Study of changes in the herbaceous vegetation of rangeland at the Gounjel ranch, Adamawa, Cameroon

Abstract

A study was carried out at the end of October 1982 to compare plots that were left fallow at different times during the rainy season and slashed during the dry season after the passage of a disc harrow, and those subject to continuous grazing (the control). Vegetation sampling was done according to the sigmatist method of Braun-Blanquet. The forage production, obtained by cutting the aerial biomass at 10 cm from the soil, was subjected to Student’s t-test. The results show that a fast (2 to 5 years) and important modification as well as true improvement in the pastoral flora (disappearance of unpalatable species and the appearance of good forage species) of degraded pastures can be brought about by this management system. This technique can therefore be used for the regeneration of this type of pasture.