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1.
Abstract

The effects of a cutting trial, conducted to study the combined influence of defoliation and competition from surrounding vegetation on the vigour of Themeda triandra and Aristida junciformis, were evident after the single season of treatment implementation. Aristida junciformis was more sensitive to defoliation than T. triandra, whereas competition reduced yield to a greater extent in T. triandra than in A. junciformis. The two species differed in their ability to tolerate defoliation under competition. Defoliation reduced the yield of A. junciformis, at all levels of competition, to a greater extent than T. triandra. Aristida junciformis was particularly sensitive to a combination of severe defoliation and full competition. It is suggested that manipulation of grazing patterns may shift the competitive balance between palatable (e.g. T. triandra) and unpalatable (e.g. A. junciformis) components of the sward.  相似文献   

2.
Abstract

The effect of fire on the germination of Themeda triandra, Heteropogon contortus, Panicum maximum, Aristida junciformis and Spowbolus africanus was investigated. Seeds exposed directly to the fire were destroyed in all species. The germination of seeds buried (7 to 9 mm) when exposed to fire was depressed in T. triandra (P ≤ 0,01), stimulated in H. contortus (P ≤ 0,05) and unaffected (P > 0,05) in the other species.  相似文献   

3.
Abstract

Marked populations of Themeda triandra and Sporobolus fimbriatus tillers were sequentially harvested at fortnightly intervals both under irrigation and under unamended moisture conditions. Sampling covered a period from tiller initiation through to senescence after flowering.

Tiller masses and green leaf areas were used to derive absolute growth rates, relative growth rates, net assimilation rates and leaf area ratios respectively. Growth rates of Themeda triandra were higher, or were maintained at high levels for longer than those of Sporobolus fimbriatus. Moisture stress resulted in considerably depressed growth rates. Photosynthetic efficiency of spring emerging tillers was potentially greatest in midsummer, but this seasonal influence was masked by moisture stress on non‐irrigated treatments.  相似文献   

4.
The grazing behaviour and forage preferences of blesbok on the Van Riebeek Nature Reserve near Pretoria are described. Species composition of the grass component of this grassland vegetation as well as its utilization by blesbok were determined by means of point surveys. Blesbok feed exclusively on grasses and show preferences for certain species. Their preferences on burned range differ from those on unburned range. Judging by preference ratings, Themeda triandra and Eragrostis curvula are the most important food plants of blesbok in this Reserve. Rotational burning appears to be essential in the management of blesbok herds kept under such conditions.  相似文献   

5.
Abstract

The most commonly occurring grass species in the False Thornveld (Acocks, 1953; veld type no. 21) were clipped before and after grazing on veld in good and poor condition at different times of the year. Herbage yield per species was expressed per unit basal tuft area, and the difference in yield before and after grazing was considered to reflect the production of available forage. Themeda triandra produced more forage than any other species at all times of the year. Sporobolus fimbriatus generally produced the second highest amount of available forage. Cymbopogon plurinodis, despite having the second highest herbage yield before grazing, was not grazed to a significant extent. On the basis of the results, Themeda triandra and Sporobolus fimbriatus were identified as key grass species in the False Thornveld of the Eastern Cape.  相似文献   

6.
Abstract

Grasses have developed through natural selection to deter, escape and tolerate herbivory, and to escape and tolerate fire. In the semi‐arid grassveld of the Eastern Cape, the species Themeda triandra and Sporobolus fimbriatus have been classified as Decreaser and Increaser II plants respectively. Both species have well‐developed escape and tolerance mechanisms, although T. triandra readily tolerates defoliation only during the dormant season, while S. fimbriatus is adapted to tolerating defoliation throughout the year. Furthermore, T. triandra has only moderately developed deterrents to herbivory, in contrast to S. fimbriatus, where deterrents are well developed. It follows that the Decreaser species T. triandra is adapted to relatively frequent fire and no more than modest herbivory, while the Increaser II species, S. fimbriatus, is adapted to heavy herbivore usage, but infrequent fire.  相似文献   

