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The present investigation quantifies the impact of two different grazing regimes (light and moderate) on the vegetation dynamics of high altitude rangelands along different altitudinal gradients of Gulmarg range, Kashmir valley. The phyto-diversity investigation of herbaceous vegetation revealed maximum diversity (H') at site I (1.502) and minimum at site II (0.884) in light grazing sites followed by moderate grazing sites with maximum value at site IV (1.403) and minimum at site VI (0.548). Dominance depicted inverse trend to Shannon diversity index at all sites. Equability index showed high value at site I (0.397) and low at site II (0.355) in light grazing sites whereas it showed reverse trend comparison to the moderate grazing sites with maximum value at site VI (0.340) and minimum at site IV (0.183). Comparatively, richness index overall showed highest values at light grazing sites (average, 2.143) and lowest at moderate grazing sites (average, 0.913). Frequently occurred dominant species at moderate grazing sites (sites I-III) were Plantgao lanceolata, Trifolum pratense, Fragaria nubicola, Rannunculus spp. Stipa siberica, Erigeron Canadensis, Taraxacum officinale, Rumex hastatus, Scandix Brachyactis ciliata and high grazing intensity sites (sites IV-VI) include Taraxacum officinale, Trifolium pratense, Frageria nubicola, Cynodon dactylon, Stipa siberica and Plantago lanceolata. Abundance to frequency (A/F) ratio depicted a trend like contagious>random>regular distribution at six study sites. The study concludes diversity indices showing high trend at moderate grazing sites and low at high grazing intensity sites. Therefore, the study recommends protection of herbaceous vegetation from further degradation by grazing activities at selected study sites.
Keywords: Herbaceous, Grazing, Rangelands, Altitude, Species.