Effect of cutting and burning on grassland habitat in Bardia National Park, Nepal

Management interventions are pivotal in shaping the ecosystems, particularly grassland habitats. This study examines the effects of cutting and burning treatments on vegetation composition, physical properties, and herbivore utilization patterns in Baghaura grassland, situated within Bardia National Park, Nepal. The study considers three treatment plots: cutting only, both cutting and burning, and burning only. Vegetation composition is evaluated using the point intercept method within 1 × 1 m quadrats. Grass samples are collected and weighed for fresh weight determination. Subsequently, samples are separated into green leaf, green stem, dead leaf, and dead stem components, and biomass and leaf-stem proportion are calculated. The burned plots, characterized by Imperata cylindrica dominance, exhibit the highest species diversity. Furthermore, the burned-only plots demonstrate significantly greater species height. Cut-only plots display a higher proportion of green leaves and green stems, while the burned-only plots exhibit higher mean dry biomass in dead leaves and dead stems. Grazing intensity is notably higher in the cut-and-burned plots. The regression model (y = −1.4095x + 98.4948) indicates a subtle, statistically nonsignificant relationship (R² = 0.0395, p = 0.3205) between grazing intensity and grass height with low grazer diversity (H′ = 0.7). The study suggests that implementing small-scale cutting followed by controlled burning during the dry season can provide herbivores with fresh, high-quality forage throughout the year, thereby meeting their nutritional needs. These findings enhance our understanding of the effects of management interventions on grassland ecosystems and can inform the development of sustainable conservation strategies for similar habitats.