Rangeland Degradation Impacts on Vegetation Cover, Soil Properties and Ecosystem Functioning in an Arid and Semi-Arid Climate, South Africa

The negative effect of soil erosion and compaction is well documented for the purpose optimum rangeland functioning, while impact degradation on effective depth seldom quantified. aim this study was to quantify response vegetation cover properties, particularly texture degradation. Forty-one farms were sampled in arid semi-arid climate South Africa. Within these farms, data collected over a gradient. Results showed significant decline relative basal (94% ± 15% 39% 17%) (90% 14% 73% 24%) as degraded. Soil changes gradients vary different homogeneous types. Indications regarding loss functioning ecosystem also demonstrated, using objective long-term relations between conditions grazing capacity. highlights importance sustainable management practices reduce ensure utilization ecosystem. These results can probably extrapolate other rangelands worldwide.