Plant Sciences Commons^™

Rangeland Exploitation- The Global Need For Integrated Science, A H. Nordmeyer

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The global surge in human population growth is placing major pressures on winter cold rangelands. The need is urgent to develop an international science that comes to grips with local requirements for food and fuel, and combines these with the global requirements of maintaining and increasing stores of carbon. The critical problem for rangelands is that most systems do not generate incomes to allow replacement or enhancement of the nutrients removed by herded animals, by cut-and-carry forage harvesting, and by fuel extraction. Progress in rangeland science that is relevant to subsistence cultures requires a better understanding of the carbon and …

Forecasting Annual Drought Conditions For Arid And Semi-Arid Rangelands, C L. Hanson, J R. Wight

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Long-term weather forecasts (>14 days) have improved, but still lack accurate enough information to be valuable; thus, drought forecasts must be based on historical records and calculated probabilities of occurrence. The use of regression techniques to investigate linear dependence between current and preceding years' precipitation or forage yield is illustrated. A 3-state Markov process is used to determine relationships between below-average, average and above­average consecutive annual herbage yields, and winter and spring precipitation amounts. Methods for using natl/ml resource simulation models to forecast ecosystem components such as herbage production, runoff, and erosion with their associated probabilities of occurrence are …

Tactical Grazing Can Help Maintain Stability Of Semi-Arid Wooded Grasslands, K C. Hodgkinson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Arid and semi-arid wooded grasslands in Australia and elsewhere are prone to soil and plant productivity decline when used for pastoral production. Typically, degradation is characterised by woody plant increase, palatable perennial grass decline, unpalatable grass increase and lowered productive capacity of the soil, New grazing management that maintains productivity of plant and soil resources and sustains rehabilitation is required. In a grazing experiment on a mulga (Acacia aneura) woodland, grazing-induced death and impaired seed productivity were observed in palatable perennial grasses. A tactical grazing management to prevent an adverse change in pasture composition and productivity was designed involving progressively …

Adopting New Technologies For Grazing Lands: The Role Of Decision Systems, John A. Ludwig, Steve Marsden

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The management of Australia's arid and semi-arid grazing lands involves the consideration of many complex and interconnected issues related to both ecological and economic factors. Climates are highly variable across these lands and markets fluctuate widely; decision making is . difficult at the best of times, As new grazing and land management technologies become available through research organisations, such as CSIRO, the adoption of these technologies is a prime concern, Traditionally, State extension services provide this information to grazing land managers, which has proven effeclive for transferring information about current short-term problems (e,g,, locust plagues) and easy to apply products …

Forage And Animal Management Systems On Communal Rangelands In Arid And Semi-Arid Regions, Panjab Singh, A N. Ghosh

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grasslands and savannas, which comprise about 25% of the earth's land surface, are undergoing constant degradation, particularly in ar d and semi-arid regions. The rangeland resource is constantly sinking mainly because of its conversion to crop land, leaving farmer and pastorilist vulnerable to environmental extremes. This Paper presents the existing situation and the herbage and animal Product biomass of these regions. Climate and its impact on the Vegetation are discussed. Prevalent systems of rangeland use by sedentary and nomadic herdsman are considered and the constraints 0 the system are enumerated. Livestock 'rearing has been the most important occupation in these …

Trace Mineral Status Of Beef Cattle Grazing Semiarid Rangelands Of North Mexico, J R. Kawas, G T. Armienta, E Olivares, O Torress, J J. Kawas, F Garza

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Trace mineral concentrations of soil, forage and serum of range cattle of the northeast Mexico state of Nuevo Leon were determined in both wet and dry seasons of 1992. For each season, collections were made at twenty-four ranches within eleven counties of three regions. A total of 220 soil, 680 forage and 220 blood samples were collected and analyzed. No differences (P<0.05) between regions were obtained for Zinc (28.0 to 34.9 ppm) or Copper (4.4 to 5.4 ppm). Molybdenum concentrations were greater in the northern (2.1 ppm) than in the central (1.6 ppm) or southern (1.5 ppm) regions. Considering the critical levels in forages for Zinc (30 ppm) and Copper (10 ppm) reported by the National Research Council (1984), Zinc concentrations may be marginally deficient, whereas Copper concentrations were deficient in all three regions, in both seasons, and in grasses and woody species.

