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The Relationship between Soil Water Status, Rainfall and the Growth of Eucalyptus grandis
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Forestry Journal • Authors: D.I. Boden --- Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, South AfricaAvailable soil water is recognised as the main factor influencing the growth of commercial plantations in southern Africa. This is of strategic importance as successive rotations of demanding species such as Eucalyptus grandis may be depleting the soil water reserves... -
Veldtoestand en neiging in Kalahari‐duineveld onder ‘n ekstensiewe veeboerderystelsel
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: J.H. Fourie --- Departement van Landbou (Vrystaatstreek), N.J. de Wet --- Departement van Landbou (Vrystaatstreek), J.J. Page --- ,Plantopnames is gedurende 1970 tot 1985 in die Kalahari‐duineveld (Acocks, 1975; Veldtipe no. 16a4) op die proefboerdery‐eenheid Massakloutjie in Noordwes‐Kaapland onderneem. Reënval het gedurende die proefperiode gewissel tussen 111 mm (1982–83) en 593 mm (1973–74). Die totale basale plantebedekking het... -
The influence of an Acacia karroo tree on grass production in its vicinity
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: G.C. Stuart‐Hill --- Department of Agriculture and Water Supply (East Cape Region), N.N. Tainton --- Department of Agriculture and Water Supply (East Cape Region), H.J. Barnard --- Department of Agriculture and Water Supply (East Cape Region),The investigation was concerned with the impact of an Acacia karroo tree on the productivity of the surrounding herbaceous layer. -
Die produksie van smutsvingergras in die wes‐transvaal1
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: C.S. Dannhauser --- Departement Landbou en Watervoorsiening, W.L.J. van Rensburg --- , D.P.J. Opperman --- , P.J. Vanrooyen --- ,Die produksie van Smutsvingergras (Digitaria eriantha) is in yerskeie proewe in die Hoëveldstreek, op Potchefstroom, in die verlede bepaal. Hierdie proewe is oor ‘n lang periode op verskillende grondsoorte en met verskillende bemestingspeile uitge‐voer. Alle resultate is saamgevoeg en met... -
Determinants of herbaceous plant species composition on a number of ranches in the north‐western Transvaal
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: M.J.S. Peel --- Department of Agricultural Development, Republic of South Africa D. Grossman --- Department of Agricultural Development, Republic of South Africa N. van Rooyen --- Department of Botany, Republic of South AfricaHerbaceous plant species composition was measured on ranches in the Thabazimbi district, Transvaal, to obtain veld composition scores and to quantify the relations between such scores and certain determinants considered important in influencing species composition. Determinants investigated were mean annual... -
A model for the evaluation of different production strategies for animal production from rangeland in developing areas: An overview
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: F.D. Richardson --- Department of Applied Mathematics, Republic of South Africa B.D. Hahn --- Department of Applied Mathematics, Republic of South Africa P.I. Wilke --- Department of Animal Science, Republic of South AfricaAn interactive user‐friendly computer package is being developed to assist planners and managers with the evaluation of different livestock production strategies in semi‐arid regions. It comprises a hierarchy of simulation models that predict over time the effects of past and... -
Effect of the amount of surface maize residue on infiltration and soil loss from a clay loam soil
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: P.M. Lang --- , Republic of South Africa J.B. Mallett --- , Republic of South AfricaSix levels of maize stover, expressed as percentage ground cover (0–75%) were compared under a rainfall simulator to assess the effect of surface residues on infiltration and soil loss on a clay loam soil with a 3,5% slope. Increasing the... -
Importance of rainfall oscillations in agricultural planning
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: A.L. du Pisani --- ,Evidence seems to indicate that the rainfall in the summer rainfall area of the RSA exhibits an oscillatory nature with a period of 16–20 years. To help maize farmers in planning for a dry or wet cycle the most recent... -
The effect of simulated rain on the efficiency of herbicides in the presence of maize stubble