7.
Compositional transformation of South African semiarid grasslands and savannas owing to changes in soil nutrient status and fire-linked attributes is often reported. However, mechanisms of change are not fully understood. Currently, plant-derived smoke has attracted much attention as a fire-related cue responsible for stimulating germination and seedling growth. However, there is very little documentation on how these fire-linked factors, such as smoke, and soil macronutrients, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), interact to effect seedling growth of grasses. In this study, smoke-responsive (Themeda triandra) and less smoke-responsive species (Eragrostis curvula and Panicum maximum) were tested with different concentrations and combinations of smoke-water and smoke-isolated butenolide with or without added N, P, or K under greenhouse conditions. In the absence of N, P, or K, smoke-water and butenolide treatments enhanced a number of seedling growth parameters of T. triandra. In contrast, exclusion of N from the nutrient solution significantly reduced shoot length, seedling weight, root volume, and vigor index of E. curvula at all tested concentrations of smoke-water and butenolide solutions compared to the control. In the presence of N, P, and K, smoke-water and butenolide suppressed seedling growth of P. maximum, whereas the absence of one of these macronutrients had a small promotory effect on some parameters. This study may assist in understanding the postfire seedling dynamics of grasses.  相似文献   

8.
Abstract

The grazing value of the seven most prominent grass species in Tarchonanthus‐limeveld was investigated from 1977 to 1981.

The frequency of utilization of Chrysopogon serrulatus was exceptionally high (93%), while Sporobolus fimbriatus, Themeda triandra and Digitaria seriata were intermediate (50–60%) followed by Cymbopogon plurinodis (34%). Eragrotis lehmanniana and Fingerhuthia africana were poorly grazed (12 to 16%). The utilization of species was influenced by stocking rate. Statistical differences between species indicated a relatively high biomass production (600 to 740 g DM/m2 per year) for E. lehmanniana, C. plurinodis and T. triandra, while F. africana, S. fimbriatus and D. seriata were intermediate (320 to 420 g DM/m2 per year). E. lehmanniana, C. plurinodis and T. triandra produced the highest above‐ground phytomass, but had a lower crude protein content (2,9 to 7,4%) and digestibility (46,1 to 61,3%) than the other four species (3,8 to 9,7% crude protein and 50,5 to 68,4% digestibility).  相似文献   

9.
Fire, natural or of anthropologic origin, is a recurrent phenomenon in South African mesic grassland. The species composition of these grasslands is sensitive to fire, particularly fire frequency. However, the mechanisms involved in influencing species composition are not fully understood. Currently there is a general suggestion that plant-derived smoke and smoke-isolated biologically active butenolide compound provide an important germination cue for a range of Poaceae species. Studies also show that these smoke solutions play a role in vegetative growth of many plants. We examined if this fire-response syndrome is related to the effect of plant-derived smoke-water (1:500 v/v) and smoke-derived butenolide compound (10-8 M) on seed germination and seedling growth of six major constituent species of the grassland. In addition, the interaction of the smoke solutions with temperature was examined by incubating seeds at a range of temperatures. Treating seeds with smoke-water and butenolide, the germination rate and final germination percentage were greater in three of the six species. Themeda triandra Forssk. and Tristachya leucothrix Trin. ex Nees showed the greatest response, with final germination increased from 43% to 67% and 35% to 63%, respectively. With increasing temperature (> 30°C), Aristida junciformis Trin. & Rupr., Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Staph, and Panicum maximum Jacq. responded positively to the test solutions. In nearly all the species tested, smoke-water–treated seeds produced significantly longer shoots or roots. However, the degree of response varied from species to species and across different temperatures. Findings from this study suggest that plant-derived smoke and its interaction with temperature may significantly influence the germination and seedling growth of the South African mesic grassland species, which can further alter the grassland composition.  相似文献   

