Treeless grasslands occur within landscapes that are predominantly wooded savannas in the central Kruger National Park, South Africa. As a first step in identifying soil properties potentially underpinning differences in vegetation structure in these landscapes, we analysed the soil chemistry of the pedoderm (0–2 cm) in a grassland and two adjacent savanna types (Senegalia savanna and Delagoa Lowveld)

The small tree, Dichrostachys cinerea, occurs in dense patches within grasslands on gabbro-derived soils in the southern Kruger National Park. It is not known whether soil properties in the grasslands affect tree establishment. As a first step in identifying soil properties potentially underpinning differences in vegetation structure, we analysed the soil chemistry of the pedoderm (0–2 cm) in Dichrostachys

The woody plant, Colophospermum mopane, occurs as either a shrub or tree in shrublands and woodlands, respectively, in the central Kruger National Park, South Africa. As a first step in identifying which soil properties potentially influence the structure of C. mopane in these landscapes, we investigated the soil chemistry of the pedoderm in shrublands and woodlands. A total of 39 composite pedoderm

Treed savannas and treeless grasslands occur across Mokala National Park, South Africa. To identify soil properties potentially underpinning these marked differences in vegetation structure, we analysed the soil chemistry of 27 composite pedoderm samples in both savannas and grasslands. Savannas had a greater pH and greater mean concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, B, Na and C compared with

The Gamka Karoo is a low-lying vegetation type in the semi-arid Nama Karoo in the south-western part of South Africa with extensive rangelands used for livestock ranching and wildlife. Although the Nama Karoo is generally resilient to grazing and most responsive to variable rainfall, chronic overstocking, particularly in the driest regions and around water points, could degrade vegetation and soils

(2021). Nourishment – What animals can teach us about rediscovering our nutritional wisdom. African Journal of Range & Forage Science. Ahead of Print.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of maize (Zea mays L.) carbohydrate contents and the estimates of milk production on different storage periods. The experimental design was completely randomised, with four treatments (storage time), each replicated four times. We observed a reduction in non-fibrous carbohydrates and an increase in the fibrous fraction, whereas starch plus soluble

The ecological and economical importance of African grasses in sustaining animal production prompted studies to quantify the wealth of grass genetic resources indigenous to southern Africa. Plant collection and occurrence data were extracted from two southern African datasets, BODATSA and PHYTOBAS, and analysed to establish biogeographical patterns in the grass flora indigenous to South Africa, Lesotho

Diseases have emerged as one of the major challenges of Brachiaria production in Africa. Nine Brachiaria cultivars were evaluated for leaf rust, leaf spot and leaf blight diseases and agronomic performances in two agro-ecological zones of Rwanda. The relationships between agronomic traits and area under diseases progress curve (AUDPC) were determined using Pearson correlation analysis. Cultivars differed

(2021). Handbook of Citizen Science in Ecology and Conservation. African Journal of Range & Forage Science. Ahead of Print.

This study evaluated the interactive effects of low rates (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg N ha−1) of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application and stage of maturity on total N, N fractions and in vitro ruminal N degradability in Brachiaria hybrid, Megathyrsus maximus and Paspalum atratum. The grasses were harvested at 4, 8 and 12 weeks regrowth, except for P. atratum that was harvested at 6 and 12 weeks. There was

Long-term protection of arid ecosystems changes the vegetation and soil structures. The quantification of aboveground biomass and carbon content are among the principal indicators to evaluate these changes. Most methods used to quantify these parameters are costly, time consuming and destructive. In this paper, two non-destructive methods were compared: digital image processing and biometric measurements

(2021). Ecology of fire-dependent ecosystems: Wildland fire science, policy and management. African Journal of Range & Forage Science. Ahead of Print.

