The growth of veld in response to defoliation by various means in late winter and spring

Abstract

An experiment was concluded on Dohne Sourveld to determine the effect of mowing and burning during the late winter and spring on subsequent herbage yields. Mowing in spring and burning in late winter before rain gave the highest and lowest yields respectively. There was no difference between burning after the late winter and the spring rains. Mowing both before and after the late winter rains yielded less material than the previous two burning treatments. Reasons for these results are suggested and their implications discussed. Growth curves revealed that at no time did late winter burning before rain stimulate earlier grazing than mowing or burning after rain.

Keywords: sourveld|grazing|treatments|yields|herbage yields|burning|mowing|Dohne Research Institute|experiments|spring|winter|defoliations|veld|growth|Eastern Cape Province|veld management