The responses of Eragrostis chloromelas Steud. to levels of water, nitrogen and phosphorous applied to soils from the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve.

Abstract

Biomass of Eragrostis chloromelas was increased by increasing water content in pots of soils derived from sandstone and from dolerite from 11 to 33 and 100 per cent of water-holding capacity and by increasing soil nitrogen and phosphorus contents to 2, 5 and 10 times their native levels. The response was larger to nitrogen at high and to phosphorus at low water level.

Keywords: biomass; botany; dolerite; eragrostis chloromelas; nitrogen; phosphorus content; sandstone; soil nitrogen; south africa; water content; willem pretorius game reserve