10.
Abstract

Selective grazing by livestock inevitably results in patch grazing. This study was initiated to determine the effects of patch grazing on (1) the vigour of a single grass species, Themeda triandra, and of the sward, and (2) sward species composition. The generally held idea that a full season's rest followed by an early spring burn would prevent preferential grazing of patch grazed areas which had developed in the seasons before the rest was also tested. The vigour of 71 triandra was estimated from etiolated growth of marked tufts while sward vigour was indexed by above‐ground herbage production (AGHP). Etiolated growth of T. triandra and AGHP of the sward within patches were negatively affected by three seasons of grazing, but a full season's rest appeared sufficient to restore both the etiolated growth of T. triandra and the AGHP of the sward to a level similar to that in the non‐patches. A full season's rest followed by spring burning did not, however, prevent preferential grazing of grazed patches which had developed in the seasons prior to the rest. Species composition within patches (characterised by Increaser II species) differed significantly from the species composition of non‐patches (characterised by Increaser I species). Patch grazing may therefore initiate the rangeland degradation process in Highland Sourveld and patch grazing may be the focus from which rangeland degradation proceeds.  相似文献   

11.
We tested the hypothesis that initial above-ground regrowth of defoliated grass tufts would be reduced in sites which have been exposed to prolonged heavy grazing. The regrowth of Themeda triandra and Urochloa mosambicensis tufts was compared between three heavily grazed sites close to a village and three relatively lightly grazed sites far from a village, in a semi-arid communal rangeland in the South African lowveld. A clipping experiment was done in the field using T. triandra and U. mosambicensis tufts. Regrowth was lower (P≤0.01) in the heavy grazing sites for both species. This was more a function of tiller production rate, in terms of numbers of tillers, than of tiller extension rate. Rate of regrowth was not strongly affected by tuft size.  相似文献   

12.
Abstract

Marked tillers of Themeda triandra were sampled regularly over a two year period in Highland Sourveld burnt annually in winter, biennially in spring and after a single summer and early winter burning treatment. Parameters recorded were height of shoot apex, tiller mass, number of new lateral tillers and time of flowering. Monitoring of marked tillers before and after each burn enabled the life history of populations of tillers to be followed.

There were no significant differences in survivorship between tillers in the annual winter and biennial spring burn treatments but winter burning stimulated the development of a greater number of daughters per parent. Both populations exhibited a constant death rate over the two year period. Only 8% of the marked T. triandra tillers survived the single summer burning treatment.  相似文献   

13.
Themeda triandra Forssk. is a common perennial grass in southern African grasslands that tolerates low nutrient soils. Establishment of the species into degraded or transformed areas is difficult, but there have been some advances with clonal propagation using tillers. To generate propagules (tillers), tiller production of plants must be maximised. This research focused on the growth response of T. triandra to fertilisation with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) each at three levels in a fully factorial pot experiment. Fertilisation increased growth. The number of tillers and aerial shoot mass were controlled by an N × P interaction, and total mass and root mass were controlled by N and by P, with N having a larger effect. Mass per tiller was not related to treatment. Shoot:root ratio and root mass per tiller were controlled by N. Potassium had no effect on any response. For maximum tiller production of T. triandra, plants should be fertilised with high levels of N and P.  相似文献   

14.
Abstract

Sequential growth measurements were made on successive populations of Themeda triandra and Sporobolus fimbriatus tillers initiated at different times of the year. The independent influences of tiller age and time of year on tiller growth were isolated by deriving growth indices for tillers of the same age at different times of the year and for tillers of all ages at each time of the year respectively.

Isolating the effect of plant age on growth showed that T. triandra is most productive under a regime of long periods of undisturbed growth, while S. fimbriatus is better suited to frequent interruptions in growth. Isolating the effect of time of year shows that both species are particularly sensitive to perturbations in spring. However, the photosynthetic efficiency of T. triandra is strongly influenced by time of year while S. fimbriatus seems to be a more opportunistic assimilator of sunlight.  相似文献   

15.
The hygroscopic awn of species such as Themeda triandra is widely believed to be a device ensuring the early burial of its seed. This belief has been extensively tested and no tendency for such self‐burial has been found. It has been demonstrated that the propelling action of the awn does cause the seed to move along the surface and its possible function as a dispersal mechanism is tentatively suggested.  相似文献   

