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Articles 4681 - 4710 of 14771

Full-Text Articles in Agricultural Science

Extensive Management Of Sheep Grazing In Upland Sown Grassland: Long-Term Effects On Plant Species Composition, C. A. Marriott, G. T. Barthram, T. G. Common, J. H. Griffiths, J. M. Fisher, K. Hood Aug 2023

Extensive Management Of Sheep Grazing In Upland Sown Grassland: Long-Term Effects On Plant Species Composition, C. A. Marriott, G. T. Barthram, T. G. Common, J. H. Griffiths, J. M. Fisher, K. Hood

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Changes in the Common Agricultural Policy have led to the development of agri-environment schemes to deliver environmental goods from grasslands. These schemes encourage more extensive grazing systems, and change the emphasis from animal output to issues such as increasing biodiversity. Lower stocking densities are expected to promote the development of a heterogeneous habitat and associated compositional changes in plant species. The long-term effect of more extensive sheep management, combining cessation of fertiliser and lower grazing intensity, on botanical composition and animal output in upland sown grassland has been studied at 3 sites (Marriott et al., 2002) since 1990. We …

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Grazing, Biodiversity And Pastoral Vegetation In The South Sudanien Area Of Burkina Faso, E. Botoni-Liehoun, P. Daget Aug 2023

Grazing, Biodiversity And Pastoral Vegetation In The South Sudanien Area Of Burkina Faso, E. Botoni-Liehoun, P. Daget

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing impact on plant diversity is dominated by two contradictory views. In some studies, it has been found to lead to an increase in diversity and in other studies to a decrease associated with dominance of a few species (Nösberger et al, 1998, Hiernaux, 1998). In an Isoberlinia doka forest ecosystem, considered as the climax vegetation in the South Sudanien area of Burkina Faso, a study was carried out to assess the impact of grazing on the diversity of herbaceous species. The Isoberlinia doka forest is one type of South Sudaniensavanna. The woody stratum is open and allowed development …

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The Effect Of Grazing On Rare And Common Grasses And Forbs In The Mediterranean Coastal Desert Of Egypt, A. El-Keblawy, A. Ramadan Aug 2023

The Effect Of Grazing On Rare And Common Grasses And Forbs In The Mediterranean Coastal Desert Of Egypt, A. El-Keblawy, A. Ramadan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Large parts of the rangelands in the Arab countries are either overgrazed or gradually deteriorating due to large numbers of livestock and unrestricted grazing (Assaeed, 1997). Protection of vegetation against grazing in desert environments has been suggested as a feasible approach to halting land degradation and rehabilitating rangelands (El-Keblawy, 2003). However, little is known about the response of different plant life forms and life cycles to grazing. The objectives of this study were to address this point and to test the response of rare and common forbs and grasses to protection against grazing.

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Plant Species Richness At Three Levels Of Range Potential In Semi-Steppe Vegetation Of Iran, Mansour Mesdaghi Aug 2023

Plant Species Richness At Three Levels Of Range Potential In Semi-Steppe Vegetation Of Iran, Mansour Mesdaghi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Semi-steppe vegetation with a mean annual precipitation of 250 mm covers 18.5% of Iran (Pabot, 1967). Under full protection, bunch grasses are dominant in this grassland ecosystem. Golestan National Park, (100,000 ha), is representative of this semi-steppe vegetation zone. It has been protected for 40 years and can be considered as a reference area (RA) of semi-steppe vegetation. Under moderate grazing the The Gorokhoud Protected Area acts as a buffer zone to the National Park, with grazing based on permits issued by the Range and Forest Organisation. Parts of the protected area can be considered as a key area (KA), …

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Plant Community Structure Of Midland Grassland Of The Flooding Pampa In Relation To Grazing Management, Adriana M. Rodríguez, E. J. Jacobo, V. A. Deregibus Aug 2023

Plant Community Structure Of Midland Grassland Of The Flooding Pampa In Relation To Grazing Management, Adriana M. Rodríguez, E. J. Jacobo, V. A. Deregibus

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The impact of grazing on plant community structure and ecosystem functioning is a key issue for range management. Although excessive grazing may often lead to land degradation and loss of biodiversity, maximisation of livestock production requires high stocking rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adequacy of intermittent grazing to improve the condition of midland grassland in Flooding Pampa. We compared the responses of functional groups and the changes of species diversity of the plant community over three years under intermittent and continuous grazing regimes.

