A study of the tensile properties of the leaves of ten indigenous grasses as measured in terms of their breaking force and their breaking tension has shown that grasses differ from one another in these properties. In general the tensile properties of the grasses show little change during the early part of the season, but increase significantly during the autumn and early winter. In general it was noted that the tensile properties of the leaves of those grasses which retained their physical form on attaining maturity tended to be greater than those of the grasses which mature early in the season.
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.