Formation And Development Of The Center For Grassland Studies At The University Of Nebraska, M A. Massengale

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Center for Grassland Studies was formed at the University of Nebraska in 1994 to implement focused interdisciplinary research, educational, and service programs and activities that emphasize the role of grasslands as a natural resource and conservation measure and that enhance the efficiency, profitability, sustainability, and aesthetic value of grasslands, wetlands, and turf. Although the Center is still in a developmental stage, it appears to be accomplishing those objectives.

Effect Of Cattle Grazing On The Aridity Level Of Humid Halomorphic Grass Communities Of The Flooding Pampa (Argentina), O E. Ansin, V A. Deregibus

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Argentine Flooding Pampa is a large humid rangeland, severely deteriorated by cattle grazing, to the point of causing the local extinction of many native grasses and important alterations in ecosystem function. Among grassland communities exist those that vegetate halomorphic soils, highly degraded due continuous grazing by domestic herbivores causing soil denudation and increased aridity. An alternate grazing method, that controls the periodicity and moment of important rest periods followed by disturbance events, should increase cover and favor water availability. This succession process will determine more vigorous and abundant foraging species in the degraded communities. After six years of controlled …

Pfra Grazing Management Conserves Biodiversity, B Bristol, T Weins

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Shrinking grassland habitats across Prairie Canada are resulting in increased societal values for biodiversity within the remaining rangeland resources. The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) manages 929,000 hectares in the Prairie and Boreal Plain Ecozones across three Prairie Provinces. Management of these range resources accomplishes two main objectives: (1) sustaining economic viability of the rural community through provision of livestock grazing and (2) conservation of soil, water and biodiversity resources. PFRA uses the tools of inventory, research and management to accomplish these objectives. The 87 pastures are managed toward the “good and excellent” range condition classes which conserves biodiversity and …

Rangeland-Centered Agroecosystems In Indian Central Himalayas: Operationalizing Ecological Sustainability In Mountain Agriculture, Vir Singh

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Himalayan Mountains are home to unique agroecosystems harboring unique inter- and intra-species diversity in uncultivated and cultivated lands. The uncultivated lands are largely the rangelands which are ecologically more stable ecosystems than the cultivated lands which are ecologically prone areas. Rangelands, cultivated areas, and livestock in mountain agriculture are in organic linkages with each other, woven into a complex unitary whole, functionally oriented to produce foods and other life-supporting products – such as feed, fiber, fuel, fertilizers, etc. – and provide vital ecological functions. Rangelands in fragile Himalayan mountains serve as a key component of agriculture and the biodiversity conserved …

Soil Carbon Monitoring Program For Ranches In Dryland Ecosystems, David E. Prado-Tarango, S. Ates, J. Talbot

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Implementation of ranching practices that lead to greater soil carbon sequestration has become increasingly important due to rising atmospheric CO2 levels. Sustainable ranching practices are suggested to improve soil health and sequester more carbon in the soil. However, there is a paucity of measured data from replicated on-farm studies to support this premise. Thus, we developed a soil carbon monitoring program for a ranch located in the state of Oregon. Our monitoring program is focused on measuring the net carbon budget and the soil carbon sequestration totals. To achieve this goal, we combined field-sampling data with the COMET-Farm model. A …

Regenera+.Uy: Designing A Co-Innovation Process To Apply The Principles Of Regenerative Livestock Production, Oscar Blumetto, M. Bustamante, A. Castagna, D. Caresani, G. Ciappesoni, R. Baptista, I. De Barbieri

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Consumers around the world are beginning to demand products whose production systems have environmental guarantees. Among them, those derived from regenerative agriculture have a growing demand in many markets. A comprehensive environmental assessment was carried out in 9 case studies of mixed livestock production farms (cattle and sheep) in Uruguay as a basis for the development of a system redesign process following the principles of regenerative agriculture. The results show that emission intensity was 16.0, 10.5, and 49.2 kg CO2 eq kg-1 of beef, sheep meat, and greasy wool, respectively. Also, a simulation exercise shows a significative reduction of emission …

