The effect of burning and mowing on ungrazed tall grassveld of Natal.

Abstract

The trial was conducted on the Estcourt Research Station to show the effect of 14 burning and mowing treatments without grazing in the tall grassveld of Natal. The treatments caused obvious differences in the botanical composition. A principal component analysis suggest that Themeda triandra, Heteropogon contortus, the Cyperaceae, Diheteropogon amplectens and Elionurus muticus are favoured by frequent spring or August defoliation. Hyparrhenia hirta and Tristachya leucothrix are apparently favoured by infrequent defoliation and, possibly, autumn burning. Hay yields were decreased by burning. Soil loss was greatest in August-burnt plots.

Keywords: afrikaans; botanical composition; burning; cyperaceae; defoliation; diheteropogon amplectens; elionurus muticus; estcourt; grazing; hay yields; heteropogon contortus; hyparrhenia hirta; mowing; natal; principal component analysis; soil loss; soil losses; south africa; themeda triandra; tristachya leucothrix; veld condition score; yield