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: T.C. van Eeden --- , Republic of South Africa D. du Toit --- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Republic of South AfricaThe effect of the amount of simulated rain and stubble on the efficiency of herbicides was examined in a glasshouse study. Four different amounts of maize stubble (0–3 500 kg ha-1) and nine different amounts of simulated rain (0–20 mm)... -
Effect of soil surface amendments on runoff and erosion from simulated rain applied to a sesquioxidic soil
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: H. Frenkel --- Department of Agronomy, Republic of South Africa M.V. Fey --- Department of Agronomy, Republic of South Africa G.H. Goodall --- Department of Agronomy, Republic of South Africa W.B. Russell --- Department of Agriculture and Water Supply, Republic of South AfricaSimulated rainfall, using low conductivity water, was applied at an intensity of 63 mm h−1 to a field soil of the Doveton series (a kaolinitic, sesquioxidic clay soil at Cedara in Natal, recently cultivated out of pasture) after pre-treatment of... -
A family of stochastic models for droughts
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: W. Zucchini --- Department of Statistical Sciences, Republic of South Africa P.T. Adamson --- , United Kingdom L. McNeill --- Department of Statistical Sciences, Republic of South AfricaThere is no single quantitative definition of a drought; what constitutes a drought depends both on water needs and on storage capabilities. In this paper a family of models is proposed which is sufficiently flexible to cover a range of... -
Verwantskap tussen organiese materiaalinhoud van sekere onversteurde bogronde, grondeienskappe en klimaatsdata in Suid-Afrika
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: M.E. du Toit --- , Republiek van Suid-Afrika C.C. du Preez --- Departement van Grondkunde, Republiek van Suid-AfrikaDie doel met die ondersoek was om vas te stel of die organiese materiaalinhoud van onversteurde ortiese A-horisonte, wat deur rooi apedale, geelbruin apedale en sagte plintiese B-horisonte onderlê word, vanaf beskikbare of maklik meetbare grondeienskappe en klimaatsdata bereken kan... -
The relationship between ENSO and rainfall and yield in the South African sugar industry
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: A. Singels --- Department of Agronomy, Republic of South Africa C.N. Bezuidenhout --- Department of Agronomy, Republic of South AfricaInformation on the effects of El Nino on local climate and sugarcane production will assist planning and management. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the southern oscillation index (SOI) and rainfall and sugarcane yields in... -
Relationship between acid saturation and hydrogen activity of soils from different districts in South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: A.A. Bloem --- Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, North West Province, Republic of South AfricaSoil analyses results from six districts in the western maize producing areas of South Africa were used for correlating exchangeable acidity and acid saturation with hydrogen ion activity (pH). From the resulting regression equations, the pH values that corresponded with... -
Rainfall and the prediction of sorghum yield in South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: W.G. Wenzel --- , South AfricaSorghum yield of smallholder farmers is low and that of commercial farmers remained stagnant from 1980 to 1997. The most important production constraint was identified by correlating within season rainfall with annual average sorghum yield. The results indicate that moisture... -
Tillage-crop residue management and rainfall-runoff relationships for the Alemaya catchment in Eastern Ethiopia
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: Y.E. Woyessa --- Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, South Africa A. T.P. Bennie --- Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, South AfricaA field study was conducted in the Alemaya catchment, Eastern Ethiopia, with the objective of determining the effect of tillage practices, crop reside cover and rainfall characteristics on runoff during two rainfall seasons on a clayey Regosol with 5% slope... -
Seasonal herbage production from two range types in southern Mozambique
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: JP Muir A AlageEstimating ideal stocking rates in southern Mozambique based on range productivity is difficult since forage and foggage production of range types receiving different amounts of rainfall have not been quantified to date. Exclosures were constructed in upland and alluvial range... -
Is carry-over of grass biomass between years important in determining savanna fire regimes?
