The chemistry of the pedoderm – part 2: <i>Dichrostachys cinerea</i> patches and adjacent grassland in the southern Kruger National Park, South Africa

The small tree, Dichrostachys cinerea, occurs in dense patches within grasslands on gabbro-derived soils the southern Kruger National Park. It is not known whether soil properties affect tree establishment. As a first step identifying potentially underpinning differences vegetation structure, we analysed chemistry of pedoderm (0–2 cm) and adjacent open grassland. Relative to patches, grassland was significantly richer K (1.4-fold), Ca (2.6-fold), Mg (3.4-fold), Mn (1.7-fold), B (1.2-fold) Na (1.6-fold). pH also higher than (6.45 ± 0.14 vs 5.53 0.09). unlikely that vigour seedlings, ramets or grasses would be constrained by concentrations K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Na, pH, at study site. Greater are, however, likely linked relatively greater nutritive value grass sward turn herbivory pressure. This effect potential cause constraint D. cinerea seedlings and/or patches.