Bibliography: Land Degradation in South Africa project

season should burning be applied to reduce bush to an available height for

browsing animals? (3) what is the acceptability of different bush species to

goats? (4) what stocking rate of goats must be applied to control bush that has

been reduced to an available height? and (5) what type of browsing management

must be applied to control bush that has been reduced to an available height?

In attempting to answer the first question, it was necessary to determine the

characteristics of fire behaviour in the arid savannas of southeastern Africa.

The investigation was limited to identifying and quantitatively describing those

fire behaviour parameters pertinent to the effects of fire on the vegetation.

Basically the effect of fire on plants depends on the amount, rate and vertical

level at which the heat energy is released during a fire. The amount of heat

energy released during a fire is represented by the product of the fuel load and

the heat yield of the plant fuel. In the arid savannas of the Eastern Cape,

Ciskei and Transkei the fuel load comprises primarily surface fuels in the form

of the standing grass sward. It was found that the most efficient method of

estimating the fuel load was with a disc pasture meter using the following

regression equation: y = (340 + 388,3x) divided by 10 000 where y = mean fuel

load - kg m-2; and x = mean disc height - cm. The regression equation is based

on the following statistics: number of paired data = 43; correlation coefficient

(r) = 0,9126; coefficient of determination (r2) = 0,833; residual standard

deviation = 0,0826. This was a particularly valuable result because it was found

that the regression equation was applicable to a wide variety of grass

communities in markedly different stages of growth. The heat yield of the grass

fuel burning as surface head and back fires ... (photocopied summary ends here).

Ref ID : 1815

1963. Trollope, W.S.W. Effect of season of burning on grass recovery in the

False Thornveld of the eastern Cape. Journal of the Grassland Society of

southern Africa 4(2):74-77, 1987.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : EASTERN CAPE; FIRE; VELD MANAGEMENT; RAINFALL; BUSH ENCROACHMENT

Abstract : Season of burning is one of the most controversial questions

concerning the use of fire in veld management. In the summer rainfall areas of

SA the generally accepted rule of burning only after the first spring rains has

proven ineffectual when using fire to control bush encroachment because the

fires are too cool when burnt at this time. It was therefore decided to

investigate the effect of burning on the regrowth of grass when aplied during

mid-winter, spring, late spring and early summer. The results showed that

burning when the grass was dormant (mid-winter) had no deleterious effect on the

recovery of grass when compared with burning after the first spring rains

(spring). Conversely burning when the grass was actively growing (early summer)

seriously retarded its growth.

Ref ID : 1884

1964. Trollope, W.S.W. Views on veld fires. Veld Trust Conference on the

conservation status of agricultural resources in the RSA. Du Preez,

J.F.Anonymous Pretoria:Unisa. , 1990.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : FIRE; LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION; CONSERVATION

Notes : In this paper, priority is given to the use of fire in the management of

vegetation for livestock production as this is the major form of landuse in

South Africa. Man has used fire in Africa for centuries to modify the

vegetation for grazing by livestock and continues to do so right to the present

day. The current view amongst pasture scientists and progressive livestock

farmers on the permissible reasons for burning veld in SA is that fire can be

used, inter alia, to: remove moribund and/or unacceptable grass material; and

eradicate and/or prevent the encroachment of undesirable plants. These are some

of the questions which are discussed in further detail this paper.

Ref ID : 1056

1965. Trollope, W.S.W. Development of a technique for assessing veld condition

in the Kruger National Park using key grass species. Journal of the Grassland

Society of southern Africa 7(1):46, 1990.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : VELD CONDITION; SAVANNA; GRASSLAND; MODELS

Notes : Only copied p.46.

Abstract : A technique based on key grass species was developed for assessing

veld condition in the Kruger National Park in terms of its potential to produce

grass forage for consumption by herbivores and fine fuels for veld burning.

Fourteen grass species were selected out of a total of 93 species. Forbs were

treated as a single separate category. The key species included at least two

species from the decreaser and increaser categories. Multiple regression models

were developed using these species which are able to estimate accurately the

forage and fuel potential of the veld and also indicate trends in the condition

of the grass sward.

