scholarly journals Prosopis Species—An Invasive Species and a Potential Source of Browse for Livestock in Semi-Arid Areas of South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7369
Author(s):  
Khuliso Emmanuel Ravhuhali ◽  
Humbelani Silas Mudau ◽  
Bethwell Moyo ◽  
Onke Hawu ◽  
Ntokozo Happy Msiza
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Environmental Harm ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Feed Source ◽  
Semi Arid

Globally, there have been differing views on whether the proliferation of invasive species will be of benefit as a livestock feed source or it will have detrimental effects on the ecosystem. The infestation of invasive plants such as Prosopis species does not only affect the groundwater levels but also threatens the grazing capacity and species richness of most of the semi-arid areas around South Africa. Though Prosopis is invasive, it is however of good nutritive value and can serve as an alternative source of protein and minerals for livestock during the dry season. Bush encroachment by browsable invasive species can be controlled through biological methods by using organisms such as livestock. The utilisation of Prosopis through browse benefits livestock production and at the same time reduces its spread, thereby preventing possible environmental harm that may arise. Although several studies have been carried out globally on the assessment of the Prosopis species’ nutritive value and also on the threat of this invasive species to the environment, there is a need to update the state of knowledge on this species, particularly in the context of the semi-arid areas of South Africa where the dry season is characterised by less herbage of poor quality. It is therefore critical to understand whether Prosopis is a beneficial invader, or a detriment that needs to be eradicated. This review will contribute knowledge towards finding practical solutions to controlling Prosopis species and whether utilising Prosopis as a feed source will limit its spread and result in a vegetation structure where Prosopis becomes part of the ecosystem with limited detrimental impact. This means that the several components of the species such as nutritive value and the negative impact associated with this plant species along with the means to control its spreading must be well understood to recognise the plant species’ vital contribution to the ecosystem.

The use ofin vitrogas production to evaluate rumen fermentation of leaves of 24 browse species indigenous to semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 238-240
Author(s):  
L. R. Ndlovu ◽  
L. Hove
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plants ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Chemical Methods ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Biological Assays ◽  
Browse Species ◽  
Semi Arid

Browse species are important food resources in semi-arid areas, especially during the dry season when the nutritive value of grass is at its lowest. However, browse plants often contain secondary plant compounds which limit their nutritive value. Proanthocyanidins (PAs) (also called condensed tannins) and related flavonoids are a common constituent of woody plants in tropical regions (Mangan, 1988). PAs cause a bitter and astringent taste which lowers food palatability and they also lower the digestibility of proteins and carbohydrates (Jacksonet al., 1996). PAs also interfere with current chemical methods that are used for estimating nutritive value of foods (Reed, 1995). Biological assays, especially ,in vitrotechniques, have a potential to reflect better the nutritive value of foods that contain PAs. Thein vitrogas production technique has been found to reliably predict the nutritive value of temperate forages (Makkaret al., 1996). There has been limited research on its efficacy with tropical forages. The experiment reported here was conducted to test the hypothesis that gas production of tropical browse species reflects their content of fibre, protein and/or PAs.

scholarly journals Association of three succulent plant species with woody canopy in the mixed bushveld, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Thrash
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Nurse Plant ◽  
Succulent Plant ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Possible Cause ◽  
Study Species

Succulents are an important component of the mixed bushveld. Although the nurse plant syndrome is known from arid areas, association of succulents with woody canopy has ot been studied in non-arid areas. The study was done in two phases, the first being to confirm the existence of an association and the second being to investigate a possible cause of the association. The three species studied were all significantly associated with woody canopy. All of the relatively small (0-1 m) Euphorbia ingens plants and most of the relatively small (0-0.5m) Aloe marlothii and Opuntia vulgaris plants encountered were beneath woody canopy. There was a very strong significant association between being damaged by fire and growing between woody canopies for all three species. Fires are likely to be lethal to any plants of the study species that are shorter than about 1 m. In any area where fires are frequent there are likely to be fewer young plants of the study species between woody canopies than there will be within the protection of a bush clump.

