Effect of unguided cattle husbandry on selected soil physical properties in common property regimes in Alice, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Unguided cattle husbandry (UCH) is a form of resource exploitation in South Africa where common property is treated as rangeland, and cattle herds of varying sizes without herdsmen make their way into these properties whenever they can. The environmental consequences of this widespread husbandry method have not been studied in the Eastern Cape Province. We conducted a study on the impact of UCH on soil physical properties including bulk density, infiltration, macroporosity and penetration resistance. Results obtained showed that there was a significant increase in bulk density and penetration resistance on the tracks when compared with the control whereas hydraulic conductivity and macroporosity were significantly decreased by cattle grazing activities. It was concluded that exposure of community lands to UCH caused substantial damage to the soil physical properties.