Veld dominated by Hyparrhenia and other species, in a sub-tropical 38-inch rainfall area in Swaziland, was changed into a more productive sward of Eragrostis curvula and other seral grasses by the application of nitrogen, phosphorus and lime. Nitrogen had the greatest effect in terms of both herbage production and ecological change, but responses were increased by the addition of phosphorus and lime. There were indications of yield responses to zinc in the presence of lime, and to molybdenum, but trace element effects were generally small and inconsistent.