Irvin Mpofu

Impact of Livestock on Vegetation and Soil Nutrients: Around Water Points in Highland Savanna Rangelands, Namibia Irvin Mpofu

This text examines the ecological impacts of different livestock on vegetation and soil properties surrounding water points in a semi-arid environment. Long-term effects of herbivory and trampling activities of livestock in the range have been quantified and studied extensively. Most importantly as it is seen as the major driving force behind ecosystem dynamics and rangeland deterioration in semi-arid areas. Rangelands occupy vast areas of the world and ruminant livestock production is heavily reliant on natural range resources for their nutritional needs. Assessment and mitigation of these impacts are critical to the maintenance of arid rangeland resources. A need therefore exists for understanding animal-soil-plants interactions at water points with the objective of long term maintenance of rangeland quality. In this book special focus is placed on the impacts of livestock on vegetation parameters such cover,composition,species diversity,structure,distribution and their influences on soil properties surrounding watering. In addition,influence of environmental soil variables on the proximate herbaceous layer,shrubs,woody plants and their influences on forage quality is presented.