Short-term response of rangeland following an unplanned fire in terms of soil characteristics in a semi-arid climate of South Africa

Journal of Arid Environments

Volumn 55, Issue 1, 2003, Pages 160-180

  Snyman, H A ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE   (South Africa)

Author keywords

Head fire; Infiltrability; Organic matter content; Soil compaction; Soil properties; Soil temperature; Soil water content

Indexed keywords

COMPACTION; INFILTRATION; RANGELAND; SEMIARID REGION; SOIL CHEMISTRY; SOIL ORGANIC MATTER; SOIL TEMPERATURE; SOIL WATER; WILDFIRE;

SOUTH AFRICA;

EID: 0038001508     PISSN: 01401963     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-1963(02)00252-5     Document Type: Article

References (113)

1. Acocks, J.P.H., 1988. Veld Types of South Africa, 3rd Edition. Memoirs of Botanical Surveys of Southern Africa, Vol. 57, 146pp.
2. Adams, M.A., Iser, J., Kelaher, A.D., Cheal, C.D., 1994. Nitrogen and phosphorus availability and the role of fire in heathlands at Wilsons promontory. Australian Journal of Botany 42, 269-281.
3. Allen, S.E., 1964. Chemical aspects of heather burning. Journal of Applied Ecology 1, 347-367.
4. Arifin, R.B., Perkins, H.F., Tau, K.H., 1973. Potassium fixation and reconstitution of mecaseous structured in soils. Soil Science 116, 31-35.
5. Auld, T.D., Tozer, M.G., 1999. How well do post-fire indicators provide insights into the degree of soil heating during the passage of fires? Australian Bushfire Conference Proceedings, Albury, Australia, pp. 1-11.
6. Barnes, D.L., Dempsey, C.P., 1992. Influence of period of deferment before stocking spring-burnt sourveld on sheep performance and veld productivity. Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 9, 149-157.
7. Bennie, A.T.P., Hoffman, J.E., Coetzee, M.J.,Very, H.S., 1994. Opgaring en benutting van reënwater in grond vir die stabilisering van plantproduksie in halfdroë gebiede. Water Research Commission Report 227/1/94, Pretoria, 159pp.
8. Blank, R.R., Leah, A., Young, J.A., 1994. Soil heating, nitrogen, cheatgrass and seedbed microsites. Journal of Range Management 47, 33-37.
9. Booysen, P. de V., Tainton, N.M., 1984. The Ecological Effects of Fire in Southern Africa. Ecological Studies No 48. Springer, Berlin, 510pp.
10. Bray, R.H., Kurtz, L.T., 1945. Determination of total organic and available forms of phosphorus in soils. Soil Science 59, 39-45.
11. Bredenkamp, G.,Van Rooyen, N., 1996. Dry sandy highveld grassland. In: Low, A.B., Rebelo, A.G. (Eds.), Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Pretoria, 85pp.
12. Bremmer, J.M., Mulvaney, C.S., 1982. Total nitrogen. In: Page, A.L. (Ed.), Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, pp. 198.
13. Broersma, K., Kryzic, M., Thompson, D.J., Bornke, A.A., 1999. Effect of long-term grazing on soil quality in southern British Columbia. Proceedings of the VI International Rangeland Congress, Vol. 1, Townsville Australia, pp. 114-115.
14. Chapman, S.B., 1967. Nutrient budgets for a dry heath ecosystem in the south of England. Journal of Ecology 55, 677-689.
15. Chapman, S.B., Rose, R.J., Clarke, R.T., 1989. A model of phosphorus dynamics of Calluna heathlands. Journal of Ecology 77, 35-48.
16. Christenson, N.L., 1973. Fire and the nitrogen cycle in California chaparral. Science 181, 66-68.
17. Danckwerts, J.E., Teague, W.R., 1989. Veld Management in the Eastern Cape. Government Press, Pretoria, 196pp.
18. DeBano, L.F., Conrad, C.E., 1978. The effect of fire on nutrients in a chaparral ecosystem. Ecology 59, 489-497.
19. DeBano, L.F., Mann, L.D., Hamilton, D.A., 1970. Translocation of hydrophobic substances in soil by burning. Soil Science American Proceedings 34, 130-133.
20. DeBano, L.F., Savage, S.M., Hamilton, D.A., 1976. The transfer of heat and hydrophobic substances during burning. Soil Science American Journal 40, 779-782.
21. De Waal, H.O., 1990. Animal production from native pasture (veld) in the free state region - a perspective of the grazing ruminant. South African Journal Animal Science 20 (1), 1-9.
22. Dillon, R.F., 1980. Some effects of fire in the tall grassveld of Natal. M.Sc. Agric., Thesis, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 121pp.
