FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DISTRIBUTION OF GULLY EROSION IN KWAZULU NATAL'S MFOLOZI CATCHMENT—LAND REFORM IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Soil erosion in the Mfolozi catchment is already a serious problem and likely to be exacerbated by landuse changes incumbent on the Land Reform Programme. As peasant farmers particularly perceive gully erosion as a problem, this study sought to identify those parts of the catchment that are unsuitable for allocation to them because they are either already severely gully eroded or are susceptible to this form of erosion. Two principle data sources were available for use. Firstly, an unpublished geomorphological map showing the location of eleven length classes of gullies. And secondly, maps and associated memoirs delimiting and detailing the topographic, substrate and rainfall characteristics of the catchment's landtypes. Data on the veld type, bioclimatic and landuse characteristics of these landtypes was extracted from various additional sources. The density of each gully class within each of the possible 16 landtypes within each of the catchment's 43 subcatchments was recorded. Statistical analysis of the resultant gully and landtype data sets focused on the significance of differences between and groupings within components of each set, and on functional relationships between the two sets. In addition to identifying susceptible and very susceptible landtypes, the study identified ten subcatchments which are already severely gully eroded as well as fifteen subcatchments that contain substantial portions of susceptible landtypes.