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Overgrazing Influence On The Presence Of Legumes In A Natural Pasture Of Sardinia, L. Salis, M. Vargiu, E. Spanu, F. Loche Aug 2023

Overgrazing Influence On The Presence Of Legumes In A Natural Pasture Of Sardinia, L. Salis, M. Vargiu, E. Spanu, F. Loche

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The knowledge of forage production and botanical composition in natural pasture is essential to plan forage crop systems. Floristic balance often changes due to overgrazing, which affects forage quality and causes the disappearance of less competitive and more palatable species. This trial aimed to evaluate the forage yield in a natural pasture and to verify the effect on botanical composition of overgrazing by dairy ewes.

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Changes In Floristic Diversity Associated With Sheep Grazing Management On A Karst Pasture, Matej Vidrih, F. Batič, K. Eler Aug 2023

Changes In Floristic Diversity Associated With Sheep Grazing Management On A Karst Pasture, Matej Vidrih, F. Batič, K. Eler

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Greater plant diversity, richness and lower primary production are more characteristic for karst (calcareous) pastures than for lowland grassland. In relation to the level of animal grazing required, light and moderate levels are usually most appropriate (Hart, 2001). From the conservation point of view grazing intensity should be variable between sites, and between parts of large sites, and timed to provide for the requirements of different species in different seasons (Dolek & Geyer, 2002).

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Forage Legume Persistence In Mixtures With Native And Introduced Grasses At A Semiarid Location On The Canadian Prairies, P. G. Jefferson, A. D. Iwaasa, Michael P. Schellenberg Aug 2023

Forage Legume Persistence In Mixtures With Native And Introduced Grasses At A Semiarid Location On The Canadian Prairies, P. G. Jefferson, A. D. Iwaasa, Michael P. Schellenberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cultivars of native grass species with adequate nutritive value for summer and early fall grazing by beef cattle are becoming available for seeding in the Canadian prairie region (Jefferson et al. 2004). Mixing native grass species with introduced legumes could improve forage quality but little information is available on legume persistence with these species. This experiment aimed to determine the persistence of 3 forage legumes when seeded with 3 native grasses compared to 3 introduced grasses.

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Floristic Composition As A Parameter Of The Quality Of The Grassland Type Festucetum Vallesacae In Thestara Planina Hilly-Mountainous Region Of Serbia, Z. Nesic, Z. Tomic, S. Mrfat-Vukelic, M. Zujovic, I. Djalovic, S. Djordjevic Aug 2023

Floristic Composition As A Parameter Of The Quality Of The Grassland Type Festucetum Vallesacae In Thestara Planina Hilly-Mountainous Region Of Serbia, Z. Nesic, Z. Tomic, S. Mrfat-Vukelic, M. Zujovic, I. Djalovic, S. Djordjevic

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

With the increase of sea level and changes of climatic conditions, the possibilities for growing cultivated forages decreases. Therefore natural grasslands will become more important in relation to livestock nutrition. This will increase the importance of the nutritive value of these natural grasslands that have very diverse and dynamic floristic composition. The quality of the grassland depends on species categorised as grasses, legumes and other species. Other species were often regarded as harmful in regard to quality, however, they often contain many medicinal and stimulating substances that may have beneficial effects on animals and on the quality of animal products …

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Floristic Composition As Parameter Of Quality Of Ass. Agrostietum Vulgaris, Z. Tomic, S. Mrfat-Vukelic, Z. Nesic, M. Zujovic, S. Djordjevic-Milosevic Aug 2023

Floristic Composition As Parameter Of Quality Of Ass. Agrostietum Vulgaris, Z. Tomic, S. Mrfat-Vukelic, Z. Nesic, M. Zujovic, S. Djordjevic-Milosevic

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In hilly-mountainous region of Serbia, meadows and pastures are the main sourcees of roughage feeds and grazing for ruminants. On Stara Planina mountain, in SE Serbia, meadows and pastures with different plant associations and a wide range of species of differing nutritional value predominate. Until the 1930s, and even until now, only species of the grass family and leguminous plants were desired and all other plants were considered worthless or harmful Klapp (1986). The main criteria to evaluate whether a meadow plant species is a weed are: is it poisonous?; is it suitable for consumption by domestic animals as regards …

