Development of veld management research in the karoo region

The development of veld research in the semi‐arid Karoo areas since 1934 is outlined. It entailed key experiments on different types of veld, and the synthesis of grazing systems and their testing in experimental camps and co‐operatively on a practical farming scale. The experiments were primarily conducted with Merino sheep but Angora goats, Boer goats, cattle and Persian sheep were also employed. A large number of rotational grazing systems, special treatments and methods have been set out for the entire Karoo Region. The group camp approach serves as a basis for complete veld management planning in the Karoo Region.

Supporting research covered plant physiological, phenological and ecological studies; the determination of selective grazing habits of livestock; production of karoo bushes; and the development of research techniques especially in connection with quantitative and qualitative vegetation surveys.     

Impacts of non-selective grazing on cover,composition, and productivity of Nama-karoo grassy shrubland

The non-selective rotational grazing system has undergone a long and controversial development. The merits of this grazing system, where relatively large numbers of livestock are herded into numerous small paddocks for short timespans with long rests between grazings, have not been formally evaluated in a long-term monitoring experiment in the Karoo. In this study we used exclosures (controls) on a 7 000 ha farm in the Central Lower Karoo, camped into approximately 50-ha paddocks, to evaluate the impact of this grazing system on certain vegetation parameters. We report on the first four years of monitoring, after each of four replicate paddocks had received four treatments (one treatment = 40 - 60 Large Stock Unit grazing days per hectare over a period of 2 - 16 days). Concentrated defoliation with concomitant trampling, dunging, and urinating did not influence the perennial species composition, and cover of this grassy, semi-arid shrubland. Changes over time in plant composition, and cover are explained by annual, and short-term (e.g. quarterly) rainfall rather than by grazing impacts. Ephemerals were not favoured by this grazing system, but litter was more abundant in the treatment than the control areas. The dominant grass, Eragrostis lebmanniana, and shrub, Pentzia incana, are resilient to this defoliation regime, and show signs of compensatory growth. As yet there is no evidence that non-selective grazing increases diversity, but the severe defoliation and trampling may enhance the biomass turnover rate, resulting in more vigorous, and productive plants in the grazed areas. Diversity is unlkely to change rapidly in response to grazing, largely because of the persistence of grazing-tolerant perennials. Concentrating mixed herds of livestock onto small areas with lengthy rests can be a useful tool for 'kick-starting' moribund karoo veld into greater productivity. Several of the impacts hold potential for restoring the rangeland quality of degraded areas, but this needs to be tested.     

The relation between canopy spread cover and the aboveground available phytomass of Nama Karoo subshrubs and grasses

The canopy spread cover of Karoo bushes and grasses in the Nama Karoo was measured and related to the aboveground phytomass available to the grazing animal. A correlation coefficient of r = 0.7456, calculated for Karoo bushes, indicates that this method can be used to non-destructively estimate available phytomass. This in turn can be used for the prediction of current grazing capacity in areas where Karoo bushes are dominant in the vegetation. In the case of the Karoo grasses, a rather loose definition and interpretation of the canopy spread cover, led to a low correlation coefficient, r = 0.5662. This renders the present method largely unsuited for available phytomass estimations to be used in further predictions of grazing capacity in the mountainous areas where the studied grasses are dominant in the vegetation. In the more arid areas, however, the method can be used to advantage.     

Influence of sowing depth on the germination of Karoo shrubs and grasses

Abstract

Knowledge of the germination behaviour of desirable plants to be sown in the veld for veld improvement is still inadequate. To gain this knowledge, seed of different species of Karoo bushes and grasses were planted on two soil types at different planting depths.

Germination percentage of all species tested were significantly lower when planted on the surface in sand as compared with depths of 10 and 20 mm. Germination percentages were also lower at the 0 to 2 mm planting depth than the 10 mm and 20 mm planting depths when planted in a sandy loam soil.     

Towards a plant‐based technique to measure utilization of karoo bushes

Abstract

The precision of various destructive techniques for estimating utilization of karoo bushes was investigated with the prerequisite that removal of 20 % of the edible material of individual species could be shown to be statistically significant. Where the total mass of destructively‐sampled plants was compared, a sample of 300 plants/species was required for this level of precision. In contrast, only 100 plants/species were required when utilization was based on edible phytomass. The sparseness of karoo veld renders the destructive sampling of areas less efficient than clipping individual plants. However, sampling of whole plants and their separation into edible and inedible fractions is laborious and expensive. There is thus a need to develop suitable nondestructive techniques.     

