| Abstract: | 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. |
