The effects of five levels of nitrogen, viz. 0, 125, 250, 375 and 500 kg N/ha, were compared on a tall Hyparrhenia community that had been reinforced with either star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst var. nlemfuensis) or couch grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.). The experiment was conducted on a highly erodible duplex soil. Star grass was more successful for reinforcing the veld than couch grass, becoming strongly dominant at the 500 N level and responding significantly to N over the whole range tested. The results indicate that techniques of radical veld improvement can be used to convert Hyparrhenia veld on duplex soils into productive pasture with no risk of erosion.
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.