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: JJ Midgley D Balfour N GovenderWe show that the size of areas burned in three southern African parks is dominated by the amount of rainfall in the immediately preceding summer. Considering mean rainfall from two years previous changes r2 values by <20%. We interpret this... -
Dry matter yield of herbaceous rangeland plants and livemass gain of Tswana steers in eastern Botswana in response to stocking rate and phosphorus supplementation
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: G. Tacheba --- Department of Agricultural Research, Botswana W.N. Mphinyane --- Department of Agricultural Research, BotswanaTswana steers were continuously grazed at stocking rates of 3, 6, and 9 ha LSU‐1 in two blocks, and steers in one block were supplemented with phosphorus. Dry matter yield of herbaceous rangeland plants was measured at the end of... -
Towards the development of a bioeconomic stocking model for the semi‐arid savanna of KwaZulu‐Natal
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: G.P. Hatch --- Department of Grassland Science, Republic of South Africa N.M. Tainton --- Department of Grassland Science, Republic of South Africa G.F. Ortmann --- Department of Agricultural Economics, South AfricaRainfall variability is a major determinant of system dynamics and profitability of livestock enterprises in arid and semi‐arid environments. Range managers consequently require detailed information on the financial and ecological implications of various stocking strategies in order to formulate viable... -
Identifying key grazing indicators to monitor trends in the veld condition of Lambert's Bay Strandveld, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Nelmarie Saayman --- Directorate: Plant Science, South Africa Craig Morris --- Agricultural Research Council–Animal Production Institute, South Africa Hannes Botha --- Directorate: Plant Science, South AfricaCurrently, the methods used to assess the veld condition of the Lambert's Bay Strandveld along the West Coast of South Africa require that the operator knows all the plants encountered in the survey area. In this study data were collected... -
Nutrient levels of three Eucalyptus species/provenances, measured over four seasons in a trial along the sandy, dry, Cape West Coast of South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: The Southern African Forestry Journal • Authors: F. Ellis --- Faculty of Forestry, A. van Laar --- Faculty of Forestry,Foliage nutrient content of 3 to 6-year old Eucalyptus species/provenances (E. camaldulensis, E. globulus and E. grandis x E. tereticornis) were analysed for eleven elements over a four-year period. The trial was planted on three sites, adjacent to each other,... -
Water use efficiency in South African Eucalyptus plantations: A review
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: The Southern African Forestry Journal • Authors: PeterJ. Dye --- Faculty of Science and Agriculture,The relation between rainfall and Eucalyptus stem growth is investigated using data recorded at three ICFR espacement trials in kwaZulu-Natal. These data show that, for a given rainfall amount, large differences in stem growth may occur at different sites. The... -
Update on the bathymetry of Lake Mweru (Zambia), with notes on water level fluctuations
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: ArthurR Bos CyprianK Kapasa PaulAM van ZwietenA new bathymetric map of Lake Mweru was developed, displaying previously unknown morphological features and correcting the shape of the shoreline as presented in older maps. Water depth was measured during 11 transect cruises in early 1994. Two depressions were... -
Ostrich recruitment dynamics in relation to rainfall in the Mara–Serengeti ecosystem
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: JosephO Ogutu --- Institute of Crop Science, Germany Hans-Peter Piepho --- Institute of Crop Science, Germany HollyT Dublin --- Species Survival Commission, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, c/o Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, South AfricaAnimal population dynamics can be driven by rainfall variability through its influence on habitat suitability, availability and nutritional sufficiency of forage. To understand how rainfall influences ostriches, we related changes in ostrich recruitment in the Mara–Serengeti ecosystem to rainfall. Over... -
Overland Flow on Small Plots at the Jonkershoek Forestry Research Station
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Forestry Journal • Authors: D.B. Versfeld --- Department of Environment Affairs,Overland flow was found to be negligible on small plots at Jonkershoek in the Western Cape. Treatments such as the burning or hoeing of fynbos and the thinning of a plantation had no significant effect on this phenomenon and the... -
Climatic and Altitudinal Criteria for Commercial Afforestation with Special Reference to Natal
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Forestry Journal • Authors: A. P.G. Schönau --- Wattle Research Institute and Department of Agricultural Engineering, South Africa R.E. Schulze --- Wattle Research Institute and Department of Agricultural Engineering, South AfricaCriteria of altitude and climate such as mean annual precipitation, mean annual. January and July temperatures, mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures for January and July respectively and duration of soil moisture deficit are given for five main commercial tree... -