Grasslands, Rangelands, Pastoralists – What Do We Mean?, D. M. Kelly, Ann Waters-Bayer, K. L. Johnson, Maryam Niamir-Fuller, Chris Magero, Tungalag Ulambayer

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The terms grasslands and rangelands are often confused, but the terms used to describe the people who live and manage these areas are even more confusing. The myriad of words used about these people includes: pastoralists, farmers, ranchers, herders, transhumants, indigenous peoples, nomads, graziers, gauchos. The terms used vary across the world, and meanings vary across time and space. One definition of pastoralists is “livestock-keepers who specialise in taking advantage of variability, managing grazing itineraries at a variety of scales so that livestock feed better than without a herder” (Krätli 2019). The United Nations Decade of Family Farming defines farmers …

Carbon-Nitrogen Ratios In Rangeland Soils In Various Agriculture Response Units In Three Watersheds In The Central Himalayas, India, Nanda Nautiyal, Vir Singh

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

CN ratios of rangeland soils in selected agriculture response units (ARUs) prevailing in three watersheds, Kosi, Alaknanda, and Pindar, in the Indian Central Himalayan mountains were analyzed. The ratios varied significantly (P<0.05) with ARUs and seasons. Interaction between ARUs and season was also found significant (P<0.05). In Alaknanda Watershed soil CN ratios ranged from 6.62 to 20.58. Soil CN ratio values differed significantly (P<0.05) with seasons and ARUs. Soil CN ratios in the rangelands of Pindar Watershed were recorded between 6.54 and 11.29. The ratios varied significantly (P<0.05) in seasons and ARUs. Interaction between ARUs and season was also found significant (P<0.05). Rangeland soil CN ratio values of all ARUs were further statistically analyzed in all three watersheds. Minimum soil CN ratios were seen at Pindar and maximum at Alaknanda watershed. The ratios variation was seen in all the rangelands and it was found significant at a significance level of 5%. Interaction between Kosi and Alaknanda was found non-significant while between Kosi and Pindar and Alaknanda and Pindar it was significant (P<0.05) throughout the study. Variation in soil CN ratios in both agricultural and rangeland soils was seen in each watershed. In the Kosi watershed, soil CN ratios ranged from 6.74 to 15.06; in Alaknanda from 6.36 to 20.58 and in Pindar from 5.75 to 14.38. CN ratios have an absolute relationship with temperature and are higher when higher rainfall occurs and moisture prevails. The ratios also impact soil acidity and other soil quality parameters.

Carbon Sequestration In Desertified Rangelands Of Hossein-Abad, Iran: A Participatory Approach, F. Amiraslani

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Hossein-abad (H.A) area is located in Southern Khorasan Province of Iran and covers some 148,000 ha. This is one of the poorest regions in the country and has a large area of degraded rangelands. Following a request from local people and in line with national and global goals, a carbon sequestration initiative has been funded by I.R.Iran and GEF(Global Environmental Facility) from April 2003. The objective is to promote and model carbon sequestration through developing range species in cooperation with local people and using a participatory approach. The immediate target beneficiaries are the people living in the project area …

Enhancement Of Grassland Production Through Integration Of Forage Legumes In Semi-Arid Rangelands Of Kenya, P. N. Macharia, J. I. Kinyamario, W. N. Ekaya, C. K. K. Gachene

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Livestock production in semi-arid rangelands of Kenya is limited by the seasonal quantity and quality of fodder. Kirkman & Carvalho (2003) stated that these inter- and intra-seasonal quality and quantity fluctuations result in nutrient deficits that severely limit livestock production potential. The objective of this experiment was to study the effect of three forage legumes on the production of natural pastures in semi-arid rangelands of Kenya.

