Run?off and soil loss were monitored from a climax, subclimax and pioneer veld, each on a 5,9%, 4,1% and 2,1% slope, by means of a rainfall simulator on a Valsrivier soil form. With rainfall intensity, soil moisture content at the beginning of each rain storm, and soil texture the same for each treatment, plant cover and composition had a significant (positive) (P≤0,05) influence on the amount of soil loss and run?off that occurred, as against the insignificant influence of the slope. An average of 6,2 t/ha soil loss and 80,6% run?off of the amount of water applied occurred from the pioneer veld (0,7% basal cover) on the steepest slope. In all the successional stages more run?off and less soil loss occurred from wet soil than from dry soil. Significant (P≤0,01) relationships between basal and canopy cover were obtained with run?off and soil loss. The climax, subclimax and pioneer veld produced on average 0,57 g, 0,23 g and 0,07 g aboveground phytomass for each litre of water evapotranspirated.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.