Dissolved Oxygen Characteristics of the Gamtoos Estuary, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: M. W. Pearce E. H. SchumannThe fall and recovery of dissolved oxygen (DO) is documented throughout the Gamtoos Estuary, South Africa during dry conditions and following light and heavy rainfall over a 13-month period from November 1992 to November 1993. Hypoxic conditions generally occurred in... -
A comparison of productive and non-productive green water-use efficiency of Podocarpus henkelii and Pinus patula in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Hartley H Bulcock --- Centre for Water Resources Research, South Africa Mark B Gush --- CSIR, South Africa Graham PW Jewitt --- Centre for Water Resources Research, South AfricaA number of studies undertaken in South Africa to quantify the green water-use (total evaporation) of introduced commercial forestry species have shown conclusively that green water-use from commercial forest plantations is substantially higher than from the original grasslands or fynbos... -
Soil classification groups to quantify primary salinity, sodicity and alkalinity in South African soils
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: Johannes P Nell --- Agricultural Research Council–Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, South Africa Cornelius W van Huyssteen --- Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Science, South AfricaThis study aimed to quantify the primary salinity, sodicity and alkalinity of South African soils based on soil classification groups and rainfall classes, by using available analysed data. The 73 soil forms used by the Soil Classification Working Group were... -
Climate and the evolution of group-living behaviour in the armadillo lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus)
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Cindy Shuttleworth --- Department of Botany and Zoology, South Africa P. le Fras N. Mouton --- Department of Botany and Zoology, South Africa Adriaan van Niekerk --- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, South AfricaWe evaluated the hypothesis that the regular use of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, as food source by the armadillo lizard, Ouroborus cataphractus, originated as an adaptation to survive the summer dry season in a climatic regime where rainfall... -
Food abundance explains the breeding season of a tropical shorebird, the Crab Plover Dromas ardeola
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Giuseppe De Marchi --- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Italy Giorgio Chiozzi --- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Italy Dawit Semere --- Research Division, Eritrea Yohannes Mebrahtu --- Research Division, Eritrea Farhad Hosseini Tayefeh --- Department of the Environment Provincial Office, Iran Mohammed Almalki --- Department of Biology, College of Science, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mauro Fasola --- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente, ItalyThe timing of breeding in birds is a life-history trait that generally depends on food availability, but other factors may play a role, particularly in tropical areas where food availability is less seasonal than in temperate or polar areas. We... -
First Red-billed Quelea breeding record in the winter rainfall region of South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: H Dieter Oschadleus --- Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, South AfricaThe Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea is a serious pest of agricultural crops throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa. Since the 1980s, it has expanded its range into the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, South Africa, facilitated by changes in agricultural practices... -
A comparison of planting and coppice regeneration of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla clones in South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Jacob W Crous --- Sappi Forests, South Africa Louisa Burger --- Department of Forest and Wood Science, South AfricaResults from two coppice compared to replant trials are presented that originated from clone by site interaction (CSI) trials established on high‑ and low‑productivity sites in subtropical coastal KwaZulu‑Natal, South Africa. After the 84‑month CSI trial measurements were completed the... -
Impact of rainfall variability on groundwater levels in Ruiru municipality, Kenya
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development • Authors: R.M. Nyakundi --- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Kenya M. Makokha --- Department of Water Engineering and Technology, Kenya J.K. Mwangi --- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Kenya C. Obiero --- Department of Land Resource Planning and Management, KenyaGroundwater accounts for the largest fresh water resources in the world. However, there has been limited exploitation of this vital resource in many areas. Where groundwater resources have been utilised, they have been over-exploited, polluted, wasted and mismanaged. In Ruiru... -
