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(i) Semi-arid zone (The Sehima-dichanthium type)
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- It covers the northern portion of Gujarat, Rajasthan (excluding Aravallis), western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab.
- The topography is broken up by hill spurs and sand dunes. Senegal, Calotropis gigantea, Cassia auriculata, Prosopis cineraria, Salvadora oleoides and ziziphus Nummularia which make the savanna rangeland look like scrub.
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(ii) Dry subhumid zone (The Dichanthium- cenchrus- lasiurus type)
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- It covers the whole of peninsular India (except Nilgiri). The thorny bushes are Acacia catechu, Mimosa, Zizyphus (ber) and sometimes fleshy Euphorbia, along with low trees of Anogeiss us latifolia, Soymida febrifuga and other deciduous species.
- Sehima (grass is more prevalent on gravel and the cover maybe 27%. Dichanthium (grass) flourishes on level soils and may cover 80% of the ground.
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(iii) Moist subhumid zone (The Phragmites- saccharum-imperata type)
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- It covers the Ganga alluvial plain in Northern India.
- The topography is level, low lying, and ill-drained.
- Bothriochloa pertusa, Cypodon dactylon and Dichanthium annulatum are found in transition zones.
- The common trees and shrubs are Acacia arabica, hogeissus, latifolia, Butea monosperma, Phoenic sylvestris and Ziziphus nummularia. Some of these are replaced by Borassus sp in the palm savannas especially near Sunderbans.
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(iv) The Themeda Arundinella type
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- This extends to the humid montane regions and moist sub-humid areas of Assam, Manipur, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and. Jammu and Kashmir.
- The savanna is derived from the humid forests on account of shifting cultivation and sheep grazing. Indian Grasslands and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi and Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur.
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