The effect of spring mowing and burning on seed and dry matter productions of Anthephora pubescens Nees

Abstract

The inability of farmers of the Northern Cape to obtain adequate seed supplies of Anthephora pubescens is hampering their attempts to use this grass for veld reclamation. At the Vaalharts Agricultural Research Station it was found that, by intensive defoliation of the tufts at the start of the growing season, greater numbers of reproductive culms were produced earlier in the season than on the control plots, resulting in a shorter harvest period. Percentage live seed content was also increased so that the total live seed production was nearly trebled. Seed production could be a remunerative undertaking for irrigation farmers whilst the herbage could be profitably used for fattening oxen.

Keywords: Northern Cape Province|herbage|production|harvest periods|reproductive organs|tufts|defoliations|reclamations|grasses|farmers|dry matter production|seeds|burning regimes|mowing|spring|veld