Abstract:
The study was conducted at Mahloenyeng rangeland, Matsieng, Maseru, Lesotho, to determine
the effect of land management practices on grass productivity and soil properties in the lowland
rangeland. The experiment had two treatment sites; rangeland fire and stone gabions, and three
control sites which are the north-facing slope, the south-facing slope, and a riparian area, each
with three replications. The indices determined were ecological data (vegetation
characteristics), nutrient content, soil properties, and grass seed production. Grass cover,
diversity, density, and frequency were measured using line transect and the point method. The
Nitrogen-Isotope Ratio method was used to evaluate crude protein, the analysis of dietary fibre
method was used to determine neutral detergent fibre, and the forage fibre analysis was used
to determine acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin. The soil pH was determined using
1:2 (w/v) ratio, soil organic matter was determined using the Walkey-black method, and soil
phosphorus was determined using Bray and Kurtz 1 (1980) method. Soil nitrogen was
determined using the Kjeldahl method and soil potassium was calculated using the slope. The
grass seed weight was determined using an electronic scale. This study found that rangeland
fire and stone gabions had significant (p<0.05) effect on vegetation characteristics in rangeland
sites in autumn and winter seasons and with no significant (p>0.05) differences amongst grass
species. Rangeland fire and stone gabion sites had significant (p<0.05) effect on forage nutrient
content namely neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, crude protein,
cellulose, hemicellulose, and ash content but not on dry matter (p>0.05) in autumn and winter
seasons. Rangeland fire and stone gabions significantly (p<0.05) affected soil properties
namely soil pH, soil organic matter, soil nitrogen, soil phosphorus, and soil potassium, in bothseasons and likewise on seed production (p<0.05) in autumn and winter. The correlation of
vegetation indices in autumn and winter seasons had significant (p<0.05) effect. Therefore, the
vegetation characteristics of grass cover in rangelands must be understood for the sustainable
use of grass cover for long term use of rangelands and the development of long-term range
management strategies which can govern grazing length, carrying capacity, and distribution of
animals in a rangeland should be investigated.
