Grassland Management Practices Research Articles

Cooperative grassland management practices promoted by land tenure system transformation benefit social-ecological systems of pastoralism on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, China

China has recently implemented the latest rural land tenure reform with the “Separating Three Property Rights” as non-tradable land ownership, non-tradable land contracting right and tradable land use right, leading to a dramatic change in grassland management strategies in vast pastoral areas. However, the impact of this new reform on grassland management practices is widely debated by scholars and policy analysts. To identify the factors impacting the pastoralists' choice of grassland management practice and the social, economic and ecological benefits derived from different grassland management practices, we conducted a field survey of pastoralists (n = 259) in 7 counties on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that respondents' gender, grassland area, scale and location of the village, grassland condition perception significantly exerted positive influence on pastoralists' willingness to participate in cooperative grassland management practices, while grassland fence and urban life expectation negatively influenced the willingness. We found that cooperative grassland management practices led to significantly higher household incomes, more equal gender relationships and better-managed grasslands than individual ones. In spite of this, there were still a large number of pastoralists who chose individual grassland management practices due to their long-term customary operations. In conclusion, this new rural land tenure reform has facilitated pastoralists’ choice for diverse grassland management practices and the promoted voluntary large-scale cooperative grassland management practices benefit the social-ecological system of pastoralism.

Predicting Forage Quality of Grasslands Using UAV-Borne Imaging Spectroscopy

The timely knowledge of forage quality of grasslands is vital for matching the demands in animal feeding. Remote sensing (RS) is a promising tool for estimating field-scale forage quality compared with traditional methods, which usually do not provide equally detailed information. However, the applicability of RS prediction models depends on the variability of the underlying calibration data, which can be brought about by the inclusion of a multitude of grassland types and management practices in the model development. Major aims of this study were (i) to build forage quality estimation models for multiple grassland types based on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-borne imaging spectroscopy and (ii) to generate forage quality distribution maps using the best models obtained. The study examined data from eight grasslands in northern Hesse, Germany, which largely differed in terms of vegetation type and cutting regime. The UAV with a hyperspectral camera on board was utilised to acquire spectral images from the grasslands, and crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) concentration of the forage was assessed at each cut. Five predictive modelling regression algorithms were applied to develop quality estimation models. Further, grassland forage quality distribution maps were created using the best models developed. The normalised spectral reflectance data showed the strongest relationship with both CP and ADF concentration. From all predictive algorithms, support vector regression provided the highest precision and accuracy for CP estimation (median normalised root mean square error prediction (nRMSEp) = 10.6%), while cubist regression model proved best for ADF estimation (median nRMSEp = 13.4%). The maps generated for both CP and ADF showed a distinct spatial variation in forage quality values for the different grasslands and cutting regimes. Overall, the results disclose that UAV-borne imaging spectroscopy, in combination with predictive modelling, provides a promising tool for accurate forage quality estimation of multiple grasslands.

How Efficient is the French Less‐Favoured Area Programme?

SummaryEvaluation of the French Less Favoured Area (LFA) agricultural programme over the period 2007–2013 calls into question the cost‐efficiency of this multi‐objective programme. This article confirms the multiplicity of objectives assigned to this programme, namely to maintain a sustainable agriculture in mountainous areas through income support for farmers in these disadvantaged areas; and thus more indirectly, to enhance the attractiveness of these agricultural areas. The environmental assessment of farms in the FADN network showed that the French LFA programme did help to support the most environmentally friendly dairy and cattle farms in mountainous areas via support for the income levels of these livestock farms. However, the analysis also shows that the LFA criteria are not sufficiently specific to have the required impacts on grassland management practices that would lead to specific defined environmentally friendly practices and improvements. Overall, and in spite of its longstanding and multi‐objective nature, the French LFA programme has been effective both from an economic perspective in that it inspires confidence among economic agents; and also to some extent from a general environmental perspective by providing support for farms which hold most of the permanent grassland, and associated amenities.

Eleven years' data of grassland management in Germany.

