(a) Explain what is meant by natural grassland. (d) State five characteristics of natural grassland (c) List four grasses and three pasture legumes commonly found in natural grasslands.
Explanation
(a) Natural grassland refers to any area of land on which sparsely distributed low forest trees and abundance of grasses suitable for grazing are present without being cultivated by farmers. Examples are the Savanna areas in Nigeria.
(b) Characteristics of natural grasslands are: (i) The soils are usually low in fertility. (ii) Grasses growing cannot be easily eradicated. (iii) Grasses are resistant to trampling by animals. (iv) The soils are well drained. Grasses are resistant to drought.
(c) Four grasses commonly found in natural grassland are: (i) Guinea grass (v Elephant grass (iii) Southern Gamba (iv) Giant star grass.
(d)Three legumes of natural grasslands include: (i) Centrosern pubescens (or centro), (ii) Calopogonium mucunoides (or Calopo) (iii) Mucuna utilis (or Mucuna).