Integrated Plant Invasion and Bush Encroachment Management on Southern African Rangelands

Lesoli, M; Gxasheka, Masibonge; Solomon, Tamirat; Moyo, Bethwell

doi:10.5772/56182

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 159 publications

(231 reference statements)

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“…Similar observations were also made in other areas (e.g. Lesoli et al, 2013;Papachristou et al, 1997;Pienaar, 2006;Platis & Papanastasis, 2003;Smit, 2005;Ward, 2005;Zarovali et al, 2007) where biomass yield of herbaceous plant species, including grasses, increased when the competition of woody plants was removed by thinning in areas encroached by shrubs. In fact, Negasa et al (2014) stated that the increase in standing herbaceous biomass yield may be a result of vegetation structure changes from dense shrub encroachment to open-grasslands caused by physical shrub/bush removal.…”

Section: Impact Of Mechanical Shrub Removal On Standing Herbaceous Sp...supporting

confidence: 79%

“…Potential drivers of bush encroachment on grasslands are variable and may include the interaction of multiple factors such as overgrazing, recovery from anthropogenic disturbance, increase in CO 2 and N deposition, as well as changes in fire frequency, climate change and presence of invasive plants (Belayneh & Tessema, 2017; Eldridge et al, 2011; Grellier et al, 2018; Lesoli et al, 2013). In addition, complex and dynamic interactions of intensive grazing, together with sporadic rainfall and irregular fire regimes, are implicated in vegetation transition from grassland to a woody vegetation‐dominated system (Angassa, 2002; Backeus, 1992; Scholes & Archer, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, only a few studies have assessed the effect of shrub removal on rangeland ecosystems in the country. In an attempt to abate the problem of rangeland degradation, various rehabilitation methods have been applied to restore the rangelands from the dominance of woody species to grassland (Lesoli et al, 2013). These include mechanical, chemical, biological, prescribed fire methods and reseeding of indigenous grass species (Archer et al, 2011; DiTomaso et al, 2010; Lesoli et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of mechanical shrub removal on encroached mountain rangelands in Lesotho, southern Africa

Lerotholi,

Seleteng‐Kose,

Odenya

et al. 2023

Afr J Ecol

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Although rangelands are among the most socio‐economically valuable ecosystems, their degradation remains a world‐wide problem, especially in sub‐Saharan Africa. Lesotho montane rangelands are no exception and are characterised by shrub encroachment and deterioration. As a result, the Lesotho Government has invested heavily on a programme of uprooting the shrubs across the country. Although the programme has been implemented for more than a decade, no scientific studies have assessed the ecological benefits of this approach. Therefore, the current study evaluated the impact of mechanical shrub removal on plant diversity and composition in Lesotho. Stratified random sampling was employed using the Metric Belt Transect‐Quadrat Method to assess the effect of uprooting shrubs on encroached rangeland by comparing herbaceous species diversity and standing biomass across areas that had previously been subjected to shrub removal in three sequential years and rested from grazing. The results reveal that even though mechanical shrub removal enhances herbaceous species diversity and standing biomass, the improvement declines with time post shrub removal. Therefore, the process has a short‐lived benefit and needs to be repeated at least every 2 years to maximise its impact. It is evident that the manual removal of shrubs improves rangeland condition by enhancing growth of herbaceous plants, including forbs and grasses. Therefore, this technique has a potential to be used as a rangeland management tool.

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Section: Impact Of Mechanical Shrub Removal On Standing Herbaceous Sp...supporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of mechanical shrub removal on encroached mountain rangelands in Lesotho, southern Africa

Lerotholi,

Seleteng‐Kose,

Odenya

et al. 2023

Afr J Ecol

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“…According to Dorning and Cipollini (2006) and Awodoyin and Ogunyemi (2008), the reduction in biomass and basal cover of other herbaceous plant species in the heavily invaded sites might be associated with the early germination and maturation of S. obtusifolia that might take advantage of forming a closed canopy and basal cover over native herbaceous plant species. However, the basal cover and biomass of S. obtusifolia showed an increasing trend from the non-invaded sites to the lightly and heavily invaded sites, which might also reduce the biomass and productivity of other native herbaceous species according to Lesoli et al (2013) due to the competitive effect of S. obtusifolia for soil nutrients (Rejmanek 1995;Weber 2003).…”

