TITLE:
Influence of Ecological Disturbances on Herbaceous Productivity and Euryops floribundus Density in Communal Rangelands of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
AUTHORS:
Sive Tokozwayo, Siza Mthi, Lwando Royimani, Lwando Mbambalala, Monde Rapiya
KEYWORDS:
Encroachment, Euryops floribundus, Continuous Grazing, Burning
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.16 No.5,
May
14,
2026
ABSTRACT: Shrub encroachment continued to alter grasslands into savanna ecosystem, diminishing grazing capacity, and weakening the resilience rural farming systems. Expansion of indigenous shrubs is associated anthropogenic activities such as unprescribed burning and overutilisation of natural resources. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of burning and continuous grazing on herbaceous layer and Euryops floribundus density. A 5-hectare plot was divided into subplots (i.e. burned and continuously grazed), each further partitioned into 6 plots. Three parallel transects (80 m2) were established per plot and step-point method (40 points) was employed to determine species composition. Along the same transects woody plants were counted to determine bush density. Three quadrats (0.25 m2) per plot randomly placed and vegetation within the quadrat were clipped above ground level. In total, 36 samples harvested and over oven-dried to determine forage production. The results showed that burned site enhanced the abundance of desirable perennial grasses species such as Hyperrhenia hirta (17.00%) and Themeda triandra (16.70%), while continuously grazed site was dominated by less acceptable species such as Aristida congesta (17.21%) and Eragrostis plana (15.04%). Climax species comprised 28% of burned against 14% of grazed sites. E. floribundus density declined from 2300 to 0 plants/ha in burned site but persisted at 2351 plants/ha at continuous grazing site. Forage production displayed a positive relationship at burned site compared to continuous grazed site. The results confirmed that repeated burning, where fuel load is not the limiting factor, can suppress or reduce bush density. However, long-term studies need to be conducted to quantify fire intensity, fuel load, and monitor the potential recovery E. floribundus over time.