Short Communication:Association of Cymbopogon plurinodis with the clay content of soil in the Sourish Mixed Bushveld.

Abstract

In a camp, typical of the Sourish Mixed Bushveld, a marked decrease in the abundance of Cymbopogon plurinodis along a soil gradient from high to low clay content was found. The association appears to be independent of the grazing treatment over a 51-year period as the population size of C. plurinodis has remained relatively unchanged. Notwithstanding being under-utilized under continuous grazing, as well as the absence of regular fires, C. plurinodis did not become moribund. The application of controlled selective grazing to eradicate unpalatable species may not be generally applicable. The importance of gradients other than grazing gradients are emphasized.

Keywords: afrikaans; continuous grazing; cymbopogon plurinodis; fire; gradients; grazing gradients; population size; selective grazing; soil; soil series; sourish mixed bushveld