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Forage And Livestock Productivity On Pastures Of Differing Plant Diversity, B. F. Tracy Aug 2023

Forage And Livestock Productivity On Pastures Of Differing Plant Diversity, B. F. Tracy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Plant diversity and its function in grassland ecosystems has been the focus of many recent studies, and debate, in the ecological literature (Wardle 1999, Loreau and Hector 2001). We know less about the role of plant diversity in pastures used solely for agricultural production (Sanderson et al. 2004). The objective of this study was to learn how pastures planted with increasing levels of plant diversity would affect forage yields and beef cattle performance.

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Effect Of Acacia Caven On The Productivity And Botanical Composition Of Low-Rainfall Mediterranean Grassland In Central Chile, D. Troncoso, N. Farías, R. Franco Aug 2023

Effect Of Acacia Caven On The Productivity And Botanical Composition Of Low-Rainfall Mediterranean Grassland In Central Chile, D. Troncoso, N. Farías, R. Franco

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The dryland of central Chile (33° to 38° S) presents a Mediterranean-type climate. Typical local grassland is characterised by multiple annual herbaceous species, which coexist with the small tree Acacia caven, covering up to 3 m hectares. Over the past 100 years, the main use of this land has been for charcoal production from trees and uncontrolled grazing by sheep and cattle in rotation with wheat. Previous research has reported that Acacia caven can improve grassland condition (Olivares et al, 2000). The objective of this study was to analyse the influence of Acacia caven on productivity and botanical …

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The Relationship Between Species Diversity And Productivity Of Cool-Season Grassland, S. E. Florine, Kenneth J. Moore, Steven L. Fales, R. L. Hintz Aug 2023

The Relationship Between Species Diversity And Productivity Of Cool-Season Grassland, S. E. Florine, Kenneth J. Moore, Steven L. Fales, R. L. Hintz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Iowa grasslands consist mainly of introduced cool-season grasses and forbs. Many of these species are well adapted and have become naturalised. Most of these grasslands are located on marginal sites with heterogeneous soils and topography. Consequently, there is significant variation in the botanical composition and biomass productivity within and across grassland sites. This experiment aimed to evaluate the botanical composition and biomass productivity of representative grasslands and to determine if there was a relationship between grassland species diversity and biomass production across sites.

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Plant Functional Diversity Increases Biomass Production In The Establishment Of Perennial Herbaceous Polycultures, V. D. Picasso, E. C. Brummer Aug 2023

Plant Functional Diversity Increases Biomass Production In The Establishment Of Perennial Herbaceous Polycultures, V. D. Picasso, E. C. Brummer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Natural grasslands are functionally diverse mixtures of perennial species and provide a model for sustainable agriculture systems. There is strong evidence for positive relationships between species and functional diversity and ecosystem processes like productivity and stability (Loreau et al., 2001). This research aimed mainly to study the effect on biomass production (BM) of increasing plant functional diversity in agriculturally relevant perennial herbaceous polycultures during their establishment years.

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Relationships Between Productivity, Quality And Traits In Seven Co-Occurring Grass Species, L. S. Pontes, Jean-François Soussana, P. Carrère, F. Louault, J. Aufrère, D. Andueza Aug 2023

Relationships Between Productivity, Quality And Traits In Seven Co-Occurring Grass Species, L. S. Pontes, Jean-François Soussana, P. Carrère, F. Louault, J. Aufrère, D. Andueza

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The impacts of management options sometimes have dramatic effects on botanical composition which in turn affect yield and nutritive value. A functional analysis of vegetation response may help to understand and predict the impact of changes in grassland management in a more general way screening for plant traits that may control productivity and nutritive value.