16.
The effect of long-term exclusion of fire and herbivory, as mediated by aspect, on soils and the structure, composition, and diversity of vegetation was investigated in Döhne Sourveld (34 years), Piet-Retief Sourveld (45 years) and Southern Tall Grassveld (49 years). Exclusion had no effect on the soil chemistry of the surface 15 cm of soil in Dohne and Piet Retief Sourveld. Exclusion promoted the ingress of woody elements, including heath-like species, but the extent of ingress was related to water availability (rainfall, aspect), proximity of propagules, duration of protection, and accidental fires. Alien invasive woody species, in particular Acacia mearnsii established at all sites. Woody species were mostly bird- or wind dispersed, some had no known nearby population, although some Acacia species were herbivore-dispersed. The wettest grassland, Piet Retief Sourveld on a southern aspect, was transformed to a shrubland matrix (mainly Helichrysum splendidum) with tree clumps of forest precursor species (Rhus dentata, Halleria lucida, Myrsine africana, Buddleja salviifolia, Leucosidea sericea) and A. mearnsii. A species-rich grassland on the northern aspect had become dominated by tall Hyparrhenia rufa, with scattered shrubs of L. sericea and Helichrysum rogulosum. The southern aspect exclosure in Döhne Sourveld had developed an A. mearnsii - B. salviifolia savanna, with Cymbopogon excavatus, Themeda triandra and Tristachya leucothrix as common grasses. The northern aspect exclosure on Döhne Sourveld maintained a grassland character, although heath-like elements (Stoebe vulgaris, Erica aspalanthifolia) established. Protection of the Southern Tall Grassveld promoted an open savanna of exotic and indigenous Acacia and broadleaf species, an increase in life forms including the succulent Aloe maculata, and the transformation of a T. triandra - T. leucothrix sward to an Aristida junciformis sward. Ferns benefitted from exclusion of fire and herbivory. Fire and herbivory rather than soil properties would seem the primary determinants of the structure of sour grasslands.  相似文献   

17.
Abstract

Marked populations of Themeda triandra tillers were sequentially sampled at fortnightly intervals under normal conditions and without moisture stress respectively, covering a period from tiller initiation through to senescence after flowering. Parameters recorded were height of shoot apex, tiller mass, leaf area, leaf number, secondary tiller development and premature tiller mortality. Tillers of irrigated plants had a significantly higher mass, more elevated shoot apices, and produced a greater total number of leaves than those of non‐irrigated plants. Fewer unstressed tillers senesced prematurely than those experiencing moisture stress.  相似文献   

18.
Herbaceous species preference was studied during autumn and winter periods of occupation, on rotationally‐grazed Dohne Sourveld, at four different stocking rates. Only the most abundant grass species in the sward were monitored. Animals (cattle and sheep) grazed selectively (for plant species) during both autumn and winter, but the degree of selectivity increased in winter. Although animals could be forced to graze less selectively by increasing the stocking rate in autumn, stocking rate did not affect the sequence of species selection, but merely accelerated the process. Regrazing of tillers during grazing periods was a common occurrence in all but the heavy stocking rate treatment. Although Tristachya leucothrix was the most preferred species, the amount (mass) of this species that was grazed per unit basal tuft area was less than that of Themeda triandra.  相似文献   

19.
The consequences of area‐selective grazing by cattle under three stocking rates and at two sites in the Southern Tall Grassveld of Natal were investigated. Soil compaction was found to significantly distinguish area‐selected patches from non‐selected veld (P≤0.01), while non‐significant differences in soil nutrient and moisture status were recorded. Area‐selected and non‐selected patches may be distinguished on the basis of species composition. Area‐selected patches are characterized by Aristida congesta subsp. barbicollis, Microchloa caffra and Eragrostis racemosa. Non‐selected veld is characterized by Themeda iriandra, Tristachya leucothrix and Hyparrhenia hirta.  相似文献   

20.
Abstract

Water was withheld from individual plants of Themeda triandra and Sporobolus fimbriatus growing in pots in a greenhouse. Leaf extension growth, followed by successive degrees of tiller desiccation, were monitored on a daily basis and related to diminishing moisture availability. Leaf extension growth ceased after about 40 % soil water depletion in both species on the sandy clay loam used in the trial. Thereafter, leaves and growing points senesced progressively with increasing evaporative demand, despite a relatively small drop in soil moisture content. The tentative conclusion is that active leaf growth in semi‐arid grassveld takes place in short sporadic spells subsequent to each effective rainfall event. It seems, for example, that after a rain of 50 mm in midsummer, the duration of active leaf growth could be no more than a week.  相似文献   

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