Population dynamics of Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) on Coffea canephora in the Lake Victoria Crescent agroecological zone of Uganda
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: James P Egonyu --- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Uganda Gladys Ahumuza --- National Coffee Research Institute, Uganda Isaac Ogari --- National Coffee Research Institute, UgandaWe studied the seasonal population dynamics of Xylosandrus compactus on Coffea canephora for 24 months from June 2013 to May 2015 at the National Coffee Research Institute, Mukono, Uganda. Every month, we randomly sampled 20 infested twigs from different coffee... -
Assessing effect of rainfall on rate of alien shrub expansion in a southern African savanna
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Mhosisi Masocha --- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Zimbabwe Timothy Dube --- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, South Africa Andrew Skidmore --- Faculteit Geo-Informatie Wetenschappen en Aardobservatie, The Netherlands Milena Holmgren --- Resource Ecology Group, The Netherlands Herbert Prins --- Resource Ecology Group, The NetherlandsUnderstanding the environmental factors governing the spread of alien shrubs is crucial for conserving biodiversity. In the semi-arid savannas of Africa, alien shrub invasion often occurs simultaneously with native shrub encroachment but climate-dependent differences in encroachments of native and alien... -
Long-term vegetation change (>20 years) in the plains habitat on the Goegap Nature Reserve, Succulent Karoo, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Margaretha W van Rooyen --- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, South Africa Annelise le Roux --- CapeNature, Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, South Africa Helga van der Merwe --- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON): Arid Lands Node, South Africa Noel van Rooyen --- Private, South Africa Conrad Geldenhuys --- Environment and Nature Conservation, South AfricaBecause vegetation change in arid ecosystems is slow, long-term data are essential to gain an understanding of how the vegetation responds to short-term, inter-annual variation in rainfall; long-term cyclic rainfall patterns; and grazing pressure. The point intercept method was conducted... -
Vegetation responses to seasonal weather conditions and decreasing grazing pressure in the arid Succulent Karoo of South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Ute Schmiedel --- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, Germany Jens Oldeland --- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, GermanyThe Succulent Karoo biome is a renowned centre of biodiversity and endemism in the arid winter rainfall region of South Africa that is threatened by climate change. On 20 permanently marked plots within a biodiversity observatory, species richness and cover... -
Effects of climate change on malaria morbidity and mortality in Taraba State, Nigeria
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: J Jonathan --- Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Nigeria N Ivoke --- Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Nigeria IO Aguzie --- Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Nigeria CD Nwani --- Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, NigeriaThe study investigated the effects of climatic changes on malaria parasite prevalence, morbidity and mortality in Taraba State, Nigeria. Using a retrospective study design, the study relied on secondary data covering a period from 2005 to 2014, obtained from Meteorological... -
Land Cover Change Impacts on Beef Cattle Productivity under Changing Climate: Case of Ilemela and Magu Districts, Tanzania
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal • Authors: Siwa Ernest Nkya --- Directorate of Forest Production Research, Tanzania Martin Hagai --- Department of Geoinformatics, Tanzania Japhet Joel Kashaigili --- Department of Forest Resources Assessment and Management, TanzaniaThe study focused on contributing to the spatial knowledge of the impacts of land cover changes on beef cattle production under a changing climate in rangelands of the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB), so as to establish a strategy for improving... -
Interactive effect of planting date and fertiliser application on maize growth and yield under dryland conditions
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: Dolapo B Akinnuoye-Adelabu --- Crop Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, South Africa Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi --- Crop Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, South Africa Albert T Modi --- Crop Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, South AfricaUnderstanding the relationships among management practices during planting period will help producers to improve crop production under climate change. The interaction of planting date and soil fertility on maize yield was evaluated. Field trials were conducted during summer in 2014/15... -
Could drought constrain woody encroachers in savannas?
