Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T14:52:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese glenio g santos part 1.pdf: 422298 bytes, checksum: f55f5a007ac66f4eca51eb0700509f2e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-26 / When the agricultural usage becomes more intensive, the soil-water physical attributes can undergo significant modifications which are generally adverse to plant growth. The changes can be rather easily detected when the cultivated systems are compared with the same soil still under natural Cerrado vegetation. The use of the system of crop-livestock integration can lead to marked changes in the physical, chemical, and biological soil attributes that can affect the development and hence the productivity of the crops that come after the pasture. This study aimed at analyzing quantitatively by means of attributes of soil-water relations, the main changes in soil quality, resulting from long-term soil usage under integrated crop-livestock, conducted in Cerrado area. The study was carried out by sampling soil trenches dug in the Capivara Farm of Embrapa Rice and Beans, as well as, in a private farm, located nearby Embrapa property. The trenches were sampled in the following depths: 2.5-7.5 cm, 12.5-17.5 cm, 22.5-27.5 cm, 42.5-47.5 cm, 72.5-77.5 cm and 142.5-147.5 cm. The evaluations were carried in six production systems, with an average of 13.5 ha in each area, being characterized by its current usage as: P1 system (Brachiaria brizantha grazing managed for four years); P2 system (Brachiaria brizantha grazing managed for two years); P3 system (Brachiaria brizantha grazing managed for three years); C1 system (soybean under no-tillage); C2 system (rice under conventional tillage) and C3 system (maize + Brachiaria brizantha under no-tillage). It was also used a seventh area, kept under continuous grazing with Brachiaria decumbens managed for 19 years, identified as CP, and an eighth area of the native cerrado vegetation, identified as CE. Generally, the soil-water physical attributes, and among them, the soilwater retention curves and the respective S-index values are altered when managed with agricultural implements and animal grazing in comparison to native cerrado area, considered in this study as a reference area. The use of S-index to evaluate the soil physical quality from the point of view of its structure quality by means of the soil-water retention curve can be a viable option, since it does not have some of the restrictions found by using other soil quality indicators. However, its use requires a greater number of regionalized investigations for different tillage systems and crops, soil types, climate, soil biological activity, among others, in order to relate the critical values with average productivity, so it can used safely to appraise the "effective" soil physical quality / Na medida em que se intensifica o uso agrícola, os atributos físico-hídricos do solo sofrem alterações, geralmente adversas ao crescimento vegetal e essas modificações ficam mais nítidas, quando os sistemas de uso do solo são comparados com o estado do solo ainda sob vegetação natural de cerrado. A utilização do sistema de integração lavourapecuária pode acarretar mudanças acentuadas nos atributos físicos, químicos e biológicos do solo e que podem afetar o desenvolvimento e, consequentemente, a produção das culturas que venham em sequência ao pastejo. Este estudo teve como objetivo geral analisar, quantitativamente, por meio de atributos físico-hídricos, as principais alterações na qualidade do solo, decorrentes da utilização de longo prazo em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária, conduzidos em ambiente de Cerrado. O estudo foi realizado a partir da abertura de trincheiras na Fazenda Capivara, Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, e em área particular, ao lado da propriedade da Embrapa, onde amostras de solo foram coletadas nas profundidades: 2,5-7,5 cm, 12,5-17,5 cm, 22,5-27,5 cm, 42,5 47,5 cm, 72,5-77,5 cm e 142,5-147,5 cm. As avaliações foram realizadas em seis sistemas, com área média de 13,5 ha cada, sendo caracterizadas pelo seu uso atual como: sistema P1 (pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha com quatro anos de uso); sistema P2 (pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha com dois anos de uso); sistema P3 (pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha com três anos de uso); sistema C1 (Soja sob plantio direto); sistema C2 (arroz sob plantio convencional) e; sistema C3 (milho + Brachiaria brizantha sob plantio direto). Foi também usada uma sétima área de cinco ha, mantida sob pastagem contínua de Brachiaria decumbens, por 19 anos após implantação designada por CP e uma oitava área de cerrado nativo chamada de CE. De uma forma geral, os atributos físico-hídricos e dentre eles as curvas de retenção de água do solo e os respectivos valores do índice-S são alterados, quando submetidos ao manejo com implementos agrícolas e ao pastoreio animal, se comparados à área de cerrado nativo, considerada área de referência neste estudo. O uso do índice-S para avaliar a qualidade física do solo, do ponto de vista da sua estrutura de qualidade por meio da curva de retenção de água pode ser uma opção viável, uma vez que não têm algumas das limitações encontradas no uso de outros indicadores de qualidade do solo. Contudo, sua aplicação demanda um número maior de investigações regionalizadas para diferentes sistemas de manejo e plantas cultivadas, tipos de solo, clima, atividade biológica do solo, dentre outros, relacionando seus valores críticos a índices médios de produtividade agrícola, para que se possa utilizá-lo com segurança na determinação da qualidade física efetiva do solo

O etanol celulósico a partir da palhada de cana pode elevar a produção do bioetanol, porém esta é normalmente decomposta no campo. A degradação da parede celular no campo não foi elucidada e compreender este processo auxiliará na produção de etanol celulósico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a degradação da palhada de cana de açúcar no campo durante um ano. Foi analisada a composição da parede celular por fracionamento e composição dos monossacarídeos. Na parede celular, observou-se redução de 26% no teor de celulose enquanto houve aumento de 13% na fração de hemiceluloses mais solúveis. Mudanças na composição dos monossacarídeos das frações mostraram que o arabinoxilano (AX) foi o primeiro polímero a ser solubilizado (após 3 meses) seguido dos <font face=\"Symbol\">b-glucanos e celulose (após 6 meses). Isto sugere que o AX é a hemicelulose mais exposta e sua solubilização permitiu a degradação da celulose após 6 meses. A partir dos dados obtidos, sugeriu-se a utilização de xilanases seguidas de glucanases numa possível ordem de enzimas para produção de etanol celulósico. / The sugarcane straw cellulosic ethanol can increase bioethanol production, but the straw is usually degraded in the field. However, the process that leads the cell wall disassembly under field conditions is unknown and understanding how this happens can improve cellulosic ethanol production. In the present work we aimed at studying how sugarcane straw is degraded in the field during a year. Cell wall composition was determined by fractioning and determination of monosaccharide composition. Results showed a decrease (ca.26%) in cellulose content and an increase of 13% in high solubility hemicelluloses fraction. Changes in monosaccharide composition showed that the first polymer to be solubilised is the arabinoxylan (AX) (after 3 months) followed by <font face=\"Symbol\">b-glucans and cellulose (after 6 months). This suggests that AX is the most exposed hemicelullose and its solubilisation allowed cellulose degradation after 6 months. Our data suggest the use of xylanases followed by glucanases as an enzyme order to be used in cellulosic ethanol production from sugarcane straw.

This thesis deals with certain environmental problems in Europe and with attempts to solve these environmental problems within the framework of the European Union. The purpose of this work is to make its readers acquainted with the scope of the EU environmental policy and Community legislation on the protection of the environment. The thesis is focused on four main subject-matters: (i) climate change as a consequence of the global warming process, (ii) air pollution and the ozone layer depletion, (iii) water contamination and (iv) soil degradation. The issue which of the environmental problems require a regional approach and which a global approach is also considered in the thesis.