Perspective article: Simulation models for semi‐arid rangelands of southern Africa

Abstract

In semi‐arid regions, the effects of grazing or sparing management on natural communities of long‐lived plants generally take decades to become evident. Event‐driven dynamic behaviour, unpredictable and low rainfall, and complicated interactions between species make it difficult to gather sufficient understanding of vegetation dynamics to be able to develop guidelines for sustainable management. Simulation models that consider the essential processes that determine vegetation dynamics offer scope for quantitatively exploring long‐term vegetation dynamics of arid and semi‐arid rangelands. In this paper we review three models that were aimed to provide an understanding of the vegetation dynamics and management of different typical vegetation types in South Africa, including the Karoo shrubland, the shrub‐grassland of the southern Kalahari, and pure semi‐arid grasslands.     

Measuring the impact of indigenous herbivores: reply to Kerley andLandman

Pteronia paniculata is an indigenous, unpalatable shrub that invades mismanaged Karooveld, resulting in degraded rangelands with low species diversity and grazing potential. We conducted a series of trials in the Succulent Karoo Randteveld near Barrydale to determine if the uniform defoliation of P. paniculata dominated vegetation at two heights (0.05 m and 0.20 m above ground level) using a brush-cutter and, in one trial, application of a second cut will improve the plant species composition, productivity and grazing capacity of the veld. Brush-cutting treatments and the uncut control all resulted in a change in species composition towards greater species diversity and more palatable species and an average increase of 540 kg ha^?1 (28%) in above-ground biomass over four years. It appears that there was a pervasive improvement in species composition associated with a general decline in the cover and abundance of P. paniculata over the time-scale of the present study that was not influenced by the defoliation treatments, except for the 1996-cut treatment where the cover of P. paniculata increased. The absence of propagules of palatable species in the soil seed bank and competition from P. paniculata (a long-lived, perennial shrub) are assumed to be among the main reasons for the lack of response of the vegetation community to the defoliation treatments. Brush-cutting (in the absence of reseeding), aimed at reducing the dominance of unpalatable karoo shrubs, was more costly but not significantly better than long-term resting in improving veld composition or forage production.     

Controlling bush encroachment with fire in the savanna areas of South Africa

The savanna areas of South Africa can be divided into the moist and arid savanna types according to the availability of soil moisture. Bush encroachment is a serious veld management problem in all the savanna areas and veld burning is a potential eradication technique in situations with an adequate grass cover to support an intense fire. In the moist savannas fire per se can be used to control bush encroachment but in the arid savannas it has the role of maintaining trees and shrubs at an available height and in acceptable state for browsing animals. Intense head fires applied at the end of the dormant season are used for bush eradication. The frequency of burning is relatively high in the moist savannas but is very low in the arid savannas, being usually limited to years with above average rainfall when adequate grass fuel loads can be accumulated. Veld burning provides an attractive economic and energy saving technique of solving the problem of bush encroachment in the savanna areas of South Africa.     

The composition of the soil seedbank and its role in ecosystem dynamics and rehabilitation potential in the arid Tankwa Karoo Region,South Africa§

Very few soil seedbank studies have been conducted in South Africa, especially in arid rangelands. Insight into the soil seedbank could therefore improve assessment of rangeland dynamics and enhance rehabilitation efforts. This study aimed to characterise the soil seedbanks in various vegetation types of the Tankwa Karoo National Park, an arid environment in South Africa. At 43 sites soil was sampled twice at the end of spring and the end of autumn, and the composition and structure of aboveground vegetation were described at the peak growth period in spring. Seeds were isolated from the soil samples by means of flotation in a salt solution, seedbank species composition was obtained by seedling germination, and the vegetation was investigated using a line-point survey method. Overall seed density was 8 034 seeds m^?2 of which 55% was viable, and the common life-forms were therophytes and chamaephytes. Species richness and diversity were lower in the seedbank compared with those of the vegetation, and the two vegetation spheres were 25% similar. While seedbank composition suggested poor veld condition, there was enough seed density and viability for future regeneration and rehabilitation initiatives. However, this may be impeded by the absence of many perennial species in the soil seedbank.     

Opening address

Abstract

The 291 preliminary land types in the Karoo Region formed the basis for the demarcation of the 144 Reasonably Homogeneous Farming Areas (RHFAs). The land types were firstly reduced to 23 Floristic Climatic Regions (FCRs) according to character species for certain macroclimatic conditions. The character species were identified by means of computer classification and ordination techniques (PHYTOTAB, TWINSPAN and DECORANA). About 22 soil forms and numerous soil series were found in the Karoo Region. Based on differences in the inherent veld production potential and erodibility of the different soils, as well as differences in slope, nine Veld Soil Potential Classes (VSPCs) were synthesised. The land types in each of the FCRs were, lastly, consolidated according to their similarity in terms of macrocli mate and dominant topographical units and VSPCs, into RHFAs.     

