Impact of water provision on herbaceous vegetation in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Herbaceous vegetation was sampled in transects starting at drinking troughs in four land systems in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. The step point method was used to measure the botanical composition and basal cover, and a disc pasture meter was used to measure standing crop. Botanical composition was converted to herbaceous forage and fine fuel production potential. All of these parameters were then used to test for and describe the impact of large herbivores on the herbaceous vegetation near drinking troughs. It was found that provision of water for large herbivores in troughs has a negative impact on herbaceous forage and fine fuel production potential, basal cover and standing crop. The logistic equation adequately describes this impact and the radii of impact extend to between 25 and 250 m from water. Habitat and herbivore species diversity are likely to be adversely affected by the lack of areas farther than 10km from permanent water. Accelerated soil loss may occur within the sacrifice areas of watering points because of the lack of a protective herbaceous sward. (C) 1998 Academic Press Limited.