Portulacaria afra is constrained under extreme soil conditions in the Fish River Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Date
2011
Authors
Mills A.J.
Cowling R.M.
Steyn D.
Spekreijse J.
Van den Broeck D.
Weel S.
Boogerd C.
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Abstract
Restoration of degraded thicket landscapes can be achieved by planting Portulacaria afra (spekboom) cuttings. The factors determining P. afra abundance in thicket types not dominated by P. afra are of interest to restoration practitioners because they could influence restoration protocols using P. afra cuttings in these landscapes. We consequently investigated the relationship between P. afra cover and soil properties, namely pH, EC, organic C, particle size distribution and total content of 26 elements at 78 sites in the Fish River Reserve, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. P. afra cover showed a consistent pattern of constraint at extreme levels (both high and low) of subsoil EC, organic C, sand content, Ca, Zn and Al. The results suggest that P. afra is most competitive in intermediate edaphic environments in the Fish River Reserve. It remains to be investigated in restored landscapes whether P. afra cutting survivorship and growth are greater in such soils. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.
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Citation
South African Journal of Botany
77
3
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79957829862&partnerID=40&md5=531a2acaee7b75e8aefac353dabd8cc1
77
3
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79957829862&partnerID=40&md5=531a2acaee7b75e8aefac353dabd8cc1