The Effect Of Fertiliser Treatment On The Development Of Rangelands In Argentina, Ezequiel M. Latorre, Mónica B. Sacido

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In Argentina grazing of rangelands may result in a decrease in winter gramineous species with an increase in summer weeds such as Cynodon dactylon. Lolium multiflorum is an important forage resource for grazing in the autumn, winter and spring. A delay in its emergence may occur because of summer weeds, which reduces the germination rate. The proportion of the seed bank as ryegrass allows the recovery of natural grassland and facilitates an increase in the productivity of livestock. The objective of this study was the evaluation of the impact of application of fertiliser in the short term on the …

Stocking Rate Theory And Profit Drivers In North Australian Rangeland Grazing Enterprises, Neil D. Macleod, A. J. Ash, John G. Mcivor

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Setting correct stock numbers is a key decision for successful pastoralism. In marginal environments, typified by northern Australia, this involves careful cattle herd management across landscapes and seasons characterised by heterogeneous land condition and extreme climatic uncertainty. Stocking rate theory which links animal production to stocking rates concentrates only on liveweight gain of sale animals and ignores complex herd (e.g. reproduction, mortality) and pasture dynamics (e.g. land condition) and costs of maintaining stock numbers (e.g. supplementary feeding). Related economic models are generally naïve and incomplete, being based on liveweight gain, meat prices and variable husbandry costs (e.g. Workman, 1986). Modelling …

An Ecosystem Modelling Approach To Rehabilitating Semi-Desert Rangelands Of North Horr, Kenya, G. A. Olukoye, W. N. Wamicha, J. I. Kinyamario

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Decreased rainfall, recurrent droughts and increased anthropogenic activities have led to a dramatic increase in wind erosion on pastoral lands of North Horr resulting in the reactivation of the once-stable sand dunes. This has degraded the vegetation and impoverished the local community. Mobile sand has a severe impact on dry season grazing areas (Omar & Abdal, 1994) and, therefore, affects pastoral livestock production. In North Horr, Suaeda monoica is important in camel production and for stabilising sand dunes but it has been over-utilized over the years. The objective of this study was to use ecosystem modelling approaches to examine the …

Ruminant Livestock Production Systems And Imperatives For Sustainable Development, J. W. Smith

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Biodiversity Conservation And Sustainable Livelihoods In Rangelands: Trends, Challenges And Opportunities, J. Waithaka

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Rangelands cover about 54% of the earth’s surface and are essential for agricultural and livestock production, environmental protection and the in-situ conservation of genetic resources. Despite providing services that support life on earth, rangelands have been neglected to a large extent when compared to other types of ecosystems. This paper provides an overview of the importance of rangelands in conserving biodiversity and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people globally. Rangelands have lost ecological integrity due to unsustainable anthropogenic land-use changes and impacts. It is estimated that over 80% of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are either not adequately protected or …

Developing A Glossary Of People-Focused Terms Related To Rangelands And Grasslands, Dana Kelly, Katherine I. Johnsen, Chris Magero, Tungalag Ulambayer, Ann Waters-Bayer

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Excellent glossaries on rangelands and grasslands have been developed by the Society for Range Management (SRM), the International Grassland Congress (IGC) and the International Rangeland Congress (IRC). However, these are largely confined to biophysical and technical terminology and contain very few concepts referring to social, institutional and policy aspects of using rangelands and grasslands. After the 10^th IRC in Saskatoon, Canada, in 2016, an informal group started to develop a glossary of such “people-focused” terms. The short and non-academic definitions are meant to improve communication and understanding by users/practitioners in rangeland and grassland management, policymakers, teachers, students, journalists and …

Making The Case For Rangelands To Become The Poster Child Of The Sdgs: How Rangelands Provide Fertile Ground For An Interconnected Approach To The Three Pillars Of Sustainable Development, B. Jones

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 ambitious goals set by global leaders to transform the world by 2030 and create a sustainable future for all. They are founded on the three pillars of sustainable development – environmental, economic and social sustainability, or as they are more colloquially known, “people, planet and profit”. Creating a better world requires an integrated approach that simultaneously improves livelihoods and reduces inequalities whilst dramatically reducing environmental damage.

This paper argues that rangelands are an ideal arena for showcasing the SDGs because they are, by their very nature, interconnected landscapes in which …

Relationship Between Semi-Arid Rangelands Quality Parameters And Vegetation Indexes, P. Toro-Mujica, D. Enriquez-Hidalgo, S. Escobar

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A large portion of the sheep production systems in the semi-arid zone of Central Chile base their feeding on the rangelands, adjusting both the production cycle and the use of supplementary feed to the natural supply of fodder. In this way, knowledge of the rangeland quantity and quality at the farm level emerges as an essential input for the decision-making of feed management. The objective of the study was to relate the herbage quality parameters of the semi-arid zone rangeland with Vegetation Indices (VI) and to determine which vegetation index report the best results. Vegetative indexes were obtained from aerial …

