Disa versicolor where soil erosion is low

Disa versicolor pushes a many-flowered cylindrical stalk well above the surrounding grassland. Several different grass species are notable in the flourishing summer veld of the photo. Conservation and utilisation of the soil are much better served by a natural, highly biodiverse grassland as seen here, compared to a monoculture crop that leaves the soil bare seasonally.

Grass cover reduces soil erosion by wind and water dramatically. Whoever cares for grassland sees to a healthy vegetation covering on the land. Wind erosion is much worse on land receiving low rainfall. Water erosion happens on all low rainfall land, but reduces to negligible levels in high rainfall areas, provided that there is a good grass covering.

The higher the rainfall, the bigger the difference made by a healthy grass covering. Put differently, more rain water continues to increase the eroding effect on bare land (Van Oudtshoorn, 1991; iSpot).