hectare have
increased pasture production by 50 to 100% in majority of grasses besides
increasing crude protein content considerably. Although many grasses have been
found to respond to very high dose of nitrogen also, but the above recommended
doses are highly economic.
vi) Legume introduction and cutting
The concept of growing legumes and non-legumes as pasture components has
been an important feature of agriculture from early days. Grass-legume mixtures
are always desirable because of their complementary functions in providing nutritive,
succulent, palatable forage for the grazing animals. The mixtures also improves the
of
physical conditions of the soil, check soil erosion, resist the encroachment
weeds and withstand the vagaries of weather better than pure stands. They also
help to check the spread of certain diseases and insect pests. Legumes usually
maintain their quality better than grasses even at maturity, and being rich in protein,
enhance the forage value, and also add substantially the much needed nitrogen to
the soil. In the diet of animals, grasses and legumes have also greater beneficial
associative effect through rumen than when they are fed separately. Further, the
meeting
adopted legumes in the mixture provide a simple and practical means of
atmospheric
the nitrogen need of the associated grasses as most ofthe legumes fix
nitrogen.
Research studies have shown the nitrogen equivalence of legume to the tune of
40-60 kg N/ha when introduced in natural grasslands. This means that 40-60 kg
N/ha can be added to the grassland soil as microbial fertilizer manufactured by
legumes. Besides being a substitute and a cheap source of nitrogenous fertilizers,
legume also influence total dry matter production and crude protein yield which
is so much vital for the livestock. Such mixtures have shown higher grazing value
of the pastures. The legumes that make better association are Caribbean Stylo
(Pencil Flower), Caatinga Stylo, Shrubby Stylo, Sticky Stylo (poor man's fiend).
Siratro, Giant Mimosa, Wild Kulthi, ctc.
In the first and second year of the pasture growth, it is advisable to adopt cut and
carry practice after the seeding has been completed. The fallen seeds will assure
a better regeneration during the subsequent years. Although, when cutting is done
after the seed maturity, the biomass is coarse with low digestibility and crude
protein levels. In the subsequent years, harvest at 50% flowering level assures
high nutritive value in the grass. The surplus biomass can be dried as hay and
stored for the lean periods. In the subsequent years, in-situ grazing under carrying
capacity can be practiced. The word 'carrying capacity' is defined as the level up
to which the pasture can be grazed without appreciable damage and decline in
the biomass productivity in the subsequent years.
vii) Grazing Management
The greatest single factor, which causes deterioration of grasslands, is overgrazing.
During the course of grazing, certain grasses are preferred while others are avoided.
On account of this,selective grazing, desirable species tend to get depleted in
grasslands much faster than undesirable species. In most perennial grasses, utilizing
the reserve food material that is stored in the underground parts produces new
shoots. Due to overgrazing, the reserve food material is lost faster and perennial
grasses are unable to re-generate due to continuous drain on food reserve.
Therefore, certain period of rest is essential for the perennial grasses to recoup
and rejuvenate. Based on these considerations, the following types of grazing
systems can are practiced:
Controlled Continuous Grazing: means either limiting the number of animals
or limiting the duration (season) of grazing on a given area of grassland on
a continuous basis. In this system, the grassland is not divided into
compartments or paddocks and animals move in the whole area. Long
period of continuous grazing often leads to deterioration in composition and
production of good forage grasses and increase in unpalatable ones. It also
affects soil fertility levels and exposes habitat to rain leading to runoff and soil
loss.
2 Deferred Grazing: Here, the grazing area is divided into compartments and
at least one of the compartments is rested until seed setting. This means,
stopping grazing in the most vulnerable season (summer) in India. But actually.
grazing takes place in all the seasons in India, which is responsible for
degeneration of their quality.
3 Rotational Grazing: In this system, pasture is dividing into separate lots,
fenced and the animals are allowed to graze into each lot in rotation. For
example, if there are three lots, all the animals are let into lot A for a month,
then into lot B fora month, and finally the animals are allowed to graze in
lot C fora month. After this, all the animals are again allowed to graze in lot
A for a month and repeat the process (Table 8.4).
 Table 8.4: Rotational Grazing Method
Month Lot A Lot B Lot C
I Month
Grazing Rested Rested
2nd Month Rested
Grazing Rested
3rd Month Rested Rested
Gruing
4th Month Grazing Rested Rested
sth Month Rested Grazing Rested
6h Month Rested Rested Grazing
4 Deferred Rotational Grazing: is rotational grazing practiced in
restricted
period, that is, not continuously. This system is a mixture of above two
grazing systems and is considered the best system of grazing because of the
following benefits: (a) more number of grazing days from the same grassland
used otherwise: (b) maintenance of proper vegetation composition through
self-seeding: (c) health of sward is maintained as the optimum utilization of
biomass takes place and a period of rest is available to grasses; (d) soil
fertility level is maintained; and (e) erosion hazards are avoided.
5. Hohenheim system: involves dividing the pasture into lots and also divide
the animals into groups production-wise i.e., a) eariy lactation cows (high
yielder), b) mid lactation cows (lower yielder), c) dry cows, and d) growing
animals. Into each grazing lot, group 'a' is let in first for a week, followed
by cows of group 'b', then by group 'c' and finally allowing group 'd' for
the same periods. Then, the animals are let into each other's lot also in order
of their productive utility. The idea is to let production-wise the most valuable
animals graze first, followed by second best and then the third production
category. This was strategy adopted during wartime in Germany.
6. Zero grazing or Cut & Carry': is the system practiced in most parts of
India. In this system, animal owner's cut grass and edible weeds from the
common grazing lands and carry the same home for feeding the animals in
the stall. Mostly women folks perform this task. There is a risk of damaging
the grassland, if this is overdone, especially during dry season. The practice
of scratching out gras along with root system from already denuded grasskands
can harm the herbage permanently.
Under different pasture utilization systems viz. rotational. deferred rotational,
continuous and cut & carry; highest run-off and soil loss were recorded in
continuous system while minimum run-off was recorded in rotational svstem.
However, minimum soil loss was recorded in cut & carry system. Research
findings have showed that improved practices of pasture establishnent, contvur
bundng. grazing management reduced soil loss, made more water available and
improved soil condions. Out of the 4 systems of grazing management, relatively
higher values of organic carbon and available nutrients (N, P& K) and lower
average loss of nutrients were observed in deferred rotational system, indicating
its superIority Over other pasture utilzation systems.