Add manure to soil

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

30%
Certainty

10%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Adding manure to shrubland soils may help to stimulate the growth of any shrubland species that are present or encourage germination of seeds present in the soil.

Study locations

Key messages

One replicated, randomized, controlled study in South Africa found that adding manure to the soil increased plant cover and the number of plant species.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, randomized, controlled study between 2007 and 2011 in a karoo shrubland in Richtersveld, South Africa (Hanke et al. 2015) found that adding manure to increase colonisation increased plant cover and the number of plant species. After three years, plant cover of areas where manure was added (7%) was higher than that in areas where manure was not added (4%). Similarly, the number of plant species in areas where manure was added (11 species) was higher than in areas where manure was not added (7 species). Five 1 ha blocks were divided using a fence to exclude cattle. In each block goat and sheep manure was spread in one 10 m x 10 m plot while another plot was left without manure addition. Vegetation in each 10 m x 10 m plot was assessed annually between 2008 and 2011.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Hanke W., Wesuls D., Münchberger W. & Schmiedel U (2015) Tradeoffs in the rehabilitation of a succulent karoo rangeland. Land Degradation and Development, 26, 833-842.

Please cite as:

Martin, P.A., Rocha, R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Shrubland and Heathland Conservation. Pages 483-525 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Shrubland and Heathland Conservation

Related Actions

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Strip topsoil Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	5	Synopsis Link
Add manure to soil Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link
Burn leaf litter Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link