Development Of Saline Vegetation On Embanked Grasslands At The Baltic Sea Coast After 10 Years Of Extensive Pasture Use,
2023
Rostock University, Germany
Development Of Saline Vegetation On Embanked Grasslands At The Baltic Sea Coast After 10 Years Of Extensive Pasture Use, Renate Bockholt, S. Schmitz, S. Noel
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
Since the establishment of the National Park "Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft" in 1992, the objective has been the restoration the grasslands, which was used intensively before. The soil type is a fine- sand gley. Management of embanked grasslands has been changed into extensive management. Fertilisation, renewal of the sward and water control by drainage have been stopped. Instead of the previous use of cutting for silage, mother cows (1 cattle/ ha) were grazing the areas extensively.
Extensive Management Of Sheep Grazing In Upland Sown Grassland: Long-Term Effects On Plant Species Composition,
2023
The Macaulay Institute, UK
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 (1997-2023)
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 …
Grazing, Biodiversity And Pastoral Vegetation In The South Sudanien Area Of Burkina Faso,
2023
INERA Farako-Bâ, Burkina Faso
Grazing, Biodiversity And Pastoral Vegetation In The South Sudanien Area Of Burkina Faso, E. Botoni-Liehoun, P. Daget
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
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 …
The Effect Of Grazing On Rare And Common Grasses And Forbs In The Mediterranean Coastal Desert Of Egypt,
2023
UAE University, United Arab Emirates
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 (1997-2023)
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.
Plant Species Richness At Three Levels Of Range Potential In Semi-Steppe Vegetation Of Iran,
2023
University of Agricultural Sciences, Iran
Plant Species Richness At Three Levels Of Range Potential In Semi-Steppe Vegetation Of Iran, Mansour Mesdaghi
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
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), …
Plant Community Structure Of Midland Grassland Of The Flooding Pampa In Relation To Grazing Management,
2023
Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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 (1997-2023)
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.
Overgrazing Influence On The Presence Of Legumes In A Natural Pasture Of Sardinia,
2023
Centro Regionale Agrario Sperimentale, Italy
Overgrazing Influence On The Presence Of Legumes In A Natural Pasture Of Sardinia, L. Salis, M. Vargiu, E. Spanu, F. Loche
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
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.
Changes In Floristic Diversity Associated With Sheep Grazing Management On A Karst Pasture,
2023
University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Changes In Floristic Diversity Associated With Sheep Grazing Management On A Karst Pasture, Matej Vidrih, F. Batič, K. Eler
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
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).
Forage Legume Persistence In Mixtures With Native And Introduced Grasses At A Semiarid Location On The Canadian Prairies,
2023
Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada
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 (1997-2023)
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.
Floristic Composition As A Parameter Of The Quality Of The Grassland Type Festucetum Vallesacae In Thestara Planina Hilly-Mountainous Region Of Serbia,
2023
Institute for Animal Husbandry, Serbia
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 (1997-2023)
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 …
Floristic Composition As Parameter Of Quality Of Ass. Agrostietum Vulgaris,
2023
Institute for Animal Husbandry, Serbia
Floristic Composition As Parameter Of Quality Of Ass. Agrostietum Vulgaris, Z. Tomic, S. Mrfat-Vukelic, Z. Nesic, M. Zujovic, S. Djordjevic-Milosevic
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
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 …
Forage And Livestock Productivity On Pastures Of Differing Plant Diversity,
2023
University of Illinois
Forage And Livestock Productivity On Pastures Of Differing Plant Diversity, B. F. Tracy
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
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.
Effect Of Acacia Caven On The Productivity And Botanical Composition Of Low-Rainfall Mediterranean Grassland In Central Chile,
2023
The Catholic University of Maule, Chile
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 (1997-2023)
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 …
The Relationship Between Species Diversity And Productivity Of Cool-Season Grassland,
2023
Iowa State University
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 (1997-2023)
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.
Plant Functional Diversity Increases Biomass Production In The Establishment Of Perennial Herbaceous Polycultures,
2023
Iowa State University
Plant Functional Diversity Increases Biomass Production In The Establishment Of Perennial Herbaceous Polycultures, V. D. Picasso, E. C. Brummer
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
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.
Relationships Between Productivity, Quality And Traits In Seven Co-Occurring Grass Species,
2023
INRA, France
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 (1997-2023)
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.
Specific Leaf Area On Fresh Matter Basis: A Soft Trait For Leaf Thickness?,
2023
INRA, France
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 (1997-2023)
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 …
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,
2023
CSIRO, Australia
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 (1997-2023)
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 …
Does Niche Complementarity Explain The Relationship Between Biodiversity And Ecosystem Functioning In Managed Grasslands?,
2023
ETH Zuerich, Switzerland
Does Niche Complementarity Explain The Relationship Between Biodiversity And Ecosystem Functioning In Managed Grasslands?, Nina Buchmann, A. Kahmen
IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)
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.
Linking Community And Ecosystem Ecology By Developing A Grassland Ecosystem Model (Gemini) With Interactions Between Plant, Herbivore And Soil Microbial Populations,
2023
INRA, France
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 (1997-2023)
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 …
