https://commons.ufh.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 https://commons.ufh.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11583 0.05) from all homogenous vegetation units of Peddie rangeland. However, the soil fertility increased with an increase in bush density except organic carbon (OC) which was 1.61% in grassland, 1.46% in scattered and 1.53% in dense bushland respectively. Soil N, K, P, Mg2+ Na+, Ca2+, Cu, Zn, Mn and pH were significantly higher (p<0.05) in dense bushland than grassland and scattered bushland. High soil fertility in dense bushland may be attributed to by abscission of woody plants and litter decomposition. In the soil seed bank, the abundances of forbs were significantly higher than sedges (χ2 = 12, df = 1, p = 0.001) and grasses (χ2 = 8.333, df = 1, p = 0.004) in all homogenous vegetation units while sedges were not significantly different (χ2 = 3, df = 1, p = 0.083) from grasses. The Sorensen‟s index indicated that soil seed bank and extant vegetation were significantly different (p<0.05). Annual and biennial forbs and sedges had high abundances while perennial grasses formed a bulk in above ground vegetation. This provided an insight that a reliance on soil seed bank for restoration of Peddie rangeland would not be advisable because it can result in retrogression. The communal rangeland assessment provided clear qualitative and quantitative data when the combination of indigenous knowledge and scientific assessments was done. The rationale is that conclusions and recommendations of range assessment are relient on the farmer‟s perceptions pertinent to their livestock production systems and their rangeland management objectives. This study has shown that inclusion of communal farmers in policy making can provide better insight because those are the people experiencing the consequences of range degradation.]]> Wed 12 May 2021 22:23:37 SAST ]]> https://commons.ufh.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:26515 0.05) interaction between any of the main factors. Macro and micro mineral content of plant samples collected from the two communal grazing lands showed great variations (P<0.05) between species, seasons and altitude. In the Highveld, CP ranged from 3.9 to 6.5% DM being significantly highest (P<0.05) in Cynodon dactylon and lowest in E. plana. When all species were combined, higher CP was recorded for samples harvested in summer (5.5%) followed by spring and autumn, and lowest in winter (3.8%). In the Lowveld, Eragrostis chloromelus had higher (P<0.05) CP level followed by C. dactylon and T. Triandra. When all species were pooled, forage samples harvested in summer had a significantly higher (P<0.05) CP followed by spring, autumn and winter. In summary, CP content of all grasses was below the critical maintenance level for livestock especially during late dry seasons. In both areas, the highest NDF level was measured for Eragrostis plana and lowest for Themeda triandra. As for altitudinal differences, samples collected from the upland areas had generally the lowest (P<0.05) CP and highest ADF contents. For grasses harvested from the Highveld, C. dactylon produced the most (P<0.05) gas after 48 h of fermentation (794.6 ml/g DM) and also had the highest 48h DMD (415.1 g kg-1). Themeda triandra produced least (P<0.05) gas (742 ml/g DM) 48h post-incubation. The least (P<0.05) degradable species after 48 h was E. chloromelus (372.9 g kg-1). For grasses harvested from Lowveld, the 48h cumulative gas production was highest (822.7 ml/g DM) in E. plana and lowest (742.8 ml/g DM) in E. chloromelus, while S. africanus had least 48h DMD (327.9 kg-1). In both the Highveld and Lowveld, gas production and DMD were highest in the autumn season. It was concluded most grasses were deficient in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, it is recommended that mineral supplements should be offered to animals to improve animal productivity throughout the year. Findings of this study suggested that addition of protein and energy sources may be desirable in both grazing areas to meet the maintenance/production requirements of the grazing ruminants throughout the year. Key words: Forage yield, chemical composition, landscape gradient; seasonal variations; in vitro ruminal gas production; dry matter degradability.]]> Wed 12 May 2021 20:14:11 SAST ]]> https://commons.ufh.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11585 15-35) and heavy invasions (>35% shrub cover) of E. floribundus. The average household size in the study area was 6.8± 0.7. All people in the three communal areas unanimously ranked sheep as the most important species for their livelihood, but the ranking of cattle and goat varied among the communal areas. All elder groups agreed that Europs floribundus decreases both the quantity and quality of herbaceous forage as well as livestock production. Moreover, invaded patches create more bare areas which are responsible for the loss of top fertile soils and the formation of rills and gullies. The result showed that the total density of E. floribundus significantly increased from the topland (2301 plants ha-1) moving to the bottomland (4888 plants ha-1). Canopy cover was significantly lowest in the topland (17.9%), but the remaining gradients had similar cover. Grass dry matter yield was higher in the bottomlands and sloppy gradients than the toplands. Soil organic carbon was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the flat than the sloppy terrain. Soils from higher elevations (toplands and upper sloppy) had significantly higher N than the lower elevations (bottomlands and Middle sloppy). The lowest dry matter was observed at low invasion and non-invaded sites. Soil chemical properties were generally different from all density levels. In conclusion, E. floribundus encroachment was found to be major cause of decline in the peoples’ livelihood because as this reduces the vegetation diversity and livestock production, both of which are the major of their livelihoods.]]> Thu 13 May 2021 07:26:36 SAST ]]> https://commons.ufh.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11584 0.05) abundance along distance gradient from water points. Grass dry matter (GDM) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between and within land management systems. However, GDM was not significantly affected by season, location of water point within each farm or reserve and distance along water points. Acacia karoo, Coddia rudis and Ehretia rigida were the most dominant woody species. Tree equivalent (TE) density of all encroaching woody plants combined was significantly (p < 0.05) higher on the communal area (1732 TE ha-1) than the commercial ranches (1136 TE ha-1) and game reserves (857 TE ha-1), but with no marked variations along distance from water points under all the land management systems. The electric conductivity (EC) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in game reserves than in communal grazing areas and ranches. Soil organic matter percentage showed greatest and lowest values in the game reserves and commercial respectively. Soil pH and bulk density did not vary but soil organic matter (SOM), EC, bulk density and soil compaction were significant different with no increasing or decreasing trends. Soil properties were affected by herbivore pressure and trampling around water points with inconsistence magnitude and direction. In conclusion, grass species composition and GDM did not respond to distance from water points because either grazing gradient was absent or the length of transects was not enough to explain the absence or presence of gradients. High proportion of A. karoo and high densities of seedlings and saplings would seem as very good indicators of the woody vegetation changes in the different land management systems and distance from water points. The soil quality indicators around the water-points showed that livestock and game affected soil parameters.]]> Thu 13 May 2021 02:41:10 SAST ]]>