Abstract
Horse grazing systems may affect productivity and biodiversity of understory developed under Pinus radiata D. Don silvopastoral systems, while acting as a tool to reduce the risk of fire. This study compared continuous and rotational grazing systems effect upon biomass, fractions of stem, sprouts, leaves and woody parts of Ulex europaeus L. and alpha (Species Richness, Shannon-Wiener) and beta (Jaccard and Magurran) biodiversity for a period of four years in a P. radiata silvopastoral system. The experiment consisted of a randomized block design of two treatments (continuous and rotational grazing). Biomass, and species abundances were measured - biodiversity metrics were calculated based on these results for a two years of grazing and two years of post-grazing periods. Both continuous and rotational grazing systems were useful tools for reducing biomass and, therefore, fire risk. The rotational grazing system caused damage to the U. europaeus shrub, limiting its recovery once grazing was stopped. However, the more intensive grazing of U. europaeus plants under rotational had a positive effect on both alpha and beta biodiversity indexes due to the low capacity of food selection in the whole plot rather than continuous grazing systems. Biomass was not affected by the grazing system; however the rotational grazing system is more appropriate to reduce U. europaeus biomass and therefore forest fire risk at a long term and to enhance pasture biodiversity than the continuous grazing system.
Highlights
Livestock production plays an important role for increasing the value and multifunctional management of forests (Havstad et al, 2007; Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al, 2009)
The initial U. europaeus biomass in this study was below that described by Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al (2009) in Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus pinaster Ait. understories (25-50 t dry matter (DM) ha–1)
The initial production of U. europaeus in our study is within the optimal rank for offered herbaceous pasture for grazing for one harvest according to Mosquera-Losada and González-Rodríguez (1998)
Summary
Livestock production plays an important role for increasing the value and multifunctional management of forests (Havstad et al, 2007; Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al, 2009). Gorse is the most important type of understory found in the forests of the North of Spain (Zas and Alonso, 2002) usually related to fire ignition and dispersion of forest fires in Galicia, one of the most fired regions of Europe (Rigueiro-Rodríguez et al, 2009). Continuous and rotational grazing system management modifies herbaceous plant productivity, depending on the stocking rate (Parsons and Penning, 1988; Briske et al, 2008); but few studies have been carried out comparing grazing systems in woody pastures. Pasture recovery during the rest periods under rotational management and animal higher selection capacity under the continuous grazing system are important factors that would modify the productivity and biodiversity evolution of gorse understory (Karki et al, 2000; Holechek et al, 2001; Dumont et al, 2007; Mayer et al, 2009)
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