Ref ID : 1337

1966. Trollope, W.S.W. Veld management with particular reference to the grass

sward in the Grassland and Savanna areas of South Africa. 1990.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : VELD MANAGEMENT; GRASSLAND; SAVANNA; LAND USE; CONSERVATION;

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION; STOCKING RATE

Notes : Veld management refers to the management of natural vegetation for

specific objectives related to differnt forms of land use. In the agricultural

context the objective of veld mangement is the sustained production of livestock

products through the maintenance of the veld in a stable and productive

condition. In the wild life context a wide spectrum of different forms of land

use are practised ranging from pure nature conservation through to game

ranching. Consequently the objectives of veld management vary greatly from

creating and maintaining plant and animal communities attractive to tourists

through to trophy hunting and producing venison and other animal products.

Nevertheless correct veld management is the key to the successful achievement of

these objectives and a thorough understanding of this topic is an essential

prerequisite for a vigorous and stable ecosystem. In this chapter emphasis will

be given to the management of the grass sward for livestock production and game

ranching in the grassland and savanna areas of SA because these constitute the

major forms of land use, and grasses comprise the dominant source of forage

produced in these areas. Veld management comprises three components and these

are used to achieve the previously mentioned objectives. The components are

veld management practices, systems and layouts. The two latter components

generally only apply to livestock production systems while the former is an

important element in both livestock and wildlife systems of land use. Veld

management practices are the treatments that are applied in the management of

veld and comprise stocking rate, animal ratios, rotational grazing, rotational

resting and veld burning. Veld management systems are the formalized programs

through which veld management practices are applied and refer to the number of

camps allocated per group of animals. Veld management layouts are the

arrangement of the camps in a veld management system in the veld.

Ref ID : 1363

1967. Trollope, W.S.W. Control of bush encroachment with fire in the Savanna

areas of South Africa.Anonymous Anonymous Namibia:Grassland Society Southern

Africa. :1-8, 1991.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : BUSH ENCROACHMENT; FIRE; SAVANNA

Notes : The results show that there is significantly greater topkill of bush

with increasing fire intensities. The research also showed that the bush became

more resistent to fire as the height of the trees and shrubs increased. Two

most important factors which must be considered when formulating a program for

controlling bush encroachment are the ecological and economic consequences of

applying the methods of control. Firstly, the species composition and cover of

the veld must not be impaired and lead to a deterioration in the condition of

the natural resources of the area. Secondly, the economics of the program must

be such that it is within the financial grasp of the land user to apply the

control methods in practice. Finally, a fire regime is recommended for when

fire is used to control bush encroachment.

Ref ID : 875

1968. Trollope, W.S.W. Veld rehabilitation in the Eastern Cape with special

reference to the use of Multi-Camp systems. ARDRI Bulletin 1(81), 1995.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : VELD MANAGEMENT; VELD CONDITION; EASTERN CAPE; STOCKING RATE

Notes : The author suggests that in the majority of cases, the only economically

feasible methods that can be considered by a rancher for the control of

undesirable plants on any extensive scale are biological techniques and/or veld

burning. He goes on to discuss: veld management practices pertinent to veld

rehabilitation including stocking rate, rotational grazing (including high

utilization grazing and high production grazing); rotational resting; adapting

the animal factor to vegetation; and veld burning. He discusses the use of

multi-camp systems in veld rehabilitation with particular reference to the

"wagon-wheel layout" (including an assessment of the "wagon-wheel" layout of a

multi-camp system) and the future of "wagon-wheels" in the Eastern Cape.

Ref ID : 2264

1969. Trollope, W.S.W., Hobson, F.O., Danckwerts, J.E., and van Niekerk, J.P.

Bosindringing en bosbestryding. In: Weiding - 'n strategie vir die toekoms.

Weidingsbestuurbeginsels en praktyke, edited by Barnes, G.R., Danckwerts, J.E.,

Hobson, F.O., Tainton, N.M., Trollope, W.S.W., and Van Niekerk,

J.P.Pretoria:Department of Agriculture and Water Affairs, 1989,

Reprint : In File,

Ref ID : 1083

1970. Trollope, W.S.W., Potgieter, A.L.F., and Zambatis, N. Assessing veld

condition in the Kruger National Park using key grass species. 1988.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : VELD CONDITION; SAVANNA; VELD MANAGEMENT; MONITORING; PRODUCTION

