Schmidtia

Abstract: During 1964/66 the Molopo and adjacent semi‐arid ranching areas experienced the most severe drought in living memory. The effects of the drought on the more important grass species in particular, were investigated on three farms in the Vryburg district (namely Buttermere, Seruruble and Fontein). A highly significant decrease in the three dominant grass species (Stipagrostis uniplumis, Schmidtia bulbosa and Eragrostis lehmanniana) was recorded in camps with a moderate stand of woody plant species at the Buttermere and Seruruble sites. Overall mean losses of 82 per cent and 80 per cent of. the three major grass species were recorded at these respective sites. No significant differences in the mortality of these grass species were dectected on plots from which all woody plant species had been eradicated immediately before the drought. The mean hay yields recorded (1965/66 season) from bushed and debushed camps at the Buttermere site were 96 lb and 998 lb respectively. The botanical analysis data of ...