Can Cynodon dactylon be used to suppress invasive weeds? The effects of density-dependent on the growth and development of Tagetes minuta and Gutenbergia cordifolia

Ngondya, Issakwisa B.; Treydte, Anna C.; Ndakidemi, Patrick A.

doi:10.1101/674085

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…From five termite mounds, five grazing lawns and five control sites, we collected composite soil samples, mixed the soil of each category separately, distributed each composite sample across 10 different pots and planted a common grass species, Cynodon dactylon, in the soils derived from those three categories, making a total of 30 pots (Table 1). Cynodon dactylon was chosen for pot experiments because of its seed availability, the fact that it is commonly found in savanna habitats [41] and due to its ability to grow in soils with a wide PH range [42].…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of nutrient hotspots for grazing ungulates in a Miombo ecosystem, Tanzania

2020

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While movement patterns of grazing ungulates are strongly dependent on forage quality their use of nutrient hotspots such as termite mounds or grazing lawns has rarely been quantified, especially in savanna ecosystems where soil-nutrient quality is low. Additionally, few experiments have been conducted to determine the role of termite mound-and grazing lawn-derived soils in improving forage quality in the field. We studied wild ungulate grazing activities around ten termite mounds, six grazing lawns and their respective control sites in a Miombo system of Issa Valley, western Tanzania, in the same system. We used indirect observations (i.e., dung, tracks) to identify seasonal and spatial variations in habitat use of various wild mammalian grazers. Grazer visitation rates were nine and three times higher on termite mounds and grazing lawns, respectively, compared to control sites. During the rainy season, termite mounds were more frequently used than grazing lawns while the latter were used more often during the dry season. In an additional pot experiment with soils derived from different areas, we found that Cynodon dactylon in termite mound-derived soils had twice as high Nitrogen and Phosphorous contents and biomass compared to grasses planted in grazing lawn soils and control site soils. We highlight that both termite mounds and grazing lawns play a significant role in influencing seasonal nutrient dynamics, forage nutrient quality, habitat selectivity, and, hence, grazing activities and movement patterns of wild ungulate grazers in savannas. We conclude that termite mounds and grazing lawns are important for habitat heterogeneity in otherwise nutrient-poor savanna systems.

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Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%