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Specific Leaf Area On Fresh Matter Basis: A Soft Trait For Leaf Thickness?, J. Debril, E. Kerneïs, S. Carré, P. Cruz, F. Gastal Aug 2023

Specific Leaf Area On Fresh Matter Basis: A Soft Trait For Leaf Thickness?, J. Debril, E. Kerneïs, S. Carré, P. Cruz, F. Gastal

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and the specific leaf area (SLA), are leaf traits frequently measured in field studies. Unfortunately, leaf thickness (LT) rarely is measured because that is time consuming and needs special equipment. Specific leaf mass (SLM), or leaf dry matter content/unit of leaf area, has been correlated positively to leaf density (Van Arendonk & Poorter 1994) but very few studies have examined its correlation with leaf thickness (Witkowsky & Lamont 1991). Since leaf volume is basically related to its water content, specific leaf area on a fresh matter basis (SLAW) could be consistently correlated to …

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The Potential For Using The Alkanes And Long-Chain Alcohols Of Plant Cuticular Wax To Distinguish The Contribution Of Different Plant Species To A Mixed Root Mass, Hugh Dove, T. P. Bolger Aug 2023

The Potential For Using The Alkanes And Long-Chain Alcohols Of Plant Cuticular Wax To Distinguish The Contribution Of Different Plant Species To A Mixed Root Mass, Hugh Dove, T. P. Bolger

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In mixed pastures, plants compete below ground for soil water and nutrients, just as they compete above ground for light. Quantifying below-ground competition is difficult, partly because of the difficulty of measuring the contribution of different plant species to a mixed root mass. For some years, the hydrocarbons (alkanes) of plant cuticular wax have been used to quantify the species composition of the diet of herbivores (see Mayes & Dove, 2000). More recently, the long-chain aliphatic alcohols (LCOH) of plant wax have also proved useful markers (Bugalho et al., 2004). Plant roots also contain cuticular alkanes and these may …

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Does Niche Complementarity Explain The Relationship Between Biodiversity And Ecosystem Functioning In Managed Grasslands?, Nina Buchmann, A. Kahmen Aug 2023

Does Niche Complementarity Explain The Relationship Between Biodiversity And Ecosystem Functioning In Managed Grasslands?, Nina Buchmann, A. Kahmen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Niche complementarity was suggested to largely explain the positive relationship noted between plant diversity and productivity in some recent studies. This suggests that an increasing number of species exploits resources more efficiently and thus enhance ecosystem functions. This hypothesis, however, implies that niches occupied by different plant species are rather distinct so that niches from extinct or missing species stay unoccupied by the remaining species of an ecosystem. This experiment tested if plant species occupy different and distinct niches with respect to soil N uptake, being a possible functional explanation for the biodiversity ecosystem functioning relationship.

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Linking Community And Ecosystem Ecology By Developing A Grassland Ecosystem Model (Gemini) With Interactions Between Plant, Herbivore And Soil Microbial Populations, Jean-François Soussana, S. Witzmann, P. Loiseau, S. Fontaine, Pascal Carrère, Catherine Picon-Cochard, F. Louault Aug 2023

Linking Community And Ecosystem Ecology By Developing A Grassland Ecosystem Model (Gemini) With Interactions Between Plant, Herbivore And Soil Microbial Populations, Jean-François Soussana, S. Witzmann, P. Loiseau, S. Fontaine, Pascal Carrère, Catherine Picon-Cochard, F. Louault

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Simulation models may help to understand the functional role of plant and soil biodiversity for C and N cycles and for intake by herbivores in semi-natural grassland ecosystems. Detailed models of grassland ecosystems calculate C, N, water and energy fluxes without accounting for the species dynamics in the plant and soil communities. Schwinning & Parsons (1996) proposed a simple pasture growth model that includes mixed grass and clover components. This model was, however, restricted to 2 plant functional groups and it excluded the dynamics of the soil organic matter. The role of competitive interactions between at least 2 functionally distinct …

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Study Of Characteristics Of Soil Animals In Halophilous Plant Communities Of Leymus Chinensis Grasslands Of Northeast In China, Xiuqin Yin, Y. Zhang, W. Dong Aug 2023

Study Of Characteristics Of Soil Animals In Halophilous Plant Communities Of Leymus Chinensis Grasslands Of Northeast In China, Xiuqin Yin, Y. Zhang, W. Dong

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

We have researched soil animals in 8 types of halophilous plant communities of Leymus chinensis grasslands of Northeast China to characterise soil animal groups and explain the role and function of soil animals in grassland ecosystems (Richard & Roger, 1998) and provide a scientific basis for research to improve alkaline lands in these grasslands.

