Effects of certain burning treatments on veld condition in giant's castle game reserve

Abstract

Available above‐ground standing crop, basal cover and species composition in summer‐, autumn‐ and spring‐burnt veld were measured. After three biennial summer burns the veld showed a significant difference in species composition and basal cover when compared with biennial spring‐burnt veld. Available above‐ground standing crop of summer‐burnt veld 18 months after treatment was generally lower than autumn‐ and spring‐burnt veld 17 and 11 months after burning respectively. Indications of species composition changes from autumn‐burnt veld are not conclusive at this stage due to lack of long term treatments. The results obtained from the summer burning experiments have led to their being discontinued.