A study of animal production under different grazing regimes in the False Upper Karoo at Grootfontein

Three systems of animal production on the fragile Karoo veld, i.e. multi-paddock rotational grazing, pauci-paddock rotational grazing and continuous grazing were studied. Of these systems, multi-paddock rotational grazing gave the best results with continuous stocking resulting in the worst. All three systems studied had long histories of both continuous stocking- and of pauci-paddock rotational grazing. The veld, under both these previous systems of management has stabilised, but at different seral stages. The continuously stocked range stabilised in the early developmental seral stage, consisting mainly of annual grasses. The veld under pauci-paddock rotational management stabilised in the early to mid-developmental seral stage, consisting mainly of perennial grasses. Experimentation on veld in a stable condition is a prerequisite if valid conclusions in respect of rotational grazing and continuous stocking are to be drawn. Rotational grazing on overgrazed veld will result in poor animal performance, while it is generally accepted that continuous stocking on pristine veld will result in excellent animal performance for a number of years. Multi-paddock rotational grazing outperformed both pauci-paddock rotational grazing as well as continuous stocking on both types of veld. This is surprising taking into account the mid-seral stage condition of the vegetation. This supports the argument that with improved veld management, an improved production potential is possible on veld even in a degraded or current condition.     

An investigation of the veld problems of the Molopo area: I. early findings

Factors mainly responsible for limiting animal production in the Molopo ranching area are the poor grass species composition of the veld, bush encroachment, droughts and the poor fertility status of the soil. Data illustrating the extent to which grass species composition and grass production are affected by these factors are presented and discussed. Data from earlier attempts to .solve these problems reveal that several different directions of pasture research have possibilities in such semi‐arid areas.     

Exploring the potential of the descending‐point method to measure utilization in karoo veld

Abstract

The descending‐point method of vegetation survey proved effective in measuring meaningful plant cover changes during a grazing period. No significant changes in basal cover or plant height were detected. Changes in canopy spread and canopy cover could only be used to detect changes in utilization at levels lighter than 50 % and 70 % respectively. Selective utilization between species implies that it may be extremely difficult to achieve a specified level of utilization in practice. Therefore, in karoo veld, resting may be considered a more practicable veld management strategy than attempts to achieve a specific utilization intensity. The descending‐point method is time‐consuming in determining canopy cover. Thus, methods based on more effective point sampling, within the canopy spread, may be more appropriate for this purpose.     

Vegetation responses to seasonal weather conditions and decreasing grazing pressure in the arid Succulent Karoo of South Africa§

The Succulent Karoo biome is a renowned centre of biodiversity and endemism in the arid winter rainfall region of South Africa that is threatened by climate change. On 20 permanently marked plots within a biodiversity observatory, species richness and cover were assessed annually from 2002 to 2017 during the growing season. We were interested, firstly, in whether the vegetation showed any trends in response to the strong decrease in grazing pressure, which occurred at the beginning of the monitoring period, and secondly, in the effect of seasonal climate on the vegetation. We analysed the responses of species richness and cover in four life forms to seasonal rainfall and the standardised precipitation–evapotranspiration index (SPEI) using linear mixed-effect models. Time had a positive effect on richness of annual species and a negative effect on cover of shrubs and annuals, which increased in response to SPEI and less strongly to rainfall during autumn and winter. Habitat did not have any effect and geophytes and perennial herbs did not show any significant response. The importance of SPEI during autumn and winter is discussed in relation to potential germination cues and the projected decrease in rainfall and increase in temperature during these seasons.     

The effect of severe drought and management after drought on the mortality and recovery of semi‐arid grassveld

Abstract

The False Thornveld of the Eastern Cape experienced a particularly intense drought during the 1982/83 growing season. Extensive grass mortality took place during the drought. After the drought, recovery was particularly sensitive to the post‐drought management treatment applied. Veld that was grazed immediately after the drought recovered far more slowly than veld that was rested. This effect was still evident three years later, illustrating the considerable importance of resting semi‐arid grassveld after a drought.

Increaser I grass species present were apparently more capable of surviving drought than the Decreaser species, which in turn were more stable than the Increaser II species. Their ability to recover after the drought followed an opposite trend. On this basis, the desirability of Decreaser dominated veld, in situations that are likely to be poorly managed, is questioned.     

Secondary succession in the Mopani veld of the Limpopo Valley,South Africa

The long-term establishment sequences of the herbaceous and woody component of the Mopani veld of the Limpopo Valley were studied and documented. Based on vegetation surveys conducted at three enclosed sites at the Messina Experimental Farm during the period 1964 to 2001, no clear fixed grass species establishment sequence was observed. The classic plant succession model of the grass component, as usually found in other veld types, is absent in Mopani veld of the Limpopo Valley. Shallow, nutrient poor, gravelly, severely eroded soils with low moisture retention and a high runoff rate are mainly colonised by annual grasses and forbs. Perennial grasses take long to establish. This results in an unstable herbaceous component that is vulnerable to changes, which in turn depends on the erratic availability of soil moisture. Where the woody component is concerned, eight tree species appeared to be early colonisers, five intermediate colonisers and seven late colonisers. Tree numbers increased at sites with deeper soils, indicating that bush encroachment is a general, natural process that occurs irrespective of rest treatments applied to the herbaceous component. At a site with an extremely shallow soil, bush density decreased, suggesting that the bush encroachment process in the Limpopo Valley is much more affected by soil and climate than in other veld types and climatic zones of the Limpopo Province.     

