Redistribution of groundwater in three sub habitats of a Burkea Savanna

Abstract

Soil water redistribution occurs rapidly in the soil profiles of three sub habitats i.e. Eragrostis pallens, Ochna pulchra and Grewia flavescens in a Burkea savanna. After a rain of 50mm the water redistribute to depth of 90cm in 12 hours time in a sandy soil classified as a Chester serie of the Hutton form. Extraction of soil water from the soil profile in the E. pallens and O. pulchra sub habitats occurs mainly above 60cm depth, resulting in an ample supply of water beyond this depth even in the dry period of the year. In the G. flavescens sub habitat extraction of soil water occurs through the whole of the soil profile resulting in a much drier sub habitat than the other two sub habitats.

Keywords: Gauteng Province|savanna ecosystems|plant communities|vegetation|soil waters|redistributions|soil properties|Savanna Biome|water|sandy soils|ground water depths|soil profiles|northern Transvaal