Fields abandoned to fallow, due to biophysical and socio-economic factors in communal areas of Zimbabwe, are used for livestock grazing. A study was conducted to characterise vegetation from such fields, and assess its grazing suitability across four agroecological regions (AER II – AER V) characterised by annual rainfall ranging from 750 mm to 400 mm, and five categories of fallow age groups (0-5;

The occurrence of Dalbergia obovata, which is typically associated with forests, in grasslands within conservation areas in a metropolitan municipality was investigated to assess whether it was encroaching and what the possible causes might be. Relevant legislation has not regarded D. obovata as an encroacher species in grasslands. The abundance and distribution patterns of D. obovata in four conservation

An improved understanding of how fire affects African mammals is important for the management of both fire regimes and mammal populations. The response of mammals (>5 kg) to fire was reviewed to identify habitat preferences, and to inform fire management. Sixty-four studies reported on 51 species at 34 locations. Body size was strongly correlated with fire response, with smaller grazing species more

Crop-livestock integration is an efficient technique that enables cropping and animal production in the same area, takes advantage of all the benefits that this synergism provides, and results in greater sustainability and lower environmental impact. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the production, forage quality, and cattle performance with forages of the genus Brachiaria and Panicum

Little is known of warming effects on growth and defence of woody seedlings that potentially invade grasslands. We predicted that elevated temperatures would increase growth and spine length of Vachellia sieberiana seedlings growing (1) with or without grass in the dormant season and early growing season, but (2) only when grass cover is absent in the mid-late growing season. To test these predictions

Fire occurs naturally in grasslands and savannas and it is commonly used as a management tool to influence structure and composition. The ability of a grass plant to recover from fire may be influenced by the fire frequency and intensity (influenced by seasonal weather conditions and fuel load), defoliation and competition from neighbouring plants. This study sought to investigate factors influencing

Fabaceae plants contribute greatly to a high quality of pasture in rangelands, because of high levels of protein in their tissues. Despite this established importance, only a few southern African legumes have been evaluated for nutritional value and domestication. The Overberg renosterveld vegetation of the Fynbos biome occupies undulating landscapes that have multiple slope aspects, creating variable

Inadequate information about the long-term effects of grazing strategies on native grass production and animal growth poses limitations to sustainable management of beef cattle. A 20-year simulation study was conducted using the Sustainable Grazing Systems model to analyse implications of different stocking rates (SRs) and simple rotational grazing systems (SRGSs) for rangeland-based Brahman steers

Simulation modelling of grass biomass production has gained huge attention since the early 2000s, but it has rarely been applied to southern African rangelands, due to limited data availability for model calibration and evaluation. This study was conducted to calibrate the Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) pasture model using measured and sourced data, to assess the reliability of model predicted biomass

(2021). Primer of Ecological Restoration - Karen D Holl, published in cooperation with the Society for Ecological Restoration. African Journal of Range & Forage Science. Ahead of Print.

Selecting the appropriate vegetation index for accurate biomass estimation is a prerequisite before and during the ecosystem management project. This study, aims to compare Vegetation Indices (VIs) that are combining both Visible and Near Infrared OLI bands (VNIR-VIs), Visible and Short Wave Infrared OLI bands and also NIR and Short Wave Infrared OLI bands (SWIR-VIs) in order to accurately model the

Extensive pasture systems established in highly weathered tropical soils on steep slopes are vulnerable to soil degradation. Soil degradation can be monitored using an soil quality index (SQI). The SQI can assess both environmental aspects and indices related to pasture productivity within specific environments. A framework to evaluate and map a soil quality index for Ferralsols was developed in this

Globally, grasslands are under threat from woody encroachment by invasive alien plants and this undermines grass production. The study sought to determine the effects of Acacia mearnsii clearing on soil physico-chemical properties and grass production. Soil samples were collected from three A. mearnsii invasion statuses and analysed for representative physico-chemical variables. Using line transects

(2021). Montane rangelands in a changing world. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 38, Montane Rangelands in a Changing World, pp. iii-vi.