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Madelon F Case --- , United States Benjamin J Wigley --- , India Corli Wigley-Coetsee --- , South Africa A Carla Staver --- , United StatesDroughts are expected to become more frequent and severe, due to climate change, with uncertain consequences for savanna vegetation. Drought-driven tree mortality has been observed in some savannas, but little is known about how tolerant savanna trees are to drought,... -
Recent droughts in the Kruger National Park as reflected in the extreme climate index
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Johan Malherbe --- , South Africa Izak PJ Smit --- , South Africa Konrad J Wessels --- , United States Philip J Beukes --- , South AfricaAssociated with the 2015/2016 El Niño, extreme drought occurred over the Lowveld of South Africa. The area includes the Kruger National Park (KNP). Significant die-offs of a mega herbivore species occurred, corroborated by census data in KNP. The drought situation... -
Forb community responses to an extensive drought in two contrasting land-use types of a semi-arid Lowveld savanna
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: F Siebert --- , South Africa J Klem --- , South Africa H Van Coller --- , South AfricaProjected increases in the frequency and severity of drought events are expected to impose changes in the ecology of native forb communities in semi-arid ecosystems. We examined the state of forb communities during, and directly after an extreme drought event... -
Winter breeding season of Brown-throated Martins Riparia paludicola in Morocco
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Peter W Greig-Smith --- , United KingdomUniquely among birds of coastal North Africa, Brown-throated Martins breed during the northern winter. Over ten years, the amount of rainfall in the six months before the breeding season was positively correlated with numbers of nests in November, and negatively... -
Is a long hygroscopic awn an advantage for Themeda triandra in drier areas?
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Craig D Morris --- , South AfricaThemeda triandra has bigeniculate hygroscopic lemma seed awns that twist when wet and drying, thereby transporting the caryopsis across the soil surface into suitable germination microsites. The prediction that awns would be longer in drier grassland and have greater motility... -
Earthworm diversity and density as affected by soil and climatic factors in Raymond Mhlaba municipality, Eastern Cape province, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: Sixolise Mcinga --- , South Africa Alen Manyevere --- , South Africa P Mnkeni --- , TanzaniaEarthworms play a key role in improving soil health, and their diversity and density are mainly affected by soil and climatic factors. This study determined the effects of rainfall, temperature and selected soil properties on the diversity and density of... -
Conservation Agriculture in rainfed annual crop production in South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: JA Strauss --- , South Africa PA Swanepoel --- , South Africa MC Laker --- , South Africa HJ Smith --- , South AfricaPressures from population growth, changing diets and climate change are driving transformation of our global food production to ensure more efficient, reliable and sustainable production. In South Africa, arable land for crop production and permanent pastures accounts for 10–12% of... -
Historic changes in the fire-rainfall relationship at a woodland-savanna transition zone in southern Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: T Hamilton --- , South Africa S Archibald --- , South Africa S Woodborne --- , South AfricaSouthern Africa is dominated by fire-prone arid and semi-arid landscapes that are expected to experience increased maximum temperatures, rainfall variation and frequency of extreme rainfall events in the future. These conditions will affect fire and vegetation dynamics, but feedback and... -
Integrating rainfall data into site-specific modelling to improve forest productivity estimation of eucalypt hybrid species in coastal Zululand, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Morries Chauke --- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Henry Mwambi --- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Antonio C Ferraz-Filho --- Federal University of Piauí, BrazilThis study aimed to develop a dynamic dominant height model and explore the effects of rainfall on the growth dynamics of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla. This species is grown for wood production in South Africa, and accurately estimating site...