Environmental data collected for a study on the Impact of livestock grazing intensity on the plant diversity of species-rich montane grassland in the northern Drakensberg, South Africa

This data was collected and digitised by Thamsanqa Alfred Shezi as part of his thesis, "Impact of livestock grazing intensity on the plant diversity of species-rich montane grassland in the northern Drakensberg, South Africa".

Environmental data determined for each plot included location, altitude, aspect, slope, geology, soil type, land type, distance to settlement, distance to the closest kraal, and distance to the nearest perennial water. Location and altitude were measured using a Garmin Global Positioning System (GPS). Distances, aspect and slope were determined using the Geographic Information System (GIS) (ArcMap ESRI 2010) and a 50 m Digital Elevation Model (DEM) (U.S. Geological Survey 2017). Only the sandstone geology was considered for sampling.

Indicators of grazing pressure measured were the number of dung pats (cattle dung), and the amounts of moribund material and grazing offtake from the sward, and the extent of soil erosion. The numbers of cattle dung pats were counted and grazing offtake (percentage) loss of volume was estimated in a 50 x 50 m plot (90) containing the vegetation plot. The amounts of moribund material (percentage of volume) and of erosion (cattle paths) were estimated in the 5 x 5 m plot. Visual estimations used a scale of very little (0-10%), moderate (10-30%), and abundant/heavy (30-50%).