Section: Effect Of S Obtusifolia (L) Invasion On Herbaceous Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Senna obtusifolia (L.) invasion on herbaceous vegetation and soil properties of rangelands in the western Tigray, northern Ethiopia

Gebrekiros

Tessema

2018

Ecol Process

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Introduction: Invasion of exotic plant species is a well-known threat to native ecosystems since it directly affects native plant communities by altering their composition and diversity. Moreover, exotic plant species displace native species through competition, changes in ecosystem processes, or allelopathic effects. Senna obtusifolia (L.) invasion has affected the growth and productivity of herbaceous vegetation in semi-arid regions of northern Ethiopia. Here, we investigated the species composition, species diversity, aboveground biomass, and basal cover of herbaceous vegetation, as well as soil properties of rangelands along three S. obtusifolia invasion levels. Methods: Herbaceous vegetation and soil properties were studied at two locations, Kafta Humera and Tsegede districts, in the western Tigray region of northern Ethiopia under three levels of S. obtusifolia invasion, i.e., non-invaded, lightly invaded, and heavily invaded. Herbaceous plant species composition and their abundance were assessed using a 1-m 2 quadrat during the flowering stage of most herbaceous species from mid-August to September 2015. Native species were classified into different functional groups and palatability classes, which can be useful in understanding mechanisms underlying the differential responses of native plants to invasion. The percentage of basal cover for S. obtusifolia and native species and that of bare ground were estimated in each quadrat. Similar to sampling of the herbaceous species, soil samples at a depth of 0-20 cm were taken for analyzing soil physical and chemical properties. Results: Highly palatable grasses and legumes based on the frequency of occurrence were 1.9 and 3.8 times higher in non-invaded sites than in lightly and heavily invaded sites, respectively. Furthermore, unpalatable plant species were 4.0 times higher in the heavily invaded sites than in the lightly invaded sites. Aboveground biomass, basal cover, and species diversity of the herbaceous vegetation were significantly (P < 0.01) lower in the heavily invaded sites compared to the non-invaded sites. However, most soil properties were not affected by S. obtusifolia invasion compared with non-invaded sites in our study. Conclusions: Our findings contribute towards better understanding of how S. obtusifolia invasion affects the community structure and composition of native herbaceous vegetation in semi-arid rangelands in northern Ethiopia. Further long-term studies are required to understand the mechanisms of how S. obtusifolia invasion influences soil properties for better control and eradication of its invasion in the semi-arid rangelands of northern Ethiopia.

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“…The global challenge of rangeland degradation (N€ usser 2002;Singh et al 2003;Teague et al 2009;Li et al 2011;Lesoli et al 2013;Mattalia et al 2018;Tenzing et al 2021) is exacerbated by climate change (Boone et al 2018;Godde et al 2020). This situation is particularly bad in Pakistan because of barriers to addressing climate change and environmental degradation, and the undervaluation of rangelands in the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalayan region (HKH).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mountain Pastoralism in the Eastern Hindu Kush: The Case of Lotkuh Valley, Pakistan

Ahmad

Postigo

Rahman

et al. 2021

Mountain Research and Development

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Integrated Plant Invasion and Bush Encroachment Management on Southern African Rangelands

Cited by 7 publications

References 159 publications

Impact of mechanical shrub removal on encroached mountain rangelands in Lesotho, southern Africa

Impact of mechanical shrub removal on encroached mountain rangelands in Lesotho, southern Africa

Effect of Senna obtusifolia (L.) invasion on herbaceous vegetation and soil properties of rangelands in the western Tigray, northern Ethiopia

Mountain Pastoralism in the Eastern Hindu Kush: The Case of Lotkuh Valley, Pakistan

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