Klimawandel und Bodendegradation üben Druck auf die Nahrungsmittelproduktion sowie auf die Fähigkeit des Bodens zur Minderung des Klimawandels beizutragen aus. Bodendegradation hat negative Auswirkungen auf die Bodenqualität. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Analyse der Effekte von landwirtschaftlich getriebener Bodendegradation, vor allem durch Pflügen und dem Umgang mit Ernterückständen. Es wird ein Überblick über das Thema Bodendegradation gegeben, gefolgt von Erweiterung des globalen Ökosystemmodells Lund-Potsdam-Jena-managed-Land (LPJmL) um eine detaillierte Prozessabbildung von Pflugpraktiken und Effekten von Ernterückständen. Diese ermöglicht die Analyse der Effekten von landwirtschaftlichen Managements auf die Anpassung und Minderung des Klimawandel. Das Modell kann die Effekte von naturerhaltender landwirtschaftlicher Bewirtschaftung (im Englischen bekannt als Conservation Agriculture) auf Kohlenstoffvorräte im Boden und CO2 Emissionen simulieren. Im letzten Teil wird die historische Dynamik der Entwicklung von Bodenkohlenstoff (engl.: Soil Organic Carbon – SOC) und die Effekte von Annahmen zum zukünftigen Management unter unterschiedlichen Klimaszenarien gezeigt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass durch die historische Umwandlung von natürlicher Vegetation zu landwirtschaftlicher Fläche bis zu 215 Pg SOC im Boden verloren gegangen sind. Bis zum Ende des Jahrhunderts könnten weitere 38 Pg SOC zusätzlich verloren gehen, wird die heutige landwirtschaftliche Fläche nicht nachhaltig bewirtschaften. Die Bewirtschaftung mit dem Pflug zeigt einen geringen Einfluss auf die Kohlenstoffvorräte des Bodens, während die Wahl der Behandlung von Ernterückständen erheblich Einfluss hat. Die Rückführung von Ernterückständen hat positive Einflüsse auf Bodenwassergehalt und Ernteproduktivität, mit regionalen Unterschieden. Insgesamt zeigen 46% der heute Landwirtschaftsfläche das Potenzial zur Steigerung des Bodenkohlenstoff, während mindestens 52% Kohlenstoff im Boden verlieren könnten. / Climate change and increasing soil degradation put pressure on the global food production systems and the ability of land for climate change mitigation. Additionally, soil degradation has negative implications on soil quality. This thesis analyzes the effects of agricultural-driven global soil degradation, in particular tillage and residue management. At first, a review the state of knowledge on global soil degradation is provided. Soil organic carbon (SOC) decline is one of the major forms of soil degradation on cropland and a useful indicator of the status of soil degradation. Secondly, to study the effects of different pathways of agricultural management on biophysical and biogeochemical flows, the global ecosystem model Lund-Potsdam-Jena managed Land (LPJmL) is extended by a detailed representation of tillage practices and residue management. This improvement of LPJmL allows for the analysis of management-related effects on agricultural mitigation of climate change adaption and the reduction of environmental impacts. The model can simulate the effects of conservation practices on SOC stocks and CO2 emissions. And third, SOC development and the effects of different management assumptions under climate change is analyzed. This shows that approximately 215 Pg SOC was lost due to the historical conversion of natural land to cropland and up to 38 Pg SOC could be additionally lost on already existing cropland until the end of the century if cropland is not managed sustainably. The type of tillage system has small effects on the SOC stocks, while the choice of crop residue treatment is shown to be the main driver governing SOC development. Returning residues to the soil slows the decline of SOC, and positively affects soil moisture and crop productivity, with regional differences. In total, up to 46% of todays’ cropland shows the potential for SOC increase, while at least 52% of cropland today will undergo further SOC loss as a form of soil degradation.

No description available.