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Spatial Distribution Of Soil Macroinvertebrates In A Dry Steppe (South-Eastern Siberia, Russia), K. B. Gongalsky Aug 2023

Spatial Distribution Of Soil Macroinvertebrates In A Dry Steppe (South-Eastern Siberia, Russia), K. B. Gongalsky

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Soil macroinvertebrates are important components of ecosystems. They play a key role in decomposition processes and turnover of the most of elements. Adequate estimation of abundance and biomass of these animals is fundamental for understanding their input in steppe ecosystems. Asian steppes of Russia are poorly studied. Therefore, baseline soil invertebrate composition, abundance and rules of distribution were estimated.

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Grazing Effects On Spatial Microdistribution Of Soil Macroinvertebrates In A Steppe Of European Russia, F. A. Savin, K. B. Gongalsky, A. D. Pokarzhevskii Aug 2023

Grazing Effects On Spatial Microdistribution Of Soil Macroinvertebrates In A Steppe Of European Russia, F. A. Savin, K. B. Gongalsky, A. D. Pokarzhevskii

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Measures of ecosystems and their populations include biomass, production and trophic composition and animal spatial distribution. Grazing of grasslands influences spatial distribution of vegetation seriously. The same effects on soil macroinvertebrates are less well studied. Spatial distribution is usually studied at a coenosis level, and not at a studied point level, although the scale of sampling has a giant importance in estimation of organism's distribution. The aim of our study was to estimate grazing impact on large soil invertebrates in steppe ecosystems in Chernozem Nature Reserve in Russia.

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Grassland Arthropod Species Richness In A Conventional Suckler Beef Production System And One Compatible With The Irish Agri-Environment Scheme (Reps), Alvin J. Helden, A. Anderson, Gordon Purvis Aug 2023

Grassland Arthropod Species Richness In A Conventional Suckler Beef Production System And One Compatible With The Irish Agri-Environment Scheme (Reps), Alvin J. Helden, A. Anderson, Gordon Purvis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grassland management practices, such as grazing, strongly affects the biodiversity of grassland arthropods; increasing grazing intensity causes a general decline in species richness (Morris, 2000). One of the aims of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) is to conserve and enhance biodiversity within Irish agricultural land (Feehan et al., 2002). In order to determine the effectiveness of this aspect of REPS, one must compare the relative biodiversity of grassland under REPS with that of conventionally managed grassland. Aiming to determine whether species richness was higher in REPS-compatible compared with a standard system of management, we measured the species richness …

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Comparison Of Epigeic Spider (Arachnida : Araneae) Assemblages In Winter Wheat Agroecosystems Of The European Part Of Russia, R. R. Seyfulina Aug 2023

Comparison Of Epigeic Spider (Arachnida : Araneae) Assemblages In Winter Wheat Agroecosystems Of The European Part Of Russia, R. R. Seyfulina

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Spiders comprise 20-80% of predatory fauna (Ferguson et al., 1984) and are important in controlling dangerous pests (Horner, 1972). Although different from most natural associations, cropland spider complexes resemble meadow communities and their diversity varies from tens to more than 300 species. About 20 species, referred to as agrobionts (Luczak, 1979), are common to all European agroecosystems.

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Grassland And Avian Biodiversity Within Irish Agriculture, Barry J. Mcmahon, J. Whelan Aug 2023

Grassland And Avian Biodiversity Within Irish Agriculture, Barry J. Mcmahon, J. Whelan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the last quarter of the 20th century, populations of farmland birds have declined markedly, representing a severe threat to biodiversity (Donald et al., 2001). Because the vast majority of Irish farmland is devoted to intensive grassland, it is important to establish what quality of habitat this provides for biodiversity, especially avian. This study aimed to establish the avian species on the selected sites, compared with the total number of species that have been recorded on Irish farmland in recent years, as documented by the Complete Guide to Irish Birds (Dempsey & O'Clery, 2002).

