Ramochela, Stephen Motlatsi2025-05-202025-05-202024-11-02https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/2193The 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.enangeland sites, vegetation characteristics, soil properties, nutrient content, seed productionMaster's Thesis