Soil degradation is a common occurrence in Haiti that is mainly caused by the cultivation of marginal lands and deforestation, which both contribute to the excessive erosion rate seen in the country today. The Central Plateau of Haiti is a mountainous region in which a majority of the population is rural and practices subsistence agriculture on hillsides and steeply-sloping land. Essential plant nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), are commonly a limiting factor in crop production, yet fertilizer is unavailable or is too expensive for smallholder farmers to purchase. This study was conducted to a) evaluate organic matter and nutrient stocks of various soils in the Central Plateau region, along with other chemical and physical characteristics and b) to evaluate the phosphorus-scavenging ability of commonly-grown crops to isolate those that may benefit subsequent smallholder yields. Soils from four locations in the Central Plateau were assessed for organic matter in labile and non-labile fractions as well as for cation exchange capacity (CEC), total organic carbon (C) and N, pH, texture, and other characteristics. Results indicated that most of the soil (92%) was contained within aggregates, and organic matter was mainly present in stable, slowly-decomposing fractions. Seven species were evaluated in a controlled-environment pot experiment for bulk and rhizosphere soil P and pH, plant dry weight, and above- and below-ground P tissue content as indicators of the species' ability to solubilize P from the soil. Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC) produced the most biomass and was able to take up the most P, though lablab (Lablab purpureous (L.) Sweet), took up comparable amounts of P. / Master of Science / LTRA-6 (A CAPS program for the Central Plateau of Haiti)

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With only 1.76% conserved West Coast Renosterveld remaining it is crucial to prioritize the conservation and management of this fragile vegetation type. Because of its occurrence on fertile soils, renosterveld has been cleared for cultivation and other agricultural use and is thus fragmented to a critical point. These remaining fragments are subject to extensive edge effects and the exact parameters of a viable fragment must still be determined. The extent of alien grass species invasion into remnant renosterveld patches was determined using data collected using the line-intercept method. Sampling included three different management treatment areas adjacent to old lands: 1) a recently burned area, 2) a grazed area and 3) an unburnedlungrazed area providing a control sample. Additionally all small-scale soil disturbances along the lines were recorded. Results showed that Briza spp., Bromus spp. and Avena fatua were the most significant invading alien grass species. There was a significantly high variation between alien grass cover in each treatment, with the grazed area containing the highest overal! level of alien grass invasion. The control area, with the exclusion of fire and animal activity, showed minimum alien grass invasion. Edge effects were apparent in all treatments, but were lowest in the control area, where percentage alien grass cover significantly decreased after a distance of fifteen meters into the remnant patch. A weak positive correlation between the occurrence of alien grass and indigenous grass was found, as well as evidence of a weak association between alien grass cover and shrub cover. The possibility that small-scale soil disturbances could be an important contributing factor to alien grass invasion was supported by the positive correlation between disturbances and percentage alien grass cover. A positive correlation was found between the occurrence of indigenous grass and small-scale soil disturbances, while shrub cover tended to be less associated with animal activity. It is concluded that the correct management regime could effectively control the excessive invasion of alien grass species into the remnant renosterveld patches. Grazing (including all animal activity and small-scale soil disturbances) was the main facilitator of alien grass establishment - even dominating the prominent consequences of edge effects by facilitating alien grass establishment much deeper into the remnant patches. It could be assumed that a precise balance of low-pressure grazing and fire management should be established to enable the effective control of alien grass species while maintaining optimum biodiversity. Keywords: renosterveld, alien grass, grazing, fire, management, small-scale soil disturbances / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met slegs 1.76% oorblywende Weskus Renosterveld wat bewaar word, is die beskerming en effektiewe bestuur van