The study deals with the effect of fire on the nutrient dynamics of a grazing land in the semi arid region of Madurai. The nutrient concentrations were maximum the live shoot followed by below ground parts, dead shoot and litter. The various nutrients accumulated in the plant components of the burned grazing land were in the order of N>K>Ca>Mg>P, where as in the unburned site the nutrients were accumulated in the order of N>Va>K>Mg>P. Except potassium, all the nutrients were higher in the unburned than in the burned grazing land. The uptake of nutrients from the soil was significantly higher (p<0.005) in the unburned grazing land than in the burning grazing land. Of the total uptakes, large amount of nutrients was transferred to above-ground parts than below-ground parts. In both the sites, the amount of nutrients returned to the soil through below-ground parts was more than through above-ground litter decomposition. The input to output nutrient ratio showed burning of vegetation accelerates nutrient cycling.