THE ORIGIN AND EXTENT OF NUTRIENT-ENRICHED PATCHES WITHIN A NUTRIENT-POOR SAVANNA IN SOUTH-AFRICA

There are distinct patches of an Acacia tortilis dominated community within the Burkea africana dominated savanna at Nylsvley. Both occur on sandy soils derived from the same parent material. Levels of Ca, Mg, K and PO4 in the soil under the Acacia communities are 10-100 times higher than those under the Burkea community. Levels of Na are approximately equal. An anthropogenic origin is supported by the presence of Iron Age artefacts within the Acacia alone. Activities within an Iron Age settlement would be sufficient to account for the nutrient accumulations observed. -from Authors