hierdie bedreigde plantegroei 'n prioriteit. Die vrugbare grond waarop renosterveld voorkom, het veroorsaak dat dit uitgeroei word om eerder die kultivering van ekonomies produktiewe landbou gewasse moontlik te maak. Dus het renosterveld verminder en gefragmenteer tot 'n kritieke punt. Hierdie ooblywende klein areas bedek met renosterveld, is blootgestel aan ekstensiewe invloede van die omliggende areas en die presiese afmetings vir 'n effektiewe grate renosterveld fragment vir bewarings doeleindes, moel nog vasgestel word. Die male van uitheemse gras spesie indringing in hierdie renosterveld fragmente is ondersoek deur die versameling van data deur die lyn-onderskep metode. Drie verskillende bestuursstelsels vir renosterveld is ondersoek om vas te stel wat die ergste graad van uitheemse gras indringing voorkom. Die studie het 'n 1) onlangs gebrande area, 2) 'n beweide area en 3) 'n kontrole area (wat nie gebrand of bewei is nie) ondersoek. Alle kleinskaalse grond-versteurings langs die lyne is ook aangeteken. Die resultate het aangetoon dat Briza spp., Bromus spp. en Avena fatua, as uitheemse grasse, die belangrikste indringers was en dus die grootste bedreiging inhou. Daar was 'n beduidende hoë variasie tussen die mate van uitheemse gras bedekking aangeteken in elk van die bestuurs-stelsels. Die beweide area het die hoogste graad van uitheemse gras indringing getoon, terwyl die kontrole area (in die afwesigheid van vuur en weidings aktiwiteite) die meeste weerstand teen uitheemse gras indringing getoon het. Die invloed van die omliggende omgewing was ook duidelik sigbaar in al drie die bestuurs-stelsels, maar was duidelik minder in die kontrole area waar die persentasie uitheemse gras indringing aansienlik verminder het na 'n afstand van vyftien meter in die renosterveld fragment in. 'n Swak positiewe korrelasie tussen die voorkoms van uitheemse grasse en inheemse gras spesies was aangeteken, asook bewyse van 'n swak negatiewe assosiasie tussen die uitheemse gras spesies en die inheemse bosse. Soos verwag, is daar bewyse gevind vir die teorie dat kleinskaalse grond-versteurings 'n belangrike fasiliterende faktor is vir uitheemse gras vestiging. Daar was 'n duidelike positiewe korrelasie tussen hierdie grond-versteurings en die persentasie uitheemse gras grondbedekking. Dieselfde positiewe assosiasie was gevind tussen die inheemse gras en hierdie kleinskaalse grond-versteurings, terwyl die inheemse bossie duidelik minder verbind was met die verskynsel. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat 'n korrekte bestuurs-plan die indringing van uitheemse grasse effektief sal kan beheer. Dier aktiwiteite (insluitende beweiding, grawe van gate, mier en termiet neste ens.), en dus kleinskaalse grond-versteurings. was die grootste fasiliteerders van uitheemse gras indringing en vestiging binne hierdie renosterveld stukke. Dit oorheers selfs die aansienlike effek wat invloede van die omringende omgewing op hierdie areas het, deur die uitheemse gras indringing selfs dieper in die fragmente in aan te help. Daar kan dus aangeneem word dat 'n presiese balans tussen lae-intensiteit beweiding (en dus fauna aktiwiteit) en veld brande vasgestel moet word vir die effektiewe beheer van uitheemse gras spesies terwyl die optimum bio-diversiteit terselfde tyd gehandhaafword. Sleutelwoorde: renosterveld, uitheemse grasse, beweiding, vuur, veldbestuur, kleinskaalse grond-versteurings

This study has provided fundamental information on the fate of urine nitrogen (N) when applied to pasture soils. In this work the three pasture soils used were a Bruntwood silt loam (BW), an old well-developed (lime and fertilizer incorporated and farmed for more than 20 years) peat soil (OP) and a young peat (YP) which was less developed (farmed for about 10 years). Initial soil chemical and physical measurements revealed that the peat soils were acidic, had higher cation exchange capacities, had greater carbon:nitrogen ratios and were better buffered against changes in soil pH than the BW soil. However, the BW soil was more fertile with a higher pH. The peat soils had lower bulk densities and higher porosities. Four experiments were performed. In the first experiment ¹⁵N-labelled urine was applied at 500 kg N ha⁻¹ to intact soil cores of the three soils. Treatments imposed were the presence and absence of a water table at two temperatures, 8°C or 23° C, over 11-14 weeks. ¹⁵N budgets were determined. This first experiment showed that the nitrification rate was faster in the BW soil and was retarded with a water table present. Significant leaching of nitrate occurred at 8°C in the BW soil without a water table. This was reduced when a water table was present. Leaching losses of urine-N were lower in the peat soils than in the BW soil. Apparent