Current range condition in relation to land management systems in semi‐arid savannas of Swaziland

Abstract

Rangeland condition was assessed in the lowveld of Swaziland to determine the current status with emphasis on contrasting different land management systems and soil classes in two study areas. The assessment incorporated the grass and woody plant layer. The methods employed to evaluate the grass layer were ecological condition index (ECI) and weighted palatability composition (WPC). The government ranch had significantly higher ECI (mean 714.5) and WPC (mean 61) than the communal land (mean: ECI – 533.5; WPC – 48.7) and the game reserve (mean: ECI – 578.9; WPC – 47.9). The ECI and WPC values did not differ between the soil classes in most cases (range: ECI 551.5–645.9 and WPC – 43.7–57.6). The density of all woody plants and encroaching plants alone were the highest in communal land. Basal cover ranged from poor (2–3%) to good (>5%), while bare ground was rated from low (<1%) to high (>5%). Overall results showed great variability of studied variables at site and landscape levels of resolution. Generally, the grass layer was rated between fair and good when assessed on the basis of ecological and palatability merits. There was a clear indication of advancement of bush encroachment.

Livestock-based knowledge of rangeland quality assessment and monitoring at landscape level among borana herders of northern Kenya

“…They are able to show deteriorating rangeland condition as indicated by replacement of preferred forages by less preferred forages. Landscapes with more 'increasing' forage species with less preference to livestock were assumed to be degraded (Tefera et al 2007). The rangeland quality trend, however, seems to favour camels and goats husbandry in the study area, due to an increase in the abundance of browse plants, while the grasses needed by cattle are decreasing.…”

Rangeland degradation in Swaziland: Dip tank use effects on range condition and grazing capacity in three soil types

“…Based on the grass frequency, weighted palatability composition (WPC) (Barnes et al ., ; Tefera et al ., ) and ecological condition index (ECI) (Vorster, ; Tefera et al ., ) values were estimated. The WPC was calculated by modifying the method of Tefera et al .…”

“…The WPC was calculated by modifying the method of Tefera et al . () to include four classes of palatability: class I (highly palatable), class II (moderately palatable), class III (less palatable) and class IV (poorly palatable), and their multipliers of 4, 3, 2 and 0.5, respectively. In the previous study of Tefera et al .…”

“…In the previous study of Tefera et al . (), a multiplier of 1 was used for the poorly palatable class. Palatability composition (PC) value was calculated as the sum of the products of the relative abundance of each grass species falling under each palatability group and its multiplier, and is expressed as percentage of the maximum PC (viz.…”

“…Range condition in the context of communal land use refers to the present ability of rangelands to provide goods and services as compared to their potential. As animal production is the major livelihood activity in the communal lands, rangeland condition measures the changes in vegetation productivity concurrently with the changes in soil and land stability that occur as the result of livestock grazing or browsing (Trollope, Trollope & Bosch, ; Tefera et al ., ). One of the purposes of measuring the condition and trends of rangelands is to determine the level and extent of degradation.…”