Anthropogenic erosion-induced small-scale soil heterogeneity in South African rangelands

Krenz, Juliane; Greenwood, Philip; Kuhn, Nikolaus J.

doi:10.1016/j.ancene.2021.100290

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…It is well established in southern Africa that poor rangeland management leads to rangeland degradation. Degraded rangelands exhibit a number of interrelated characteristics such as reduced soil C and nutrient levels, higher soil compaction, and a lower soil cover (du Preez and Snyman, 1993; Snyman and du Preez, 2005; Kotzé et al, 2020; Krenz et al, 2021). As a result, water infiltration and soil water holding ability are reduced, which directly impacts plant productivity, especially in more arid climates (Snyman, 2005).…”

Section: Rangeland Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The conversion of rangelands to arable lands leads to major losses in soil C levels, with losses in the order of 25 to 53% seen in South Africa (Swanepoel et al, 2016). When land-use reverts back to rangeland, soil C levels increase again, although this can be a slow process and it is uncertain to what extent the soil fully recovers (Baer et al, 2015; Preger et al, 2019; Krenz et al, 2021). Rangeland management, particularly grazing intensity, also impacts soil C levels and C sequestration (Schuman et al, 2002; Abdalla et al, 2018).…”

Section: Description Of High-density Grazing and Evidence Of Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-density grazing in southern Africa: Inspiration by nature leads to conservation?

Franke

Kotzé

2022

Outlook Agric

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High-density grazing is a form of rangeland management aiming to strategically mimic the ways grasslands are utilized by grazers in natural situations. It aims to regenerate grasslands by improving soil and vegetation productivity and diversity. More recently, high-density grazing systems have been promoted as a key approach to mitigating climate change by increasing the amount of carbon sequestered in grassland soils. In this article, we describe the historical background of grazing and rangeland degradation in southern Africa, the principles of high-density grazing, and the problems it aims to address. We briefly discuss evidence of the potential benefits of high-density grazing, though we do not aim to provide an exhaustive review on this. We explore to what extent high-density grazing can be regarded as representative of grazing in natural ecosystems and whether the assumed link between nature and high-density grazing has been helpful in capitalizing on the potential merits of high-density grazing. While high-density grazing may represent a form of sustainable rangeland management, the main attractiveness to farmers likely relates to potential increases in livestock densities and associated productivity per unit area, as well as to potential management and social benefits. Learning from nature and inspiration by nature can play an important role in the development and communication of sustainable grazing management systems. However, it is questionable to what extent high-density grazing systems can be seen as more representative of natural ecosystems than other grazing management systems. The claimed ecological superiority of high-density grazing because of its association with nature has polarised and blurred the discussion on the potential merits of high-density grazing. Moreover, the supposed relationship between nature and high-density grazing may have led to an overselling of high-density grazing principles and an embracement of them by policy makers and development agencies without sufficient empirical basis.

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