Towards objective veld condition assessment

Abstract

The derivation of explicit goals and the quantification of the degree of their attainment are essential for purposeful management. Present methods in regard to the grazing use of South African veld may be improved in objectivity, efficiency and generality by resort to methods of multivariate analysis. Meaningful interpretation of the results of field assessment is not possible without a compatible model of the dynamic interaction between plants and herbivores. Such a model includes a zero isocline for proportional species composition of the veld in relation to grazing intensity, and a zero isocline for herbivores in relation to proportional species composition of the veld.