Open AccessHydrological cycle of natural veld in the Central Orange Free State
Author(s) -
H.A. Snyman,
W.L.J. van Rensburg
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
suid-afrikaanse tydskrif vir natuurwetenskap en tegnologie/die suid-afrikaanse tydskrif vir natuurwetenskap en tegnologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2222-4173
pISSN - 0254-3486
DOI - 10.4102/satnt.v5i4.999
Subject(s) - water cycle , surface runoff , environmental science , arid , evapotranspiration , water balance , ecosystem , infiltration (hvac) , hydrology (agriculture) , ecohydrology , grazing , ecology , geography , biology , geology , meteorology , geotechnical engineering
The hydrological cycle, which determines the water balance of the grazing ecosystem, is discussed. This cycle can be separated into a number of intermediate processes, each of which influences the water balance. These intermediate processes include surface runoff, evapotranspiration, percolation, infiltration and the storage of water in the ecosystem. Practical guidelines to increase the effectivity of the available rainfall for aboveground phytomass production, in arid and semi-arid regions, are discussed