The Grassland biome is the second largest biome in South Africa and one of the most threatened with only 2.5% formally conserved and more than 60% irreversibly transformed.
This degradation and transformation is the result of agricultural and mining activities, as well as urbanisation, pollution etc. Grasslands are valuable assets because it provides ecosystem services such as food for humans and animals, shelter, medicine, supply the bulk of water needed to sustain life, cycle nutrients, stabilize soil, serve as carbon sinks and provide energy as well as recreation.
When taking above aspects into consideration it is evident that it is necessary to conserve and rehabilitate grasslands to ensure the provision of fresh water, prevent erosion and bush encroachment and prevent the loss of top soil, biodiversity and soil fertility.
The aim of this project is to investigate various practical, cost effective methods to establish grass for the rehabilitation of degraded grasslands, to prevent erosion and the consequent loss of top soil and biodiversity.
To achieve this goal various experimental procedures will be implemented to establish grass seeds on bare soil patches on the UP Agricultural farm. The obtained data will be analysed to determine which of the methods are the best and cost effective for the establishment of grass on bare patches.
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