denitrification losses (i.e. calculated on a total-N recovery basis) ranged from 18 to 48 % of the ¹⁵N-applied with the greatest losses occurring in the peat soils. The second experiment examined denitrification losses, over 30 days, following the application of synthetic urine-N at 420 kg N ha⁻¹ to small soil cores situated in growth cabinets. The effects of temperature (8°C or 18°C) and synthetic urine (presence or absence) were measured on the BW and OP soils. Nitrous oxide (N₂0) measurements were taken from all soil cores and a sub-set of soil cores, at 18°C, had ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine-N applied so that ¹⁵N-labelled nitrogen gases could be monitored. This experiment showed that the application of synthetic urine and increased soil temperature enhanced denitrification losses from both soils. Denitrification losses, at 18°C, as ¹⁵N-labelled nitrogen gases accounted for 24 to 39 % of the nitrogen applied. Nitrous oxide comprised less than half of this denitrification loss. Losses of N₂0 in leachate samples from the soil cores accounted for less than 0.1 % of the nitrogen applied. A third experiment, using Iysimeters, was performed over a 150 day period in the field. The six treatments consisted of the 3 soils with applied synthetic urine, with or without a simulated water table; each replicated three times. Lysimeters were installed in the field at ground level and ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine-N was applied (500 kg N ha⁻¹) on June 4 1992 (day 1). Nitrification rates differed between the soils following the trend noticed in the first experiment. As in the first experiment, nitrate was only detected in the leachate from the BW soil and the inclusion of a water table reduced the concentration of nitrate. In the BW soil, the leachate nitrate concentrations exceeded the World Health Organisation's recommended limit (< 10 mg N L-1) regardless of water table treatment. No nitrate was detected in the leachates from the peat soils but there was some leaching of organic-N (< 5 % of N added) in all the peat soil treatments. Denitrification losses were monitored for the first 100 days of the experiment. In the BW soil without a water table, N₂0 production peaked at approximately day 20 and accounted for 3 % of the nitrogen applied. In the peat soils the measured denitrification losses accounted for less than 1 % of the nitrogen applied. Apparent denitrification losses in the peats were, however, calculated to be approximately 50 % of the ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine-N applied. It is postulated that the difference between apparent denitrification losses and those measured could have been due to; loss of dinitrogen in leachate, protracted production of dinitrogen below detectable limits, production of denitrification gases after measurements ceased (i.e. days 100 to 150) and entrapment of dinitrogen in soil cores. Due to the apparent denitrification losses being so high, further research into this nitrogen loss pathway was performed. The fourth and final experiment measured denitrification directly using highly enriched (50 atom %) ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine-N. It was performed in a growth cabinet held initially at 8°C. The ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine was applied at 500 kg N ha⁻¹ to small soil cores of each soil type. Fluxes of N₂0 and ¹⁵N-labelled gases were measured daily for 59 days. On day 42 the temperature of the growth cabinet was increased to 12°C in an attempt to simulate the mean soil temperature at the end of the field experiment. Up to this time, production of nitrogenous gases from the YP soil had been very low. Interpretation of gaseous nitrogen loss in the YP soil was difficult due to the possibility of chemodenitrification occurring. However, in the OP and BW soils, gaseous losses of nitrogen (determined as ¹⁵N-labelled gas) represented 16 and 7 % of the nitrogen applied respectively. Nitrous oxide comprised approximately half of this gaseous nitrogen loss, in both the OP and BW soils. This work implies that urine-N applied to the mineral soil (BW) could potentially threaten the quality of ground water due to nitrate contamination through leaching. In contrast, denitrification appears to be the major loss mechanism from the peat soils, with the production of nitrous oxide being the primary focus for any environmental concern. Future work should examine the fate of the nitrate leached from the BW soil and the potential for dilution, plant uptake or denitrification below a 30 cm soil depth. A better understanding of the denitrification mechanisms could help reduce denitrification and thereby improve the efficiency of nitrogen use and reduce the output of nitrous oxide.