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The Effect Of Burning Abandoned Reclaimed Land In Early Spring On The Distribution Of An Endangered Grassland Bird Species - The Japanese Marsh Warbler, T. Sugiura, E. Ochiai, M. Baba, H. Kobayashi Aug 2023

The Effect Of Burning Abandoned Reclaimed Land In Early Spring On The Distribution Of An Endangered Grassland Bird Species - The Japanese Marsh Warbler, T. Sugiura, E. Ochiai, M. Baba, H. Kobayashi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Japanese Red Data Book of Birds lists the Japanese Marsh Warbler (Locustella pryeri pryeri) as an endangered species. It feeds and breeds in-reed dominated (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin.ex.Steud.) grassland in N Japan. Expanses of reclaimed land (Hotokenuma) are its largest breeding grounds. Each April, fire management is used to rid the area of the dead reed material amassed from the previous year. Circa 1 month after burning, the species returns to the area to inhabit and breed in the unburned areas. Fire use to manage grasslands is an important tool for the conservation and management of …

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Lapwing And Redshank Nesting Sites On Coastal Marshes: Does Sward Structure Matter?, D. Durant, Muriel Tichit, E. Kernéïs Aug 2023

Lapwing And Redshank Nesting Sites On Coastal Marshes: Does Sward Structure Matter?, D. Durant, Muriel Tichit, E. Kernéïs

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing is central to the debate on wildlife conservation. Agricultural grasslands are the main breeding areas for many waders and grazing is very important in grassland use by these species. Waders, groundnesting birds, are very sensitive to sward structure for nesting (Milsom et al., 2000). As a marsh has different grazing regimes, all fields are not equally suitable for waders. This study evaluated the factors affecting lapwing and redshank selection of nesting sites. Also, the hypothesis was tested that sward structure (mean grass height, frequency of tussocks) is an important factor affecting this selection.

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Management Of Grasslands Used By Waders: Integrating Time And Key Spatial Scales Of Grazing Processes, M. Tichit, D. Durant, O. Renault, E. Kernéïs Aug 2023

Management Of Grasslands Used By Waders: Integrating Time And Key Spatial Scales Of Grazing Processes, M. Tichit, D. Durant, O. Renault, E. Kernéïs

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Agriculture has many functions. Mainly through agri-environment schemes, farmers are asked to manage grasslands of special value to conserve biodiversity. Assessment of grazing as an ecological factor of variation of grassland characteristics is needed to understand how grazing contributes to grassland management for species conservation. Several wader species use wet grasslands preferentially for nesting and foraging. Like many ground-nesting birds, they are very sensitive to the sward structure (see Durant et al., this congress).

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A Comparison Of Restored Native Grasslands And Exotic Grass Pastures As Wintering Habitat For Declining Grassland Bird Species In The Southeastern United States, A. B. Mcmellen, S. H. Schweitzer Aug 2023

A Comparison Of Restored Native Grasslands And Exotic Grass Pastures As Wintering Habitat For Declining Grassland Bird Species In The Southeastern United States, A. B. Mcmellen, S. H. Schweitzer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Southeastern grasslands were not pristine when the first Europeans arrived in the 15th century. American Indians had modified the landscape through centuries of fire use, cultivation, and other activities (Denevan, 1992). However, native southeastern grasslands did not evolve with disturbance from intensive grazing. Livestock and intense grazing pressure arrived with the Europeans. Modifications to southeastern grasslands by the early 1900s included exclusion of fire, intensive grazing, and introduction of cultivated, sodforming grasses, which resulted in an increase in hardwood trees and shrubs, changes in herbaceous species composition, and the near extirpation of native warm-season species such as switch grass ( …

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Agricultural Intensification: Have Sown Pastures Damaged The Environment?, John G. Mcivor, C. K. Mcdonald, Neil D. Macleod, Ken C. Hodgkinson Aug 2023

Agricultural Intensification: Have Sown Pastures Damaged The Environment?, John G. Mcivor, C. K. Mcdonald, Neil D. Macleod, Ken C. Hodgkinson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Concerns are growing about the impact of agriculture on the environment. Particular concerns have been expressed about the impacts of intensive agriculture (e.g. cropping involving fertiliser, pesticides, limited germplasm, fuels, etc) on biodiversity, and both on-site (e.g. soil health and fertility) and off-site resources (e.g. pesticide contamination). Less intensive agriculture (e.g. sown pastures) can also have undesirable impacts. In the woodlands of eastern Australia sown pasture development has been associated with loss of native vegetation and wildlife habitat, accelerated soil acidification, salinisation and poor tree health (McIntyre et al., 2002). Based on this, there have been calls to restrict …

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