The production and quality of five species (Themeda triandra, Heteropogon contortus, Digitaria eriantha, var. pentzii, Schmidtia pappophoroides and Eragrostis rigidior) were measured at different frequencies of defoliation on cleared, as well as uncleared, bushveld. During the following year, different intensities of defoliation were applied additionally, but with fewer frequencies. The number of species were reduced to three (D. eriantha, var. pentzii, S. pappophoroides and H. contortus).
Clearing resulted in highly significantly increased production in all species except D. eriantha, without any notable effect on quality.
The species differed in their response to frequency of defoliation, but the 3?weekly and annually defoliated treatments nearly always produced less than the 6? and 9?weekly defoliations.
Although the species were initially subdivided into two groups, which were subjected to different sets of defoliation intensities, the intensity that left a stubbel of 12 cm gave the highest production in all cases.
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.