Revegetation of bare patches in a semi-arid rangeland of South Africa: an evaluation of various techniques

• Published in: Journal of arid environments 2003-11, Vol.55 (3), p.417-432
• Main Author: Snyman, H.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Anthephora; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Cenchrus ciliaris; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Degradation; Digitaria eriantha; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Eragrostis curvula; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hollows; land restoration; Mechanical implements; plant density; plows; rangelands; Restoration; Rip action; sandy clay soils; sandy soils; Species composition and density; species diversity; Walking-stick planter
• ISSN: 0140-1963; 1095-922X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-1963(02)00286-0

Semi-arid rangelands, which have retrogressed beyond a certain threshold and could not rest-recover, can only be restored by mechanical inputs helping the re-establishment of vegetation. Therefore, different over-sown species and mechanical restoration methods (hollows-dyker plough, furrows-ripper/sub-soiler and walking-stick planter) were evaluated for the restoration of bare areas on both a sandy and clayish soil type. Changes in species composition and plant density over time (1987/88–1996/97 growing seasons) were determined. The hollows with a rip action in one cultivation operation remained over a longer period and therefore caught more water for better establishment of grass species, compared with making only hollows where it silted up more easily. Establishment was poorest when only the walking-stick planter was used. Although the well establishment of Eragrostis curvula over the first 3 years, after 10 years only a few plants survived in both clay and sandy soils. Regardless of cultivation treatment or soil form, Digitaria eriantha subsp. eriantha survived the best ( p