23. Domaar, J.F., Willms, W.D., 1998. Effect of forty four years of grazing on fescue grassland soils. Journal of Range Management 51, 122-126.
24. Donaldson, C.H., Rootman, G., Grossman, D., 1984. Long-term nitrogen and phosphorus application on veld. Journal of the Grassland Society of South Africa 1, 27-32.
25. Du Preez, C.C., Snyman, H.A., 1993. Organic matter content of a soil in a semi-arid climate with three long-standing veld conditions. African Journal Range and Forage Science 10 (2), 108-110.
26. Dunin, F.X., 1987. Runoff and drainage from grassland catchments. In: Snaydon, R.W. (Ed.), Ecosystems of the World: Managed Grasslands. Analytical Study, Vol. 17, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 310pp.
27. Dunn, P.H., DeBano, L.F., Eberlein, G.E., 1979. Effects on burning on chaparral soils: II soil microbes and nitrogen mineralization. Soil Society of American Journal 45, 504-514.
28. Dunn, P.H., Barro, S.C., Poth, M., 1985. Soil moisture affects survival of micro organisms in heated chaparral soil. Soil Biology Biochemistry 17, 143-148.
29. Emmerich, W.E., 1999. Nutrient dynamics of rangeland burns in South-eastern Arizona. Journal of Range Management 52, 606-614.
30. Emmerich, W.E., Cox, J.R., 1992. Hydrologic characteristics immediately after seasonal burning on introduced and native grasslands. Journal Range Management 45, 476-479.
31. Euckert, D.N., Whigham, T.L., Spears, B.M., 1978. Effects of burning on infiltration, sediment and other soil properties in a mesquite-tobosagrass community. Journal of Range anagement 31, 420-425.
32. Everson, C.S., 1999. Veld burning in different vegetation types. In: Tainton, N.M. (Ed.), Veld Management in South Africa. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 472pp.
33. Friedel, M.H., 1987. A preliminary investigation of woody plants increase in the western Transvaal and implications for veld assessment. Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 4, 25-30.
34. Gifford, G.F., Hawkins, R.H., 1978. Hydrologic impact of grazing on infiltration: a critical review. Water Resources Research 14, 305-313.
35. Hobbs, N.T., Schimel, D.S., 1984. Fire effects on nitrogen mineralization and fixation in mountain shrub and grassland communities. Journal of Range Management 37, 402-405.
36. Holm, A.M., 2000. A study of degradation processes at patch to landscape scale within the arid shrubland of Western Australia. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Western Australia, Perth, 192pp.
37. Holm, A.M., Bennet, L.T., Loneragan, W.A., Adams, M.A., 2002. Relationships between empirical and nominal indices of landscape function in the arid shrubland of Western Australia. Journal of Arid Environments 50, 1-21.
38. Ingram, L.J., 2002. Growth, nutrient cycling and grazing of three perennial tussock grasses in the Pilbara region of NW-Australia. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Western Australia, 280pp.
39. Jackson, M.L., 1964. Soil Chemical Analysis, 4th Edition. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 111pp.
40. Kelly, R.D., Walker, B.H., 1976. The effect of different forms of land-use on the ecology of a semi-arid region in south-eastern Rhodesia. Journal of Ecology 64, 553-576.
41. Klemmedson, J.O., 1976. Effect of thinning and slash burning on nitrogen and carbon in ecosystems of young dense ponderosa pine. Forest Science 22, 45-53.
42. Knight, R.W., Blackburn, W.H., Scifres, C.J., 1983. Infiltration rates and sediment production following herbicide/fire brush treatments. Journal of Range Management 36, 153-157.
43. Kruger, F.J., 1984. Effects of fire on vegetation structure and dynamics. In: Booysen, P. de V., Tainton, N.M. (Eds.), Ecological Effects of Fire in South African Ecosystems. Springer, Berlin, 316pp.
44. Lal, R., Elliot, W., 1994. Erodibility and erosivity. In: Lal, R. (Ed.), Soil Erosion Research Methods, 2nd Edition. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, Ia, pp. 181-208.
45. Le Houérou, H.N., 1984. Rain use efficiency: a unifying concept in arid-land ecology. Journal of Arid Environments 7, 213-247.
46. Materechera, S.A., Mandiringana, O.T., Mbokodii, P.M., Nyamapfene, K., 1998. Organic matter, pH and nutrient distribution in soil layers of a savanna Thornveld subjected to different burning frequencies at Alice in the Eastern Cape. South African Journal of Plant and Soil 15 (3), 109-115.
