Changing predictors of spatial and temporal variability in stocking rates in a severely degraded communal rangeland

S. Vetter,

Corresponding Author

S. Vetter

[email protected]

Department of Botany, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa

Department of Botany, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.Search for more papers by this author

W. J. Bond,

W. J. Bond

Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa

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S. Vetter,

Corresponding Author

S. Vetter

[email protected]

Department of Botany, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa

Department of Botany, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.Search for more papers by this author

W. J. Bond,

W. J. Bond

Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 28 December 2010

https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.1076

Citations: 29

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Abstract

Changes in vegetation and soils under heavy continuous grazing have been widely documented, but the effects of these on secondary production are debated. Sterkspruit is one of South Africa's most degraded districts, and soil erosion in the district increased substantially over the twentieth century. Despite this, records dating to the late-1800s show no decline in livestock numbers. This study explores how high stocking rates have been maintained despite an apparent deterioration in the natural resource base. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the best predictors of stocking rates in 1974, the 1980s and 1997 to determine whether the relative importance of mean annual rainfall and winter temperature (indicative of primary production), the percentage of area on nutrient-poor sandstone-derived soils (representing a dry season nutritional bottleneck), the percentage of an area on steep slopes (which make areas less accessible to livestock) and human population density and availability of arable land (indicative of potential inputs) had changed over time. While mean annual rainfall was the best predictor of stocking rates in 1974, stocking rates in the 1980s and 1997 were best predicted by human population densities. This suggests that a qualitative shift in how livestock populations are maintained has taken place. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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March/April 2012

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Changing predictors of spatial and temporal variability in stocking rates in a severely degraded communal rangeland

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Changing predictors of spatial and temporal variability in stocking rates in a severely degraded communal rangeland

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