This thesis aIms to produce a distinctive model for the sustainable horticultural development of Maori resources, primarily land. It is inclusive of tikanga Maori and indigenous production systems based on the unique body of knowledge aligned to Maori. The integration of this knowledge with western science is both argued and applied through the model itself. The hypothesis applied was that matauranga Maori relevant to horticulture and pedology can inform and add value to the future development of Maori land resources. The thesis is bui lt on a unique set of contributing knowledge bases aligned to soils and horticultural management supported by three case studies, identified through their common association i.e. whakapapa links. The format of the thesis intentionally follows science principles in structure and presentation and some assumptions are made regarding base knowledge surrounding Maori cultural factors and the science disciplines relative to soils and horticul ture. The indigenous element, including Maori knowledge, is incorporated into the model using a triadic kosmos/corpus/praxis approach. Where kosmos is applied as Te A o Miiori, corpus as miitauranga Miiori and praxis as tikanga Miiori, the relationship between each element is clear and the interpretation of the associated knowledge becomes more apparent and can be applied to cultural assessments of resources, i ncluding land. The crux of the cultural assessment model is the quality of information used to assess Maori resources, especially from the cultural perspective. The Maori cultural paradigm, traditional horticulture and pedology, and various decision systems are purposefully accessed to act as contributors to the assessment model and to highlight the diversity and quality of information land managers have at their disposal. The ability to apply a cultural layer drawn from a body of knowledge not previously included in decision models relative to land utility in New Zealand is the key point. of difference of the model. The model is discussed from the perspective of its beneficial role for future use by Maori and how it can be continuously refined to meet the needs of Maori land owners and thus contribute to the rangatiratanga of Maori.

The degradation of rangeland grass is currently one of the most serious environmental problems in South Africa. Increaser and decreaser grass species have been used as indicators to evaluate rangeland condition. Therefore, classifying these species and monitoring their relative abundance is an important step for sustainable rangelands management. Traditional methods (e.g. wheel point technique) have been used in classifying increaser and decreaser species over small geographic areas. These methods are regarded as being costly and time-consuming, because grasslands usually cover large expanses that are situated in isolated and inaccessible areas. In this regard, remote sensing techniques offer a practical and economical means for quantifying rangeland degradation over large areas. Remote sensing is capable of providing rapid, relatively inexpensive, and near-real-time data that could be used for classifying and monitoring species. This study advocates the development of techniques based on remote sensing to classify four dominant increaser species associated with rangeland degradation namely: Hyparrhenia hirta, Eragrostis curvula, Sporobolus africanus and Aristida diffusa in Okhombe communal rangeland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. To our knowledge, no attempt has yet been made to discriminate and characterize the landscape using these species as indicators of the different levels of rangeland degradation using remote sensing. The first part of the thesis reviewed the problem of rangeland degradation in South Africa, the use of remote sensing (multispectral and hyperspectral) and their challenges and opportunities in mapping rangeland degradation using different indicators. The concept of decreaser and increaser species and how it can be used to map rangeland degradation was discussed. The second part of this study focused on exploring the relationship between vegetation species (increaser and decreaser species) and different levels of rangeland degradation. Results showed that, there is significant relationship between the abundance and distribution of different vegetation species and rangeland condition. The third part of the study aimed to investigate the potential use of hyperspectral remote sensing in discriminating between four increaser species using the raw field spectroscopy data and discriminant analysis as a classifier. The results indicate that the spectroscopic approach used in this study has a strong potential to discriminate among increaser species. These positive results prompted the need to scale up the method to airborne remote sensing data characteristics for the purpose of possible mapping of rangeland species as indicators of degradation. We investigated whether canopy reflectance spectra resampled to AISA Eagle resolution and random forest as a classification algorithm could discriminate between four increaser species. Results showed that hyperspectral data assessed with the random forest algorithm has the potential to accurately discriminate species with best overall accuracy. Knowledge on reduced key wavelength regions and spectral band combinations for successful discrimination of increaser species was obtained. These wavelengths were evaluated using the new WorldView imagery containing unique and strategically positioned band settings. The study demonstrated the potential of WorldView-2 bands in classifying grass at species level with an overall accuracy of 82% which is only 5% less than an overall accuracy achieved by AISA Eagle hyperspectral data. Overall, the study has demonstrated the potential of remote sensing techniques to classify different increaser species representing levels of rangeland degradation. In this regard, we expect that the results of this study can be used to support up-to-date monitoring system for sustainable rangeland management. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.