47. Mentis, M.T., Huntley, B.L., 1982. A description of the grassland biome project. National Scientific Programmes Report 62, 92.
48. Mentis, M.T., Tainton, N.M., 1984. The effect of fire on forage production and quality. In: Booysen, P. de V., Tainton, N.M. (Eds.), Ecological Effects of Fire in South African Ecosystems. Ecological Studies No. 48. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo, 510pp.
49. Mwendera, E.J., Saleem, M.A.M., 1997. Infiltration rates, surface runoff, and soil loss as influenced by grazing pressure in the Ethiopian highlands. Soil Use and Management 13, 29-9235.
50. Mworia, J.K., Mnene, W.N, Musimbi, D.K., Reid, R.S., 1997. Resilience of soil and vegetation subjected to different grazing intensities in a semi-arid rangeland of Kenya. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 14, 26-31.
51. Nelson, D.W., Sommers, L.E., 1982. Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Page, A.L. (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, pp. 168.
52. O'Connor, T.G., Bredenkamp, G.J., 1997. Grassland. In: Cowling, R.M., Richardson, D.M., Pierce, S.M. (Eds.), Vegetation of Southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 615pp.
53. O'Connor, T.G., Haines, L.M., Snyman, H.A., 2001. Influence of precipitation and species composition on phytomass of a semi-arid African grassland. Journal of Ecology 89, 850-860.
54. Ohno, T., Erich, M.S., 1990. Effect of wood ash applications on soil pH and soil nutrient levels. Agricultural Ecosystems and Environment 32, 223-239.
55. Raison, R.J., 1980. A review of the role of fire in nutrient cycling in Australian native forests, and of methodology for studying fire-nutrient interaction. Australian Journal of Ecology 5, 15-21.
56. Richardson, J.L., Hole, F.D., 1978. Influence of vegetation on water repellency in selected western Wiscousin soils. Soil Science American Journal 42, 465-467.
57. Robinson, E.T., Gibbs-Russel, G.E., Trollope, W.S.W., Downing, B.H., 1979. Assessment of short term burning treatments on the kerb layer of False Thornveld of the Eastern Cape. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 14, 79-83.
58. Roder, W., Calvert, O., Dorji, Y., 1993. Effect of burning on selected soil parameters in a grass fallow shifting cultivation system in Bhutan. Plant and Soil 149, 51-58.
59. Russell, J.R., Betteridge, K., Costall, D.A., Mackay, A.D., 2001. Cattle treading effects on sediment loss and water infiltration. Journal of Range Management 54, 184-190.
60. Schacht, W.H., Stubbendieck, J., Bragg, T.G., Smart, A.J., Doran, J.W., 1996. Soil quality response of reestablished grasslands to mowing and burning. Journal of Range Management 49, 458-463.
61. Scholes, R.J., Walker, B.H., 1993a. An African Savanna: Synthesis of the Nylsvlei Study. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 168pp.
62. Scholes, R.J., Walker, B.H., 1993b. An African Savanna: Synthesis of the Nylsvlei Study. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 306pp.
63. Schulze, E.R., 1979. Climate of South Africa. Part 8. General Survey. Weather Bureau, Pretoria, 158pp.
64. Scott, J.D., 1971. Veld burning in natal. Proceedings of the Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference 11, 33-51.
65. Simanton, J.R., Weltz, M.A., Larson, H.D., 1991. Rangeland experiments to parameterize the water erosion prediction project model: vegetation canopy cover effects. Journal of Range Management 44, 276-282.
66. Slack, D.C., Larson, C.L., 1981. Modelling infiltration, the key process in water management, runoff and erosion. In: Lal, R., Russel, A.W. (Eds.), Tropical Agricultural Hydrology. Wiley, Chichester, pp. 433-450.
67. Smith, D.W., Bowes, G.C., 1974. Loss of some elements in fly ash during old-field burns in Southern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 54, 215-224.
68. Smith, H.J.C., Levy, G.L., Shainberg, I., 1990. Water-droplet energy and soil amendments: effect on infiltration and erosion. Soil Science American Journal 54, 1084-1087.
69. Snyman, H.A., 1993. The effect of defoliation during wilting on the production of Themeda triandra and Eragrostis lehmanniana in semi-arid grassland. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 10 (3), 113-117.