Legislation and policy are key tools used by governments to change the socio-economic and political landscape of agrarian systems with consequences for mobile pastoralism. This study used the social-ecological systems framework to examine how pastoral mobility in the semi-arid, montane communal rangeland in South Africa adapted to the changing socio-political landscape. It analysed the impact of apartheid

Marked tillers of Heteropogon contortus, Trachypogon spicatus, Tristachya leucothrix and Harpochloa falx were sampled regularly over a two-year period in Highland Sourveld burnt annually in winter and biennially in spring. Parameters recorded were height of shoot apex, tiller mass, number of new lateral tillers and time of flowering. Monitoring of marked tillers before and after each burn enabled the

Rangeland conditions in the Lesotho highland dam catchment areas is important for local livelihoods and regional water supply. We investigated changes in land cover and condition from 1991 (before construction) to 2013, using Landsat imagery. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) decreased in the catchment areas, while increasing within two protected areas. NDVI decreases were greatest

Communal livestock grazing is expected to impact botanical composition and plant diversity of Drakensberg montane grasslands. Accordingly, a grazing gradient extending outward from kraals, and fence-line contrasts between communal rangeland and protected areas (Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Royal Natal National Park), were studied in the QwaQwa region of South Africa. Presence of a grazing

We investigated long-term changes, from 1979 to 2015, in the abundance of Protea roupelliae subsp. roupelliae trees growing in a montane grassland of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg mountains. The study involved counting the numbers of adults and juveniles (saplings and seedlings) in six groves on three occasions over 36 years, documenting the fire-return intervals and the seasons when fires occurred in

Climate change is one of the main challenges facing humanity in the coming century. To understand the impact of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, we urgently require a better understanding of plant responses to climate change. To address this knowledge gap we established a full-factorial warming experiment using open-top chambers (OTCs) inside a long-term fire-manipulation experiment

The Lets’eng-la-Letsie wetland is an official Ramsar site, but the wetland and upland catchment areas suffer from overgrazing, erosion and over exploitation. Chrysocoma ciliata has a reputation as an unpalatable invader and is particularly common on the drier northern slopes. The objectives of the study were to quantify the phytomass of this shrub with the aid of a developed allometric phytomass quantification

Wetlands are globally valuable ecosystems as they provide many important services to the human society, yet the ecology of some of them is yet to be understood. This study assessed the functionality of Letšeng-la-Letsie wetland in Lesotho, using the Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) technique and soil quality indicators. LFA threshold values for stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling were found

The mountain rangeland chain of Matmata (southern Tunisia) is characterised by an arid Mediterranean climate with severe droughts and high temperatures, combined with substantial human disturbance. In order to withstand these harsh conditions, plants have developed adaptive strategies and functional traits to survive. This study aims to evaluate the impact of three grazing regimes (grazing exclusion

This case study assessed changes in vegetation composition of a 0.8 ha rangeland site over the past four decades, in relation to changes in temperature and to an increase in grazing pressure. The frequency and standing crop (biomass) of species and functional groups were sampled in the spring of 1979 and 2016. Mean annual temperature increased, whereas changes in frequency varied between species and

(2021). A Scientific Bibliography of the Drakensberg, Maloti & Adjacent Lowlands. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 38, Montane Rangelands in a Changing World, pp. 137-138.

Climate change and degradation of natural resources pose daunting challenges in arid and semi-arid rangelands of southern Mediterranean region. Overcoming these challenges requires considerable management actions efforts. In this context, the current two-year (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) study investigated the effects of soil surface scarification and reseeding of rangelands with sulla (Hedysarum coronarium

Lantana camara is primarily a bird-dispersed invasive plant species that has spread quickly across South Africa in disturbed areas. We re-examined the distribution of Lantana at Rodger and Twine’s (2002) study site (R&T) in a highly grazed communal area and an adjacent conserved area in 2019. R&T found that Lantana was more common in the communal area than in the conserved area. Glyphosate herbicide

This case study assessed changes in vegetation composition of a 0.8 ha rangeland site over the past four decades, in relation to changes in temperature and to an increase in grazing pressure. The frequency and standing crop (biomass) of species and functional groups were sampled in the spring of 1979 and 2016. Mean annual temperature increased, whereas changes in frequency varied between species and

Wetlands are globally valuable ecosystems as they provide many important services to the human society, yet the ecology of some of them is yet to be understood. This study assessed the functionality of Letšeng-la-Letsie wetland in Lesotho, using the Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) technique and soil quality indicators. LFA threshold values for stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling were found

(2021). Miombo Woodlands in a Changing Environment: Securing the Resilience and Sustainability of People and Woodlands. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 188-189.

