Main Article Content
Ecosystem development on seven rehabilitated discard dumps
Abstract
To successfully rehabilitate disturbed land the initial input of
resources and the maintenance afterwards must be an integrated process. The
achievement of a good vegetation basal, crown and organic ground cover can be
regarded as one of the central aims of this process. This study evaluated the
role of current rehabilitation practices to ensure a sustainable vegetation
cover in terms of topsoil nutrient status, topsoil thickness, slope steepness,
topsoil texture and the use of grazing as maintenance practice. The study was
conducted on seven rehabilitated discard dumps situated on the Mpumalanga Highveld,
South Africa.
Vegetation was assessed according to its composition, basal, crown and ground
cover. In general the neutral to slightly alkaline soil pH and low salinity
indicate that the topsoil on the dumps is conducive to vegetation growth. The
grass species Digitaria eriantha, Eragrostis curvula, Chloris gayana and Eragrostis
plana contributed most to basal cover. Grazing of rehabilitated vegetation
decreased crown cover but increased ground cover. Grazing intensity was a
significant factor to explain changes in ground cover. Differences in
composition were also related to soil depth, topsoil texture and soil
fertility.
Keywords: coal discard, functional
types, reclamation, rehabilitation, topsoil, vegetation cover
African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2004, 21(1):
57–66
resources and the maintenance afterwards must be an integrated process. The
achievement of a good vegetation basal, crown and organic ground cover can be
regarded as one of the central aims of this process. This study evaluated the
role of current rehabilitation practices to ensure a sustainable vegetation
cover in terms of topsoil nutrient status, topsoil thickness, slope steepness,
topsoil texture and the use of grazing as maintenance practice. The study was
conducted on seven rehabilitated discard dumps situated on the Mpumalanga Highveld,
South Africa.
Vegetation was assessed according to its composition, basal, crown and ground
cover. In general the neutral to slightly alkaline soil pH and low salinity
indicate that the topsoil on the dumps is conducive to vegetation growth. The
grass species Digitaria eriantha, Eragrostis curvula, Chloris gayana and Eragrostis
plana contributed most to basal cover. Grazing of rehabilitated vegetation
decreased crown cover but increased ground cover. Grazing intensity was a
significant factor to explain changes in ground cover. Differences in
composition were also related to soil depth, topsoil texture and soil
fertility.
Keywords: coal discard, functional
types, reclamation, rehabilitation, topsoil, vegetation cover
African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2004, 21(1):
57–66