70. Snyman, H.A., 1994. Evapotranspiration, water-use efficiency and quality of six dryland planted pasture species and natural vegetation, in a semi-arid rangeland. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 11, 82-88.
71. Snyman, H.A., 1997. The influence of range condition on the hydrological characteristics in a semi-arid rangeland. Proceedings of the VII International Grassland Congress, Vol. 2, No. 23, Winnipeg, Canada, pp. 1-2.
72. Snyman, H.A., 1998. Dynamics and sustainable utilization of the rangeland ecosystem in arid and semi-arid climates of southern Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 9 (4), 645-666.
73. Snyman, H.A., 1999a. Soil erosion and conservation. In: Tainton, N.M. (Ed.), Veld Management in South Africa. University of Natal Press, Scottsville, South Africa, 472pp.
74. Snyman, H.A., 1999b. Short-term effect of soil-water, defoliation and rangeland condition on productivity of a semi-arid rangeland in South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 43 (1), 47-62.
75. Snyman, H.A., 1999c. Quantification of the soil-water balance under different veld condition classes in a semi-arid climate. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 16 (2 and 3), 108-117.
76. Snyman, H.A., 2000. Soil-water utilisation and sustainability in a semi-arid grassland. Water South Africa 26, 331-341.
77. Snyman, H.A., 2001. Water-use efficiency and infiltration under different rangeland conditions and cultivation in a semi-arid climate of South Africa. Proceedings of the XIX International Grassland Congress, Sao Paulo, Brazil, pp. 965-966.
78. Snyman, H.A., 2002. Short-term response of rangeland botanical composition and productivity to fertilization (N and P) in a semi-arid climate of South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 50, 167-183.
79. Snyman, H.A., Opperman, D.P.J., 1984. Afloopstudies vanaf natuurlike veld in verskillende suksessiestadia van die sentrale Oranje-Vrystaat. Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 1, 11-15.
80. Snyman, H.A., Oosthuizen, I.B., 1999. Rangeland and soil condition: their effects on productivity in a semi-arid climate in South Africa. Proceedings VI International Rangeland Congress, Vol. 1, Townsville, Australia, pp. 211-212.
81. Snyman, H.A., Van Rensburg, W.L.J., Opperman, D.P.J., 1985. Grond- en afloopverliesbepalings vanaf natuurlike veld, met behulp van 'n reënvalnabootser. Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 2, 35-40.
82. Snyman, H.A., Venter, W.D., Van Rensburg, W.L.J., 1997. Transpiration and water-use efficiency in response to water stress in Themeda triandra and Eragrostis lehmanniana. South African Journal of Botany 63, 55-59.
83. Soil Classification Working Group, 1991. Soil Classification: A Taxonomic System for South Africa. Department of Agriculture Development, Pretoria, South Africa, 262pp.
84. St. John, T.V., Rundle, P.H., 1976. The role of fire as a mineralizing agent in a Sierran coniferous forest. Oecologia 25, 35-45.
85. Stevenson, F.J., 1986. Cycles of Soil: Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulphur and Micronutrients, Wiley, New York, 312pp.
86. Stock, W.D., Lewis, O.A.M., 1986, Soil nitrogen and the role of fire as a mineralising agent in South African coastal Fynbos ecosystem, Journal of Ecology 74, 317-328.
87. Stroosnijder, L., 1996. Modelling the effect of grazing on infiltration, runoff and primary production in the Sahel. Ecological Modelling 92, 79-88.
88. Tainton, N.M., Mentis, M.T., 1984. Fire in grasland, In: Booysen, P. de V., Tainton, N.M. (Eds.), Ecological Effects of Fire in South African Ecosystems. Ecological Studies No 48, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 510pp.
89. Tainton, N.M., 1981. Growth and defoliation of veld and pasture plants and swards. In: Tainton, N.M. (Ed.), Veld and Pasture Management in South Africa. Shuter and Shooter, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 481pp.
90. Tainton, N.M., Booysen, P.de V., Bransby, D.J., Nash, R.C., 1978, Long-term effects of burning and mowing on tall grassveld in Natal: dry matter production. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 13, 41-44.
