Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37876417›Full record

ReviewHeliyon2023

The role of topographic and soil factors on woody plant encroachment in mountainous rangelands: A mini literature review.

Masibonge Gxasheka, Christian Sabelo Gajana, Phesheya Dlamini

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Heliyon, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Future of Three Endemic Woody Species ofEcology and evolution · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Masibonge GxashekaSchool of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Production, Soil Science & Agricultural Engineering, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, Limpopo, South Africa.
Christian Sabelo GajanaDepartment of Livestock and Pasture, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa.
Phesheya DlaminiSchool of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Production, Soil Science & Agricultural Engineering, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, Limpopo, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mountainous rangelands provide key ecosystem goods and services, particularly for human benefit. In spite of these benefits, mountain grasslands are undergoing extensive land-cover change as a result of woody plant encroachment. However, the influence of topographic and soil factors on woody plant encroachment is complex and has not yet been studied comprehensively. The aim of this review was to establish current knowledge on the influence of topographic and soil factors on woody plant encroachment in mountainous rangelands. To find relevant literature for our study on the impact of topographic and soil factors on woody plant encroachment in mountain rangelands, we conducted a thorough search on ScienceDirect and Google Scholar using various search terms. Initially, we found 27,745 papers. We narrowed down the search to include only 66 papers published in English that directly addressed the research area. The effect of slope aspect and slope position on woody plant encroachment is complex and dynamic, with no universal consensus on their impact. Some studies found higher woody plant encroachment on the cooler slopes, while others found increased woody plant encroachment on the warmer slopes. Slope gradient has a significant impact on woody plant encroachment, with steeper slopes tending to have more woody plant encroachment than gentle slopes. Soil texture and depth are important soil factors affecting woody plant encroachment. Coarse-textured soils promote the growth of woody plants, while fine-textured soils limit it. The effect of soil depth on woody plant encroachment remain unclear and requires further research. Soil moisture availability, soil nutrient content and soil microbial community are influenced by topography, which in turn affect the woody plant growth and distribution. In conclusion, the spread of woody plants in mountainous rangelands is a complex and dynamic process influenced by a range of factors. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind these interactions and to develop effective strategies for managing woody plant encroachment in mountainous rangelands.

Indexed as

Mountainous rangelandsSlope aspectSoil factorsTopographic factorsWoody plant encroachment

Identifiers

PMID37876417
PMCPMC10590860

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.