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sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Grass species composition, distribution, biomass production potential and nutritional value in three selected Communal Rangeland Areas under Msukaligwa Local Municipality, Mpumalanga province

Auteur : Mokgakane, Thabile Joyce

Université de soutenance : North-West University

Grade : Master of Science in Animal Science 2021

Résumé partiel
Veld condition is dependent on abiotic and biotic factors such as vegetation dynamics, climatic conditions and soil characteristics. Therefore, this study assessed the spatial variation of grass species composition, distribution, biomass production potential and nutritive value from selected communal rangelands in Msukaligwa municipality, South Africa. The communal rangelands covered three different soil types (Breyten= Hutton), (Davel= Avalon), and (Wesselton= Clovelly). Grass composition and distribution were assessed using a 100 m permanent line point method, replicated three times at 50 m intervals. Grass species were recorded at 1 m marked point intervals within a 10 cm radius. Life form, palatability, ecological status and abundance data were recorded for all grass species found in each site. Hutton soil had high (P<0.05) concentrations (mg/kg) of N-NO3, N-NHO4, C, P, Cu, and Al compared to the same minerals recorded from Avalon and Clovelly soil types which had similar (P<0.05) concentration values. Hutton soil type also had the highest (P<0.05) percentage of palatable grass species (9.6%) and the lowest (P<0.05) percentage of unpalatable grass species (3.50%) compared to the Avalon and Clovelly soil types which had a lower (P>0.05) percentage of palatable and the highest (P<0.05) unpalatable grass species. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in biomass (kg/ha) yield across the three soil types. A variety of 31 grass species were found in all the three soil types, but only 6 were classified as common and dominant and were (Aristida congesta, Digitaria eriantha, Eragrostis chloromelas, Eragrostis curvula, Eragrostis plana, and Eragrostis gummiflua). These species were distributed across all soil types and were thus considered for nutritional characterization

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