91. Tainton, N.M., Hardy, M.B., Aucamp, A.J., Danckwerts, J.E., 1993. The range environment. In: Maree, C., Casey, N.H. (Eds.), Livestock production systems. Agric. Development Foundation Publishers, Brooklyn, South Africa, 403pp.
92. Teague, W.A., Trollope, W.S.W., Aucamp, A.J., 1981. Veld management in the semi-arid bush-grass communities of the Eastern Cape. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 16, 23-28.
93. Theron, J.J., 1955. The recuperation of soils under grass pastures. In: Meridith, D. (Ed.), The Grasses and Pastures of South Africa. Part 2. Pasture Management in South Africa. Central News Agency, Johannesburg, 222pp.
94. Thurow, T.L., Blackburn, W.H., Taylor Jr., C.A., 1986. Hydrologic characteristics of vegetation types as affected by livestock grazing systems. Journal of Range Management 39, 505-509.
95. Thurow, T.L., Blackburn, W.H., Taylor, C.A., 1988. Some vegetation responses to selected livestock grazing strategies. Journal of Range Management 41, 108-114.
96. Trollope, W.S.W., 1978. Fire behaviour - a preliminary study. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 13, 123-128.
97. Trollope, W.S.W., 1999. Fire behaviour. In: Tainton, N.M. (Ed.). Veld Management in South Africa. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 472pp.
98. Ueckert, D.N., Whigham, T.L., Pears, B.M., 1978. Effects of burning on infiltration, sediment and other soil properties in a sesquite-tobosa grass community. Journal of Range Management 31, 420-425.
99. Van de Vijver, C.A.D.M., 1999. Fire and life in Tarangire: effects of burning and herbivory on an East African Savanna System. Ph.D. Thesis, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, 177pp.
100. Van der Westhuizen, H.C., Snyman, H.A., Van Rensburg, W.L.J., Potgieter, J.H.J., 2001. The quantification of grazing capacity from grazing and production values for species in semi-arid grasslands of southern Africa. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 18 (1), 43-53.
101. Venter, W.D., Snyman, H.A., Van Rensburg, W.L.J., 1997. Photosynthetic response to water stress in Thoneda triandra and Eragrostis lehmanniana. South African Journal of Botany 63, 37-41.
102. Walker, B.H., 1970. An evaluation of eight methods of botanical analysis on grasslands in Rhodesia. Journal of Applied Ecology 7, 403-416.
103. Warren, S.D., Blackburn, W.H., Foulor, C.A., 1986a. Soil hydrologic response to number of pastures and stocking density under intensive rotation grazing. Journal of Range Management 39, 500-504.
104. Warren, S.D., Blackburn, W.H., Taylor, C.A., 1986b. Effects of season and stage of rotation cycle on hydrologic conditions on rangeland under intensive rotation grazing. Journal of Range Management 39, 486-491.
105. Warren, S.D., Nevill, M.B., Blackburn, W.H., Garza, N.E., 1986c. Soil response to trampling under intensive rotation grazing. Soil Science Society America, Journal 50, 1336-1341.
106. West, N.E., York, T.P., 2002. Vegetation responses following wildfire on grazed and ungrazed sagebrush semi-desert. Journal of Range Management 55, 171-181.
107. White, E.M., Thompson, W.W., Gartrier, F.R., 1973. Heat effects on nutrient release from soils under ponderosa pine. Journal of Range Management 26, 22-24.
108. White, R.E., Grossman, D., 1972. The effects of prolonged seasonal burning on soil fertility under trachypogon - other species grassland at Frankenworld. South African Journal of Science 68, 234-239.
109. Whitford, W.G., 1966. The importance of the biodiversity of soil biota in arid ecosystems. Biodiversity and Conservation 5, 185-195.
110. Wiltshire, G.H., 1990. Nitrogen mineralization, nitrification and nitrogen balance in laboratory incubation of soil from natural grassland in the central Orange Free State. South African Journal of Plant and Soil 7, 45-49.
111. Winer, B.J., 1974. Statistical Principles in Experimental Design. McGraw-Hill, London, 218pp.
112. Wright, H.A., Churchill, F.M., Stevens, W.C., 1976. Effects of prescribed burning on sediment, water yield and water quality from dozed juniper lands in central Texas. Journal Range Management 29, 294-298.
113. Wright, H.A., Churchill, F.M., Stevens, W.C., 1982. Soil loss, runoff and water quality of seeded and unseeded steep watersheds following prescribed burning. Journal Range Management 35, 382-385.