The Effects of Expansive Shrubs on Plant Species Richness and Soils in Semi‐arid Communal Lands, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 2191-2206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Sholto‐Douglas ◽  
Charlie M. Shackleton ◽  
Sheunesu Ruwanza ◽  
Tony Dold
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Communal Lands ◽  
Semi Arid

WEEDS AS UNWANTED PLANT SPECIES: THEIR POSITIVE ASPECTS IN SEMI-ARID AREAS OF CENTRAL TANZANIA

2009 ◽  
pp. 367-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.S. Shemdoe ◽  
F.M. Mbago ◽  
I.S. Kikula ◽  
P. Van Damme
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Semi Arid

Assessment of groundwater flow system for management of Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Kinoti ◽  
Marc Leblanc ◽  
Albert Olioso ◽  
Maciek Lubczynski
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Flow System ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Transboundary Aquifer ◽  
Aquifer System ◽  
Semi Arid

<p>Groundwater is the main water resource in arid and semi-arid areas. Its evaluation in terms of recharge, discharge, flow system and change in storage is thus vital for management purposes. However, distributed numerical models which are considered as favourable tools for assessment of groundwater resources are often limited by availability of input data especially in arid and semi-arid areas in developing countries where monitoring networks are scarce. Moreover, in case of transboundary aquifers, political, institutional, cultural, socio-economic differences among countries make management of groundwater even more complex.</p><p>Remote sensing is a handy tool for monitoring water resources in data scarce areas. This study entails application of remote sensing data in developing a distributed integrated hydrological model for Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System using MODFLOW-NWT coupled with the Unsaturated Zone Flow (UZF1) Package.</p><p>Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer is a multi-layered aquifer system shared between Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. The aquifer system consists of three aquifers, characterized by low transmissivity and low storage, intercalated by two aquitards. Conceptually, the physical processes taking place in this system are reasonably understood in Namibia and not as much in Botswana and South Africa. However, quantification of water resources and fluxes is still limited.</p><p>The aquifer system is mainly exploited in Namibia for socio-economic growth, where abstraction from storage has led to decline in local groundwater level. Water quality constraints have restrained its usage in South Africa, while in Botswana the potential for available resources is likely to be exploited, but there is not enough data for making firm decisions.</p><p>A numerical model has been set – up in transient conditions at daily time step and calibrated with groundwater levels as the state variables and satellite rainfall and potential evapotranspiration as the model driving forces. The calibrated model provides spatio-temporal water flux dynamics as well as water balances and hence an understanding of the groundwater-resource dynamics and replenishment. The results are compared to analysis of GRACE data to further constrain the model. This information is useful for proper management of the transboundary water resource as well as for policy making.</p>

scholarly journals Influence of heat stress on milk production and its financial implications in semi-arid areas of South Africa

Heliyon ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e06202
Author(s):  
Abiodun A. Ogundeji ◽  
Hermela Lakew ◽  
Weldemichael Tesfuhuney ◽  
Willem Lombard
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Analysis of Evapotranspiration and Effects of Water and Heat on Water Use Efficiency

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 3019
Author(s):  
Yuan-Yuan Tang ◽  
Jian-Ping Chen ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Shi-Song Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Hydrological Processes ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Ecosystem Carbon ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Semi Arid

Water Use Efficiency (WUE) is an important indicator of the carbon cycle in the hydrological and ecological system. It is of great significance to study the response of different hydrological processes to climate and to understand ecosystem carbon sink. However, little is known about the effects and mechanisms of precipitation and temperature on the WUE of different hydrological processes. Thus, three kinds of WUEs (GPP/E (eWUE), GPP/Et (tWUE), and GPP/P (pWUE)) are defined for three different hydrological indicators in semi-arid areas in this study in order to reveal the variation pattern of WUEs based on hydrological indicators and their response to climate. We found that in the past 15 years, the seasonal fluctuation of evapotranspiration in arid areas was large, and the spatial difference of WUE of different hydrological processes was obvious. In semi-arid areas, temperature had a significant effect on WUE (about 68–81%). However, precipitation had a lag effect on WUEs, and the negative impact of precipitation has a great influence (about 84–100%). Secondly, the threshold values of precipitation to WUEs (200 or 300 mm) and temperature to WUEs (2 or 7 °C) are also different from previous studies. This study advances our understanding of the influence of different hydrological processes on ecosystem carbon and climate.

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