Description

Coal mining is the largest surface mining operation in South Africa’s grassland biome. Surface mining is leaving large tracts of land revegetated to pasture species as mining companies attempt to reclaim the agricultural potential of mined areas. Top soil management remains the key challenge to ensure agricultural productivity. During the reclamation process, newly placed soils are very often chemically, physically and microbiologically degraded, and high soil ameliorant inputs are required to catalyse agroecosystem function. These revegetated landscapes can offer good grazing capacity; however, to date there are no livestock grazing these areas, resulting in the subsequent deterioration of these new vegetation covers. Integrated crop and pasture based livestock production systems can provide a sustainable nutrient recycling process which can build soil health, while animals convert plant protein to animal protein. This regenerative agriculture approach is essential in ensuring sustainable reclamation projects. The risk of low forage quality however, exists due to poor soil conditions. This study aimed to assess the effects of an integrated crop and pasture based livestock production system on soil and pasture properties on revegetated mined land. A randomized block design was used to implement three stocking rates (zero, optimal (0.25 LSU/ha) and high (1 LSU/ha)) in a rotational grazing system on reclaimed mined land, planted to the nurse crop Avena sativa mixed with Chloris gayana and Digitaria eriantha. Soil and pasture quality parameters such as soil- carbon (%C), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), soil strength (kPa), pasture basal cover, dry matter (DM) production, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and moisture content were measured throughout the trial period. High stocking rates ensured high defoliation rates. The data shows that increased soil qualities were evidently correlated with improved basal cover and forage quality parameters. Applying regenerative agricultural principles, such as controlled non-selective rotational grazing of reclaimed surface mined land, agroecosystem function can be reinstated to achieve sustainable production potential. This is achieved through nutrient recycling, soil surface scarification by cattle hooves and grass root growth stimulation through defoliation.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.13023/g5ax-ah76

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Integrated Crop and Pasture Based Livestock Production System Success on Reclaimed Surface Coal Mined Land in South Africa

Coal mining is the largest surface mining operation in South Africa’s grassland biome. Surface mining is leaving large tracts of land revegetated to pasture species as mining companies attempt to reclaim the agricultural potential of mined areas. Top soil management remains the key challenge to ensure agricultural productivity. During the reclamation process, newly placed soils are very often chemically, physically and microbiologically degraded, and high soil ameliorant inputs are required to catalyse agroecosystem function. These revegetated landscapes can offer good grazing capacity; however, to date there are no livestock grazing these areas, resulting in the subsequent deterioration of these new vegetation covers. Integrated crop and pasture based livestock production systems can provide a sustainable nutrient recycling process which can build soil health, while animals convert plant protein to animal protein. This regenerative agriculture approach is essential in ensuring sustainable reclamation projects. The risk of low forage quality however, exists due to poor soil conditions. This study aimed to assess the effects of an integrated crop and pasture based livestock production system on soil and pasture properties on revegetated mined land. A randomized block design was used to implement three stocking rates (zero, optimal (0.25 LSU/ha) and high (1 LSU/ha)) in a rotational grazing system on reclaimed mined land, planted to the nurse crop Avena sativa mixed with Chloris gayana and Digitaria eriantha. Soil and pasture quality parameters such as soil- carbon (%C), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), soil strength (kPa), pasture basal cover, dry matter (DM) production, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and moisture content were measured throughout the trial period. High stocking rates ensured high defoliation rates. The data shows that increased soil qualities were evidently correlated with improved basal cover and forage quality parameters. Applying regenerative agricultural principles, such as controlled non-selective rotational grazing of reclaimed surface mined land, agroecosystem function can be reinstated to achieve sustainable production potential. This is achieved through nutrient recycling, soil surface scarification by cattle hooves and grass root growth stimulation through defoliation.