Malan, P. J.Hlatshwayo, Alois Sifelani2024-07-182024-07-182023http://hdl.handle.net/11660/12654Thesis (Ph.D.(Sustainable Agriculture))--University of the Free State, 2023The main objective of this study was to enhance productivity and resilience of semi-arid communal rangelands through manual and livestock seed dispersions and fodder production adoption. Semi-arid communal rangelands support livestock production which is the flagship of food security and livelihoods in the areas. Three treatments; Seed + Ridges, Seed +Ridges + Brushwood, Seed + Brushwood and a Control were used to reseed a degraded semi-arid communal rangeland. Results showed that Treatment had a significant effect on reseeding. Grass seedling counts were significantly higher (p<0.01) at treatments Seed + Ridges and Seed + Ridges + Brushwood. Grass species diversity increased at treatment Seed + Ridges + Brushwood where frequencies were as follows: 𝘏𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘴 13.8%, 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 12.1%, 𝘜𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘰𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 11.5%, 𝘌𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢 9.8%, 𝘌𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘳 6.9%, 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘮 6.3% 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘢 0.6%. Most observed grass species had good forage value. Treatment also influenced biomass production: Seed + Ridges + Brushwood 0.285ᵃ t/ha, Seed + Brushwood 0.254ᵃᵇ t/ha and Seed + Ridges 0.204ᵇ t/ha and Control 0.079ᶜ t/ha. In the second experiment, cows were used to reseed a semi-arid communal rangeland. Four treatments and a Control were used. Treatment 1: Seven days after grass seeds started showing physiological maturity, 40 animals were grazed for 24 hours on diversified grass species, after 24 hours, the animals were taken away. On the following day ten animals were randomly selected and 20g of dung collected from each animal. Treatment 2: The process was repeated after fourteen days, Treatment 3: twenty-one days, Treatment 4: twenty-eight days and for the Control a soil sample was collected from a degraded area. The dung samples were dried in a sample room. Each dry dung sample was gently mashed. River sand was collected, and heated in a dehydrator for 48 hours at 80⁰C to sterilise it. The sand was allowed to cool off, then put in labelled germination trays. Each mashed dung sample was spread in a labelled germination tray and watered. Results showed significantly higher seedling counts and species diversity in Treatments I and 2 than in Treatments 3 and 4. Seedling counts increased from day 7 to day 14 but decreased from day 21 to day 28. This seed dispersion method is effective however, time factor is very important for its success. Observed grass species had good forage value. An investigation on fodder production adoption in semi-arid communal areas was conducted through a structured questionnaire administered to 125 farmers. Results showed a proportion of 61.4% of respondents used fodder, 1.3% used commercial feeds and 37.7% used both. Respondents preserved their fodder as indicated by 86.7% who prepared hay, while 13,3% prepared silage. Livestock species supplemented during the dry season included cattle, goats and donkeys. Fodder production adoption had an effect on livestock mortalities; 97.3% of respondents said mortalities decreased and 2.7% saw an increase A survey to investigate allocation of financial resources from livestock sales to family needs was conducted through a structured questionnaire administered to 125 randomly selected farmers. Survey results showed 95% of respondents sold livestock to private buyers and 5% to abattoirs. A proportion of 52% of respondents conducted livestock sales every 3 – 6 months and 35% 6 – 12 months. Usually sold animals included: cattle 31.0%, goats 27.6%, Chickens 27.6%, sheep 9.2% and donkeys 4.6%. Money from livestock sales was allocated as follows; food 33.3%, medication 33.3%, school fees 27.3% and restocking 6.1%. The results indicate that semi-arid communal farmers sell their livestock, and that their animals are a store of wealth used to enhance food security and livelihoods. In conclusion, results of the two experiments show effectiveness of restoring degraded environments through manual/mechanical and livestock seed dispersions. Grass species diversity and forage value can be increased through manual and livestock seed dispersions. By manually dispersing seeds, results show that biomass production can be increased on low producing semi-arid communal rangelands, since production trebled at Treatment; Seeds + Ridges + Brushwood and doubled at Seeds + Ridges. The methods promise to be useful tools for restoring semi-arid communal rangelands, which have been constrained by degradation for many years, thereby raising productivity and resilience, which in the long term will boost livestock productivity in the areas. Further to being effective, the reseeding methods, are environmentally friendly, cheap and easy to implement. Results of the fodder production adoption survey showed high adoption among farmers which promises to reduce over dependency on rangelands for livestock feed and enhance natural regeneration in the long term. Fodder production adoption promises to be a useful tool for permanently solving feed shortages in semi-arid communal areas. Results of the financial resource allocation survey, showed that farmers sell livestock periodically and use the money to buy food, medication, pay school fees and restock to make livestock production sustainable. All these, significantly confirm that semi-arid communal rangelands play a pivotal role in food security and livelihoods.enThesisUniversity of the Free State