Pastoral Traditional Ecological Knowledge Dynamicity: A Global Review, A. Sharifian Bahraman, Á. Fernández-Llamazares, H. Wario, Z. Molnár, M. Cabeza

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

There is a significant knowledge gap concerning the extent to which pastoral traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has changed. We conducted a systematic review of 152 papers on pastoral TEK, focusing specifically on 63 papers that explicitly mentioned types of knowledge transitions (retention, erosion, adaptation or hybridization). Studies on pastoral TEK represent less than 3% of all the scholarly literature on TEK. Geographical distribution of the case studies was largely biased. Knowledge domains of pastoral TEK such as herd and livestock management, forage and medicinal plants, and landscape and wildlife were relatively equally covered, however, climate-related knowledge was less studied. Out …

Action Plan For The International Year Of Rangelands And Pastoralists (Iyrp): The Case For The United States, Canada, And Mexico, Barry Irving, Larry Howery, Jürgen Hoth, Jess Peterson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The GAP analysis (A Case of Benign Neglect: Knowledge gaps about sustainability in rangelands and pastoralism) points to several gaps that are relevant to the US, Canada and Mexico. North American rangelands span the ecological continuum of polar to hot deserts and arid to humid climates that exhibit highly variable ecological and forage production potential across time and space. Although there is a great deal of rangeland research, extension, and inventory capacity in all three countries, a weak link is the dissemination of information to North American pastoralists (conventionally referred to as ranchers or producers). Although the extension system in …

Rangelands And Pastoralism In Central Asia And Mongolia: Challenges And Perspectives, T. Ulambayar

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Livestock herding contributes 10-45% of national GDPs across the Central Asia and Mongolia (CAM) region while supporting the livelihood of nearly one-third of the region’s population. Over 171 million herds graze the region's rangelands, occupying 65-73% of the territories in Central Asia (CA) and Mongolia. Traditional pastoralism has been affected dramatically by climate change. For the last decades, the annual mean air temperature has risen two to three times higher than the global average in CA and Mongolia respectively. Annual precipitation has a decreasing trend over the same period, causing increased aridity, a decline in lakes and rivers leading to …

Priority Areas For Action And Research On Pastoralism And Rangelands In Eastern Africa, M. O. Odhiambo

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

There is an element of irony around pastoralism and research in Eastern Africa. While it is one of the most researched production and livelihood systems, pastoralism is also the least understood by policymakers and development actors, with discussions about its importance characterized by significant gaps in knowledge. What is more, policy actors have difficulties accessing empirical data specific to pastoralism and rangelands in a form that allows well-founded decision-making on policy and action. Most available data tend to be out of date and not disaggregated with reference to pastoralism and rangelands. As a result, much of the discourse around pastoralism …

Changing Perceptions Of Rangelands And Pastoralists Through Multistakeholder Action Before And During The Iyrp, A. Waters-Bayer

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists (IYRP) should draw attention to rangelands and pastoralists and their economic, social, cultural and environmental contributions to global wellbeing. The “gap analysis” by UN Environment revealed much ignorance and misperceptions about rangelands and pastoralism among national governments, international institutions and the general public.

The IYRP campaign seeks to foster better understanding of how rangelands are used in an ecologically sound and resource-efficient way, e.g. through mobile pastoralism. It seeks to raise awareness of the importance of rangelands and pastoralists among policymakers. It seeks to encourage investment in the rangelands and related policy support, …

International Year Of Rangelands And Pastoralists (Iyrp) History, Process, Priority Themes And Way Forward, James T. O’Rourke, Maryam Niamir-Fuller, Barbara Hutchinson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The road towards the declaration of an IYRP by the United Nations has been long and rocky, perhaps mirroring the relative lack of understanding by some governments of the importance of rangelands and pastoralists for a sustainable world, compared to the focus on other sectors such as forest or cropland sustainability. The idea was first discussed at the International Rangeland (IRC) and Grassland (IGC) Congress held in Hohhot, China in 2008. The creation of an International Support Group (ISG) in 2015 helped to provide a stronger rational and the integration of social dimensions. This has led to a growing partnership …