草原与荒漠一年生植物性状对降水变化的响应

草原与荒漠生态系统中一年生植物是高度顺应气候波动、特别是降水波动的特殊类群。本试验以内蒙古草原与荒漠区4种一年生植物为研究对象,通过室内模拟5,20,70和150 mm 4个有效降水梯度,分析了4种一年生植物物候及其形态等性状对降水变化的响应。结果表明,草原与荒漠一年生植物类群生长期通常在40～90(<100)d;随降水梯度的增加,一年生植物的生长期、植物高度、叶长、生物量等均增加,5 mm有效降水能基本完成生活史,70 mm有效降水资源分配达到最佳化,结实量最大;一年生猪毛菜类在不同降水条件下的物候期长短的变化比一年生小禾草类小,倾向于以调整生殖生长期的长短的方式,减少结实量为代价加速种子成熟的方式响应降水量不足;一年生小禾草类能根据降水量变化及时调整各物候期长短以适应生长和繁殖;相同降水条件下小禾草类植物的生长期相对较长;在适应方式上,猪毛菜类植物表现出更强的避旱能力,而小禾草类植物则表现出相对更强的耐旱能力。     

Examining the evidence for ecologically sustainable ostrich breeding practices on natural veld in the Little Karoo,South Africa

Land degradation in the Little Karoo is extensive. Overstocking of breeding ostriches on natural veld has been among the main causes of this. The National Department of Agriculture has set a general stocking rate of 60 ha LSU^?1 as a guideline for livestock on natural veld in the Little Karoo, which equates to 22.8 ha ostrich^?1. The aim of this review is to examine the scientific principles, data and assumptions the current recommended stocking rate for breeding ostriches on natural veld in the Little Karoo is based on and to investigate if there is a stocking rate (or range of stocking rates) that has been demonstrated to be ecologically and/or economically sustainable. We found no evidence that the recommended stocking rate of 22.8 ha ostrich^?1 is economically or ecologically sustainable in the Little Karoo. Most studies only addressed a single dimension of sustainability, and stocking rates deemed to be economically sustainable were several times higher than ecologically based recommendations. Given that economic and ecological objectives appear irreconcilable on open veld, an industry switch from extensive to intensive breeding practices may be a solution. Further research is required that integrates the socio-economic and ecological aspects of ostrich farming in the Little Karoo.     

Determinants of herbaceous plant species composition on a number of ranches in the north‐western Transvaal

Herbaceous plant species composition was measured on ranches in the Thabazimbi district, Transvaal, to obtain veld composition scores and to quantify the relations between such scores and certain determinants considered important in influencing species composition. Determinants investigated were mean annual rainfall and herbivory (stocking rate). The survey was undertaken on seven game and cattle ranches in Combretum apiculatum woodland of the Mixed Bushveld (Acocks 18) of the north‐western Transvaal. Rainfall for the season preceding the vegetation survey and bulk and selective grazer stocking rates had a significant effect on veld composition scores. The recommended agricultural grazer stocking rate for the survey area is 12.5 LSU 100 ha"¹ a"¹. Under the present conditions and in view of the findings of this survey, it is suggested that a grazer stocking rate of 6.25 LSU 100 ha^?1 a^?1 be implemented.     

植被类型和降雨量对沟谷地土壤水分和温度空间分布的影响

土壤水分和温度作为反映土壤环境的重要指标,对土壤中各种生物化学过程具有着重要的影响。本文通过对不同植被恢复模式和降雨量梯度沟谷地土壤水分和温度0~500cm剖面分布的研究,结果表明:不同植被恢复模式间沟谷地的土壤水分和温度存在着显著差异(P0.01),土壤水分含量表现为草地沟灌木沟乔木沟,土壤温度表现为乔木沟草本沟灌木沟;这表明不同生活型植物的生物学特性可以对植物群落土壤的水分和温度产生分异影响。不同降雨梯度地区间沟谷地的土壤水分和温度也存在显著差异(P0.01),土壤水分含量与降雨量呈正相关,土壤水量表现为西河口沿河湾镰刀湾;土壤温度表现为镰刀湾西河口沿河湾;这表明降雨量差异可以对沟谷地的土壤水分和温度产生显著影响。因此,在沟谷地植被恢复过程中,需要综合考虑地区降雨条件和植被类型的配置,这将有助于促进该地区生态环境的改善与提升。