Effects of pruning on the concentration of macronutrients in Colophospermum mopane leaves

Abstract

Despite the nutritional value of Colophospermum mopane leaves to browser's diets, there is limited knowledge on the effect of browsers on the concentration of macronutrients in mopane leaves. A field experiment was conducted in Musina Nature Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa to determine the effect of pruning, a proxy for browsing, on the concentration of macronutrients in mopane leaves. Samples were analysed for calcium (Ca), potassium (K), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S), chlorine (Cl), magnesium (Mg), nitrate (NO3), sodium (Na), protein and fibre, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry techniques. The effect of pruning on the monthly concentration of macronutrients was tested using a two‐tailed t test: two‐sample assuming equal variance. The seasonal and annual effect of pruning on the concentration of macronutrients was tested using a one‐way ANOVA. Results showed that the amount of Ca, K, N, P, S, Cl, Na, protein and fibre increased during leaf flush in October and then declined as the leaves matured and aged. However, the concentration of Mg and NO3 increased when the leaves reached maturity in June, particularly during senescence stage, and declined thereafter. The concentration of macronutrients between the control and pruned trees was statistically insignificant for most samples.

Mopane (Colophospermum mopane): A potential winner under climate change in southern Africa

“…Apart from being the primary host of mopane worms, the mopane tree provides firewood and construction poles for houses, kraals and fencing (Mashabane et al, 2001; Stevens, 2021). Ecologically, mopane is an important browser species for elephants, kudu and other herbivores (Kos et al, 2012; Makhado et al, 2019). Climate change, urbanization, clearing land for agriculture and any other cause of deforestation may affect the distribution and abundance of mopane.…”