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The water use efficiency maps presented in
Figure 1
to
Figure 4,
and
the interpretation of the patterns, represents a first attempt to under-
stand the significance of the application of this concept to optimise
land management in Southern Africa.
From this initial analysis, it is clear that not all of the patterns are obvi-
ous, and a lot more effort has to go into interpretation to improve our
understanding and to identify those land use options that have the best
water use efficiency. The Succulent Karoo biome, particularly the
Little Karoo, has some of the lowest water use efficiency values.
This may be linked to the prevalence of leaf and stem succulent
plants which tend to use the CAM photosynthetic pathway. In addi-
tion, low values are also associated with the semi-arid savannah of
the Limpopo province, where woody encroachment is a serious veld
management issue. The maize growing areas of the Free State and
southern Mpumalanga have moderately high water use efficiency
values, suggesting that these regions are performing well in their
CO
2
/water functionality.
For more information, contact the author at
palmert@
arc.agric.za.
The vegetation structure in the high water use efficiency areas of
the southern Kalahari. The vegetated dunes comprise woody shrubs
(
Acacia hebaclada, A. mellifera
(swarthaak),
A. haematoxylon
)
and robust, productive grasses such as
Stipagrostis amabilis
. The
interdune slacks (or streets) are generally less productive, dominated
by unpalatable shrubs, e.g.
Rhigozum trichotomum
and
Schmitdia
kalahariensis
.