This study made use of the opportunity provided by fenceline contrasts in Namibia to
measure differences in rangeland and learn from farmers about the inputs and outputs of
management on each side of the fence. The 34 measured contrasts were mostly
clustered within the Camelthorn and Thornbush Savannas, with three in the Highland and
Dwarf shrub Savannas of Namibia. Mean annual rainfall ranges from 235 to 475 mm.
Rangeland measurements focussed on well established perennial vegetation to avoid the
fluctuating effect of ephemerals. Eight characteristics were measured and significant
(P<0.05) differences occurred in at least one of these at each contrast. Two
characteristics (distance from sample point to the nearest perennial grass and the
species) were combined to determine a rangeland condition index. At 22 of the 34
contrasts the condition index was significantly (P<0.05) higher on one side of the fence.
There was no clear method to distinguish between the influences of different
management inputs that may have caused the fenceline contrasts. Therefore, subjective
judgment was relied upon to identify bush control as the most likely single causative factor
at ten contrasts, stocking rate and period of rest at five contrasts each, and stocking
density at two contrasts. Management contributed to both causes and consequences of
fenceline contrasts. The negative correlation between stocking rate and rangeland
condition index was weak (r = รข0.2575, P = 0.04, n = 64), suggesting that there may have
been more farms where a higher stocking rate was the cause of poorer rangeland than
farms where the higher stocking rate was the consequence of better rangeland raising the
carrying capacity. The stronger correlation between profit and income (r = 0.9288,
P < 0.001, n = 25) than between profit and expenditure (r = 0.0267, P = 0.899, n = 25),
suggests that farmers should focus on reducing non-essential expenditure to increase
profitability. Game farming can earn high income, but continuous selective grazing by
gregarious game animals may lead to poorer rangeland condition.
Useful lessons were learnt from the case study of an innovative farmer who adapted his
management based upon his keen observations of rangeland dynamics. Many of his
interventions were strategically timed in relation to rainfall events. There is much that can
be learnt by both scientists and other farmers from the management strategies applied by
successful farmers who earn a good profit while sustaining the rangeland.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-02152010-142502 |
| Date | 15 February 2010 |
| Creators | Zimmermann, Ibo |
| Contributors | Prof GN Smit |
| Publisher | University of the Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en-uk |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-02152010-142502/restricted/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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