POTENTIAL; SOIL EROSION; EROSION; FIRE; BUSH ENCROACHMENT

Notes : The development of techniques for assessing veld condition in SA has

proven valuable for assessing the current condition of the veld and for

formulating veld management practices like stocking rate, rotational grazing,

rotational resting and veld burning. An assessment of the situation in the

Kruger National Park indicated that such a technique would be useful for

determining and monitoring the effect of management practices like veld burning,

development of watering points and the culling of game on the vegetation. Of

particular interest is the effect of these practices on the forage production

potential of the grass sward and its resistance to soil erosion. Another factor

involved is the effect of these treatments on the ability of the veld to support

a fire as this determines the effectiveness of burning as a veld management

practice for example in controlling bush encroachment. With these objectives in

mind, this research project was conducted with the aim of: 1) to develop an

objective method for assessing the potential of veld to produce grass forage and

fine fuel for controlled burning; 2) to identify the key grass species that have

the greatest effect on veld condition; and 3) to develop a simplified but

reliable procedure for assessing veld condition for use by wildlife managers.

The results showed that 14 grass species together with forbs accounted for more

than 90% of the variation in the forage and fuel production potential of the

veld. Subsequent field experience gained in the Kruger National Park also

indicated that trends in veld condition could be better estimated by considering

the presence and absence of certain additional grass species. Consequently

these grasses were also considered to be key species. On the basis of these

results a simplified procedure was developed for assessing the condition of the

grass sward in the Kruger National Park.

Ref ID : 148

1971. Trollope, W.S.W., Scogings, P.F., and Beckerling, A.C. The Iqunde

Project, Part 1: Simplified techniques for assessing veld condition in

Ciskei.Anonymous Ciskei:ARDRI, University of Fort Hare. :1-59, 1992.

Reprint : In File,

Keywords : CISKEI; EASTERN CAPE; COMMUNAL AREA; LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION; VELD

MANAGEMENT; STOCKING RATE; AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION; VELD CONDITION; EROSION;

MONITORING; CONSERVATION; RAINFALL; CARRYING CAPACITY; MODELS

Notes : The author concluded that the objectives of the research project to

develop techniques for assessing the condition of veld in Ciskei for livestock

production had been successfully achieved. The key requirements were that the

techniques should be rapid and easy to use and should eliminate the need to know

all the grass, tree and shrub species in the area being assessed. In the case

of the key species technique for the grass sward the number of species to be

identified has been reduced to 18 and in any one veld type will generally not

exceed six species. The technique also has the advantage that the botanical

composition of the grass sward in the area being assessed automatically

identifies the veld type under consideration and directs the user to the

appropriate veld management recommendations applicable to the sample site. In

the case of the technique for assessing the condition of bush through the

selection and use of the appropriate photograph it is now possible to obtain an

assessment of the general condition of the bush in an area for goat production

and based on this formulate realistic veld management practices for successful

livestock production. However it must be emphasised that the veld management

practices, particularly stocking rates of livestock, must be used as general

guidelines for planning purposes and must be adapted when and if necessary in

the light of experience. Furthermore, the initial use of the techniques must

also be regarded as a form of test period for the validation of the techniques

in practice and it is inevitable that certain adaptations will become necessary

in time. One shortcoming of the bush technique is that the botanical

composition is less common types of thornveld may influence the way in which

users estimate the phytomass of bush. Therefore additional series of

photographs ought to be considered for areas of thornveld dominated by certain

plant species, for example, Aloe ferox. However, initial tests in the field

indicate that it generally gives realisitic estimates of the condition of the

bush for goat production. Having developed the technology that can be used to

rehabilitate the veld and improve livestock production in Ciskei the next

logical step is to train the potential users of this technology in the field.

The two most important target groups of users are agricultural extension

officers and leading farmers in Ciskei. Therefore it is strongly recommended

that the Iqunde Project be extended into a second phase where one of the main

components of the project will be to train extension officers and leading

farmers to assess veld condition in order to formulate appropriate veld

management practices for the livestock producing areas of Ciskei. A second

logical extension of the Iqunde Project would be to institute a national program

to monitor veld condition because having developed the necessary technology, it

is now possible to provide an objective mans of obtaining data for improved

regional planning. For example it will enable the Department of Agriculture to

see whether efforts at reducing soil erosion are succeeding or not. It will

also provide an objective means of monitoring the encorachment of undesirable

vegetation like Chrysocoma tenuifolia (bitter karroo), Euryops spp. (resin bush)

and Pteronia incana (blue bush). Such a monitoring program will involve the

systematic collection and storage of information on the vegetation and the

consequent development of a comprehensive data bank on a wide variety of aspects

of the veld in Ciskei. The foundation of this data bank has already been laid

in that the current phase of the research project has produced a considerable

volume of information on the grass and bush components of the vegetation (800

botanical and habitat surveys) which is already yielding valuable information on

the veld that did not exist before. For example it is now possible to identify

those desirable grass species that will increase and dominate on certain

specific soils if given the correct management e.g. Tristachya leucothrix on

sandy soils in the coastal thornveld areas of Ciskei. The development of such a

data bank will be a continuing process and besides yielding valuable information

for the agricultural sector it will also be of interest and importance to other

disciplines e.g. nature conservation. Therefore it is strongly recommended that

the second phase of the Iqunde Project also include the development of a

national program for monitoring veld condition in Ciskei as a means for regional

planning aimed at rehabilitating the veld and improving livestock production.

