Seasonal changes in above‐ground standing crop in three coastal grassland communities in Transkei¹

This work forms part of an M.Sc. thesis submitted to the Department of Botany, University of the Witwatersrand

Abstract

Above‐ground standing crop (ASC) dynamics were followed over a two‐year period in three coastal grassland communities. The mass of biomass, necromass and litter components was determined monthly from hand‐clipped samples and compared under three management treatments — grazing, burning and protection from defoliation. Burning reduced ASC to below control levels until the second post‐fire summer. Grazing reduced the amount of biomass marginally for 12 months following a fire. The mass of litter increased with time after burning. In unburnt swards changes in the litter component were inconsistent between sites. Peak ASC was higher than that recorded in most sour grassland communities to date.

Bogrond staande oeste se beweegste is gevolg oor ‘n periode van twee jaar in drie kusgrasland gemeenskappe. Die massa van plant biomassa, geleidelike massa en afvalkomponente is maandeliks bepaal van handgeknipte monsters en is vergelyk onder drie bestuursbehandelings — weiding, brand en beskerming teen blaarverlies. Die resultate van brand was die afname in bogrond staande oeste, met die vermindering na benede beheerbare vlakke tot die tweede somer na die brand. Weiding het die hoeveelheid biomassa marginaal verminder vir 12 maande na ‘n veldvuur. Die massa van afval het vir ‘n tydperk na die veldvuur vermeerder. In ongebrande grasvelde was die verandering in afvalkomponente wisselvallig tussen terreine. Kwyning van bogrond staande oeste was hoër as wat aangeteken is, in meeste suurgrasveldgemeenskappe tot op datum.

Additional index words:

• Biomass
• litter
• necromass

Notes

This work forms part of an M.Sc. thesis submitted to the Department of Botany, University of the Witwatersrand