Managing cultivated pastures for improving soil quality in South Africa: challenges and opportunities

• Published in: African journal of range & forage science Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 91 - 96
• Main Authors: Swanepoel, Pieter A, Botha, Philip R, du Preez, Chris C, Snyman, Hennie A, Labuschagne, Johan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scottsville Taylor & Francis 03.04.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Agricultural production; decision making; fertilisation; Fertilizer application; grazing management; Herbivores; Irrigation; irrigation management; Land management; Monitoring methods; Pasture; Pasture management; pastures; Quality; soil; Soil conservation; Soil degradation; Soil management; Soil quality; Soils; South Africa; Sustainability; tillage; Water management; South Africa

Loss of productive agricultural land due to soil degradation poses a serious threat to agricultural output and sustainability. Soil degradation of cultivated pastures manifests as a long-term decline in production potential. There are concerns that soils under pastures in certain regions of South Af...