Regarding future research requirements attention must be given to obtaining more

objective estimates of grazing and browsing capacities for the different veld

types in Ciskei. An adaptive management approach involving cooperation with

leading farmers operating in the different veld types is strongly recommended as

one of the effective and economic methods of obtaining this type of information.

Another urgent need is to determine the effect of rainfall on the carrying

capacity of the veld. In their present form the recommended stocking rates are

based on the mean carrying capacity of the veld receiving the average rainfall

for the area. Therefore these stocking rates can only be used for planning

purposes and not for short and medium term management purposes. The only

example of where the effect of rainfall on carrying capacity has been

objectively determined has been the grazing capacity model developed by

Danckwerts (1981) for the False Thornveld of the Eastern Cape. This model is

being successfully used for varying the stocking rates of grazing animals in

response to variations in rainfall on the research farm at the University of

Fort Hare and has proved to be a very valuable tool in the practical management

of the veld. The current research program has also indicated the potential of

developing a more objective but simplified technique for assessing the condition

of bush based on the identification of key bush species and their responses to

environmental gradients. It is firmly believed that this aspect should enjoy a

high research priority and emphasises the point that the simplified technique

presented in this report is not necessarily a final technique, but is a step in

the right direction. It is also believed that the current simplifed technique

for assessing the condition of the bush could be adapted for use in wildlife

areas by adjusting the estimate of browse potential to the feeding preferences

and feeding heights of wild ungulates. Such a technique deserves a high

research priority in the game reserves in Ciskei. Finally, a simplified

technique is still not available for assessing the condition of the veld in the

succulent Valley Bushveld areas of Ciskei. This research is currently being

conducted in the Eastern Cape by researchers at the Dohne Research Station at

Stutterheim. It is strongly recommended that the results of this research

effort be obtained and integrated into the currently developed program for

assessing veld condition in Ciskei.

Ref ID : 2374

1972. Tshotyana, V.M. Agricultural extension in a developing country, the need

for a new approach in Ciskei. Ciskei Journal for Rural Development , 1988.

Reprint : Not in File,

Keywords : AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION; CISKEI; AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION;

SOCIOECONOMIC ASPECTS

Notes : The purpose of the study was to review the past and present extension

programme of the third world countries with a view to rationalising the

agricultural extension service of Ciskei. The author used secondary information

for the study. The role of extension officers is not to change the farmer per

se, but to improve his agri-milieu. The establishment of a nucleus of genuine

farmers will relieve the extension officer of his multi-purpose role, and hence

increase the impact of his efforts. This will be achieved by concentrating on a

single specialised production line. Improved conditions and good pay are

essential to improve efficiency of extension workers. This article is

obtainable from the University of Fort Hare. See ref. I.D. no: 2339.

Ref ID : 1238

1973. Tueller, P.T. Remote sensing applications for monitoring veld

conditions.Anonymous Anonymous Nevada:Department of Range Wildlife and Forestry.

:1-19, 1991. Remote sensing techniques hold considerable promise for the

inventory and monitoring of natural resources on rangelands. Since about 1968

remote sensing techniques have been proposed for range management (veld

management) but they have not been widely applied. The reasons for this are

complex but are related to promises made too early before research results were

complete. It is now clear that there is a fundamental reason why the

applications have not been forthcoming. The reason is that there is a

significant lack of information concerning basic spectral characteristics of

range vegetation and soils. Without such basic information relevant to the

sensors that are now available it has been and will remain difficult to develop

the desired applications. In order to use remote sensing technology for

measuring changes in the veld certain things must be accomplished. First, the

spectral characteristics of scene components must be determined for the various

veld types. Second, determinations must be made of the appropriate kids of

remotely sensed data that should be used for the task. And finally, procedures

must be outlined for acquiring the remotely sensed data that will measure