Marked tillers of Heteropogon contortus, Trachypogon spicatus, Tristachya leucothrix and Harpochloa falx were sampled regularly over a two-year period in Highland Sourveld burnt annually in winter and biennially in spring. Parameters recorded were height of shoot apex, tiller mass, number of new lateral tillers and time of flowering. Monitoring of marked tillers before and after each burn enabled the

The vegetation of Mushingashi Conservancy in central Zambia was classified and mapped to provide a template for wildlife management. Putative vegetation types were delineated using Landsat 8 imagery, then sampled with 73 plots for vegetation composition and structure, and topo-edaphic properties. Classification followed a four-stage process. Valley dambo and floodplain grasslands were first separated

We investigated long-term changes, from 1979 to 2015, in the abundance of Protea roupelliae subsp. roupelliae trees growing in a montane grassland of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg mountains. The study involved counting the numbers of adults and juveniles (saplings and seedlings) in six groves on three occasions over 36 years, documenting the fire-return intervals and the seasons when fires occurred in

Communal livestock grazing is expected to impact botanical composition and plant diversity of Drakensberg montane grasslands. Accordingly, a grazing gradient extending outward from kraals, and fence-line contrasts between communal rangeland and protected areas (Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Royal Natal National Park), were studied in the QwaQwa region of South Africa. Presence of a grazing

Legislation and policy are key tools used by governments to change the socio-economic and political landscape of agrarian systems with consequences for mobile pastoralism. This study used the social-ecological systems framework to examine how pastoral mobility in the semi-arid, montane communal rangeland in South Africa adapted to the changing socio-political landscape. It analysed the impact of apartheid

Despite shrinking pastureland in the central highlands of Ethiopia, as a result of cropping, there has been little detailed work to evaluate effects of traditional grazing land management practices on vegetation and soil attributes. This study aimed to quantify vegetation structure, aboveground biomass yield and soil quality, as a result of the impact of enclosure and open access management practices

(2020). Field Guide to Renosterveld of the Overberg. African Journal of Range & Forage Science. Ahead of Print.

(2021). Field Guide to Renosterveld of the Overberg. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 186-187.

Grasslands of the Maputaland coastal plain are biologically diverse and provide a variety of ecosystems services. Yet grasslands in this region are vulnerable to continuing development by plantation forestry that provides economic benefits to local communities. In order to provide a framework for land use that maintains grassland heterogeneity in complex agro-ecological systems, this paper characterises

Grasslands are integral to rural livelihoods in southern Africa, because they provide hydrological regulation services and a variety of plant resources, including livestock fodder, medicines, and food products. To ensure ongoing provision of these resources in rapidly developing rural landscapes, an understanding of the relationships between grassland species composition and ecosystem services is required

Grasslands of the Maputaland coastal plain are biologically diverse and provide a variety of ecosystems services. Yet grasslands in this region are vulnerable to continuing development by plantatio...

Processes linked to woody plant encroachment in grassland are still not well understood, especially the interactions between trees and soil water availability. Our aim was to study the depth of wat...

Management options to maintain the stability of Drakensberg grasslands need to incorporate their dynamic nature in response to fire. This study addressed the lack of information on the spatial and temporal changes of these grasslands at a small (tuft) scale. The basal area of every tuft in three 0.25 m2 quadrats per replicate (3) of four burning treatments was mapped over two years in a long-term burning

The mesic montane grasslands of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, which produce cured flammable fuel, have evolved under and are sustained by recurrent fires. The Brotherton burning trial (12 replicated ...

Brachiaria (syn. Urochloa) is one of the most important tropical forages grass of African origin. Its performance is affected by different constraints, including diseases. This study assessed the distribution, incidence and severity of Brachiaria diseases and documented farmers’ knowledge on Brachiaria diseases in Rwanda. Surveys were conducted in five districts in the dry and wet seasons of 2018 and

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is widely cultivated in semiarid West Africa as a combined crop for human consumption and animal feed. In order to address the shortage of ruminant feed in Burkina Faso...

(2021). Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 184-185.