Impact of Overgrazing on Diffuse and Concentrated Erosion: Case Study in the Sloping Lands of South Africa

Soil erosion is one of the most critical threats to cultivated land. Yet little information available in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially on relative contributions various forms erosion. Therefore, this study’s objective was quantify soil loss by sheet and linear The study carried out sloping land rangeland Potshini catchment KwaZulu-Natal, South with an annual average rainfall 766 mm. computed using a network 1 m2 microplots 7.7 ton ha−1 y−1 standard error 1.97 (which corresponded ablation rate between 0.35 1.32 mm y−1) while erosion, mainly retreat gully banks, removed 4.8 y−1, i.e., 38.4% total losses. Despite removing lower amount soil, depleting fertile, carbon- nutrient-enriched horizons has great impact ecological functions associated soils.