The long term effects of grazing during fixed seasons and combinations of the seasons on certain vegetation characteristics of Cymbopogon?Themeda veld of the Central O.F.S. were investigated. Two field experiments were grazed by Merino sheep and Afrikaner cattle respectively. Each of the experiments was a 24 factorial design in which spring, summer, autumn and winter grazing were applied in all combinations.
The botanical survey was done by means of the concentric circle method. For the statistical analysis the grasses were grouped into climax, sub?climax and pioneer classes. The percentage basal cover, tuft density and tuft diameter were calculated for each class and the total grass cover.
The results showed that grazing during autumn was exceptionally detrimental to the botanical composition and basal cover of the vegetation. Summer grazing also had an adverse effect on botanical composition. Grazing during spring and winter had only minor detrimental effects. The tuft density and tuft diameter data were useful aids in the interpretation of changes in the basal cover of the different grass components.
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.