The physical environment and plant communities of the Messina Experimental Farm

Dekker, B.; Rooyen, N. van

doi:10.1016/s0254-6299(15)30502-0

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…C. edulis (species group I), C. mollis (spe cies group J) and C. africana (species group A) are abun dant. Another conspicuous feature of this vegetation type is the scattered stands of Adansonia digitata (species group I) on sandy, undulating plains derived from gran ite and gneiss (Dekker & Van Rooyen 1995). Diagnostic species are listed in species group I ( Table 2).…”

Section: Ptycholobium Contortum-colophospermum Mopanementioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of Mopaneveld vegetation in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe

2003

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Data from fifteen phytosociological studies were merged and classified to describe and compare the vegetation of geo graphically separated and climatically different Mopanev eld types in South Africa. Namibia and Zimbabw e. Seven v egetation types and ten major plant communities were identified using TW INSPAN. Vegetation types were separated according to geo graphical regions. There were significant floristic affinities even though there w ere geological and climatic differences between the regions. Plant communities were described according to vegetation structure, habitat and floristic composition. Although environmental data were not adequate for a detailed ordination. DECORANA reflected the distribution of vegetation types and major plant communities along environmental gradients. Limitations of large phytosociological syntheses were also addressed. Species richness (alpha diversity) was calculated for each geographical region. The Musina (Messina) region north of the Soutpansberg. South Africa, has the highest species richness, and Kaokoland. Namibia, the lowest Due to irregular annual rainfall patterns in semi-arid Mopaneveld, it is suggested that variance in species richness is associated with temporal vegeta tion states induced by rainfall events. Species richness of Mopaneveld was further compared w ith other sav anna types.

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Section: Ptycholobium Contortum-colophospermum Mopanementioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of Mopaneveld vegetation in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe

2003

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“…Despite the relative homogeneity of the vegetation in the study area (Dekker & Van Rooyen 1995), leaf DM (total and stratified), leaf carriage pattern and phenological state of the leaves, differed greatly among plant communities. Walker (1980) quoted seasonal production estimates of woody species leaves and twigs, from a Colophospermum mopane arid shrub and tree savanna in Zimbabwe that ranged from 594 kg ha" 1 to 2 121 kg ha 1 , and demonstrated that production varies strongly owing both to inherent site differences (mainly soil depth) and to management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…The relatively short leaf carriage period and the generally older phenological state of Colophospermum mopane leaves in the Abutilon austro-africanum variant can be ascribed to the high density at which C. mopane occurred in this community (Dekker & Van Rooyen 1995). Smit (1994) reported that C. mopane trees in densely wooded plots lost their leaves earlier towards the end of winter and beginning of spring (August -October), and that new season leaves appeared later than in trees in low-density plots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a floristic classification of the vegetation in the study area, Dekker & Van Rooyen (1995) identified and described eight plant communities, one with three variants (nomenclature follows Arnold & De Wet (1993)): Abutilon austro-africanum variant; 7 Tricholaena monachne -Commiphora tenuipetiolata low thicket; and 8 Ficus tettensis -Aristida meridionalis tall closed woodland.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Browse production and leaf phenology of some trees and shrubs in differentColophospermum mopanesavanna communities

Dekker

Smit²

1996

African Journal of Range & Forage Science

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Leaf dry mass (DM) at peak biomass was estimated for different plant communities in a semi-arid savanna. These estimates included the total leaf DM, as well as estimates of the leaf DM at browsing heights of 1.5 m, 2.0 m and 5.0 m. The total leaf DM in the different plant communities ranged between 1 224 kg ha -1 and 2 672 kg ha -1 . The contribution of individual woody species to the total leaf DM ha -1 is presented for each plant community. Colophospermum mopane contributed substantially to the total leaf DM in all communities.Monthly assessments were made of the abundance of leaves in different phonological states for the most important woody species in each plant community. Differences in the leaf carriage patterns and phenological composition of leaves between different plant communities, as well as between the most important woody species, were established. The long leaf-carriage period of C. mopane, relative to the other represented tree species, underlies its potential importance as a fodder resource in the study area.

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“…According to Dekker and Van Rooyen (1995) the dominant parent materials underlying the Messina Experimental Farm are mainly Bulai granite and granite-gneiss, resulting in soils occurring as low clay-, high gravel-content Mispah, Oakleaf and Hutton soil families (MacVicar et at. 1991).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Secondary succession in the Mopani veld of the Limpopo Valley, South Africa

Jordaan¹,

Wessels²,

Dannhauser³

et al. 2004

African Journal of Range & Forage Science

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The long-term establishment sequences of the herbaceous and woody component of the Mopani veld of the Limpopo Valley were studied and documented. Based on vegetation surveys conducted at three enclosed sites at the Messina Experimental Farm during the period 1964 to 2001, no clear fixed grass species establishment sequence was observed. The classic plant succession model of the grass component, as usually found in other veld types, is absent in Mopani veld of the Limpopo Valley. Shallow, nutrient poor, gravelly, severely eroded soils with low moisture retention and a high runoff rate are mainly colonised by annual grasses and forbs. Perennial grasses take long to establish. This results in an unstable herbaceous component that is vulnerable to changes, which in turn depends on the erratic availability of soil moisture. Where the woody component is concerned, eight tree species appeared to be early colonisers, five intermediate colonisers and seven late colonisers. Tree numbers increased at sites with deeper soils, indicating that bush encroachment is a general, natural process that occurs irrespective of rest treatmentsapplied to the herbaceous component. At a site with an extremely shallow soil, bush density decreased, suggesting that the bush encroachment process in the Limpopo Valley is much more affected by soil and climate than in other veld types and climatic zones of the Limpopo Province.

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The physical environment and plant communities of the Messina Experimental Farm

Cited by 6 publications

References 17 publications

A comparison of Mopaneveld vegetation in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe

A comparison of Mopaneveld vegetation in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe

Browse production and leaf phenology of some trees and shrubs in differentColophospermum mopanesavanna communities

Secondary succession in the Mopani veld of the Limpopo Valley, South Africa

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