Acacia karroo intrusion: the effect of burning and sparing

Abstract

An investigation was conducted in the Eastern Cape sweetveld to determine the effect of frequency of burning, extended sparing and controlled grazing on the establishment of seedlings of A. karoo. After eradication of a mature A. karoo stand, seedling establishment in the area concerned was recorded annually in permanent transects on paddocks neither grazed nor burnt, burnt annually, burnt biennially and burnt triennially. Grazing and resting treatments were superimposed on the burning treatment. After seven years reinfestation of A. karoo was determined on all paddocks and population height was sampled for evidence of layering.

Keywords: intrusions|burning regimes|sparing|Eastern Cape Province|sweetveld|invasions|grazing|seedlings|eradications|controlled burnings|resting|paddocks|pastures|treatments|drought conditions|establishments