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RM 100 lecture 3

Rangeland productivity is influenced by climate, topography, and soil, with climate being the most critical factor affecting vegetation. Key climate components include rainfall, temperature, wind, and humidity, which collectively impact plant growth and forage quality. Topography and soil characteristics, such as texture, structure, pH, organic matter, and fertility, also play significant roles in supporting rangeland ecosystems.

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6 views

RM 100 lecture 3

Rangeland productivity is influenced by climate, topography, and soil, with climate being the most critical factor affecting vegetation. Key climate components include rainfall, temperature, wind, and humidity, which collectively impact plant growth and forage quality. Topography and soil characteristics, such as texture, structure, pH, organic matter, and fertility, also play significant roles in supporting rangeland ecosystems.

Uploaded by

kaizambaruku2024
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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RM 100: Lecture 3.

Characteristics of rangelands

Rangeland physical characteristics

In rangelands ecosystems, there are three main factors that that influence
rangeland productivity. These factors include climate, topography, and
soil. These physical (environmental) factors first affect plant biomass (i.e.
forage) and ultimately animal production in rangelands.

a. Climate

This is the most important factor of the rangeland due to the fact that it
shapes the vegetation component. Plant species or forms occurring in
areas characterised by similar climatic conditions are usually similar.
Climate is the average of daily weather conditions for a prolonged period
of time (years). Climate is used to describe regional areas and zonal
vegetation as grassland, shrubland, savanna woodland, forest, desert
or tundra. Each of these types is comprised of several plant associations that
support a slightly different biota due to variation in climate, soil and human
activities.

Components of climate include;

1. Rainfall

2. Temperature

3. Wind and

4. Humidity.

1. Rainfall

Rainfall provides moisture for plants growth. The total amount of rainfall
and its distribution is of great importance because plant growth and
productivity largely depend on these.

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Fig.1. Effect of rainfall on plant productivity. In A- zone effect of rainfall is high,
while at B-zone effect of fertilizer (nutrient in the soil) is high. Leaching of
nutrients is high in high rainfall areas, and leaching is low in rainfall areas.

2. Wind

Wind affects plants indirectly. It increases the rates of evaporation; therefore


plants lose a lot of moisture. Wind also affects water moisture above the ground,
thus water/ moisture in the soil below 20cm-30cm are not affected. Wind also
affects the amount of rainfall received in different areas that have varying
amounts of moisture in the air. Generally, warm air holds more moisture than
cool air.

Fig. 2. Effect of wind and temperature on the amount and distribution of rainfall.

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3. Temperature

The effects of temperature on plants vary with geological zone. In the tropics,
temperature does not really affect plants because most of the areas in the
tropics have a range of temperatures (250C- 300C) that favour plant growth.

4. Humidity

Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air at a given temperature.


Evapotransipiration is high with low humidity. Humid areas produce more quality
forage than low humid areas.

b. Topography

Topography refers to the extent of slope in an area. Slope affects water


percolation. The higher the slope the less percolation, and vice versa. With flat
topography the rate of percolation is high (i.e. most of the water will penetrate in
the soils). Slope/elevation shapes the vegetation. The rate of forage production is
low in stepper slopes because of surface runoff, thus poor utilization of steep
slopes by large animals such as cattle and most herbivorous wildlife.

c. Soil

Soil is a dynamic, natural body of the earth. Soil serves for the anchorage
of plants (surface where plants grow) and act as reservoir of water and
nutrients for plants. Soil also serves as habitat for soil animals and micro-
organisms. Soil is the basic component of rangeland ecosystem and is
associated with nearly all ecosystem processes. It provides a medium to
support plant growth and is the home for innumerable insects and
microorganisms

Soil is a product of parent material (minerals), climate, living micro-


organisms, topography and time. The soil formation processes work
slowly, especially in arid and semiarid climates. It is believed to take
several hundred years to replace an inch of top soil lost by erosion.

Soil texture

This is the size of the soil particles. Textural classes include clay, sand,
loam and gravel. The classes are based on the proportion of the soil
particles sizes. In clay soils water penetration is very low because of
compaction, but retention is high, because soil particles are very small
(very fine). In clay soils grasses grow well due to their fibrous root system.
In sandy soil water penetration is very high, and has low water retention.
Plants with tap root system are suitable in sandy soil e.g. legumes
(acacia). Loam soil is a mixture of clay and sand. This soil is good for all
kinds of plants and for growth.

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Soil structure

Soil structure entails arrangement of soil particles. Soil particles may be


plate -like, block-like, spherical, rectangle or prism like. Soil particle
arrangement has an effect on the water penetration and retention.

Soil PH

Entails level of alkalinity or acidity. PH scale ranges from 1-14. Most of the plants
grow (have adapted to) on soils with PH range of 4-8.

Soil organic matter

Living residue that is partially or completely decomposed. Humus; contains


nutrients, binds other nutrients and increase the moisture holding capacity of the
soil.

Soil fertility

Ability of the soil to supply important nutrients for the plants. Nutrients essential
for plant growth include Nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen is the most limiting
factor in most of the rangelands.

Soil depth

Deep soil show weathering which has started for a long time.

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