Soil disturbance and increase in species diversity during rehabilitation of degraded arid rangelands

A survey of mechanized rehabilitation methods attempted by rangeland managers was carried out. Two types of cultivation methods have commonly been used in parts of South Africa to combat further degradation and to improve the production potential. Depending on money and time it was found that certain cultivation methods were only suitable under certain conditions. Change of species richness, composition and total density of plants over time was determined. According to the results it appears that the dyker plough cultivation method gives better results in a clayish soil type and that ripper cultivation techniques are more suitable in standy soils, provided that the depth and distance of cultivation are optimal