BackgroundThe 150 grassland plots were located in three study regions in Germany, 50 in each region. The dataset describes the yearly grassland management for each grassland plot using 116 variables.General information includes plot identifier, study region and survey year. Additionally, grassland plot characteristics describe the presence and starting year of drainage and whether arable farming had taken place 25 years before our assessment, i.e. between 1981 and 2006. In each year, the size of the management unit is given which, in some cases, changed slightly across years.Mowing, grazing and fertilisation were systematically surveyed:Mowing is characterised by mowing frequency (i.e. number of cuts per year), dates of cutting and different technical variables, such as type of machine used or usage of conditioner.For grazing, the livestock species and age (e.g. cattle, horse, sheep), the number of animals, stocking density per hectare and total duration of grazing were recorded. As a derived variable, the mean grazing intensity was then calculated by multiplying the livestock units with the duration of grazing per hectare [LSU days/ha]. Different grazing periods during a year, partly involving different herds, were summed up to an annual grazing intensity for each grassland.For fertilisation, information on the type and amount of different types of fertilisers was recorded separately for mineral and organic fertilisers, such as solid farmland manure, slurry and mash from a bioethanol factory. Our fertilisation measures neglect dung dropped by livestock during grazing. For each type of fertiliser, we calculated its total nitrogen content, derived from chemical analyses by the producer or agricultural guidelines (Table 3).All three management types, mowing, fertilisation and grazing, were used to calculate a combined land use intensity index (LUI) which is frequently used to define a measure for the land use intensity. Here, fertilisation is expressed as total nitrogen per hectare [kg N/ha], but does not consider potassium and phosphorus.Information on additional management practices in grasslands was also recorded including levelling, to tear-up matted grass covers, rolling, to remove surface irregularities, seed addition, to close gaps in the sward.New informationInvestigating the relationship between human land use and biodiversity is important to understand if and how humans affect it through the way they manage the land and to develop sustainable land use strategies. Quantifying land use (the ‘X’ in such graphs) can be difficult as humans manage land using a multitude of actions, all of which may affect biodiversity, yet most studies use rather simple measures of land use, for example, by creating land use categories such as conventional vs. organic agriculture. Here, we provide detailed data on grassland management to allow for detailed analyses and the development of land use theory. The raw data have already been used for > 100 papers on the effect of management on biodiversity (e.g. Manning et al. 2015).

Plant composition changes in a small-scale community have a large effect on the performance of an economically important grassland pest

BackgroundThe grasshopper Oedaleus asiaticus Bey-Bienko (Acrididae: Oedipodinae) is a dominant and economically important pest that is widely distributed across the Mongolian plateau. This herbivore pest causes major damage to the grassland of the Inner Mongolian steppe in China. The population dynamics of herbivore pests is affected by grassland management practices (e.g., mowing and heavy livestock grazing) that alter plant community structures and stoichiometric characteristics. For example, O. asiaticus outbreak is closely associated with plant preference changes caused by nitrogen loss from heavy livestock grazing. However, the manner by which small-scale variation in vegetation affects grasshopper performance and promotes outbreak is poorly characterized. To address this question, we investigated the relationship between small-scale (1 m2) vegetation variability and measures of O. asiaticus performance associated with plant stoichiometric characteristics.ResultsWe found that food preferences of O. asiaticus varied significantly, but maintained a specific dietary structure for different plant compositions. Notably, small-scale changes in plant community composition significantly affected grasshopper food preference and body size. Partial least-square modeling indicated that plant proportion and biomass affected grasshopper body size and density. We found that this effect differed between sexes. Specifically, female body mass positively correlated with the proportion of Stipa krylovii grass, whereas male mass positively correlated with the proportion of Artemisia frigida grass. Further analyses indicated that grasshopper performance is closely associated with plant stoichiometric traits that might be responsible for the pest’s plague.ConclusionsThis study provides valuable information for managing grasshoppers using rational grassland management practices.

Grassland Degradation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: Reevaluation of Causative Factors

In light of Harris (2010) finding insufficient evidence to assert a causal linkage between any of the seven previously proposed causative factors and grassland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), more recent empirical studies on QTP grassland degradation were explored to ascertain whether, in fact, these factors are casually linked to grassland degradation. The mischaracterization of the underlying causes of grassland degradation among policymakers has and continues to be an obstacle to sustainable regional grassland management practices. Accumulating evidence suggests that privatization and sedentarization, small mammals, climate change, harsh environments, fragile soils, and overgrazing contribute to grassland degradation. However, neither obsolete livestock husbandry methods nor the recent conversion of rangelands to agriculture had a meaningful influence. Estimates of the total area of degraded grasslands and the establishment of grassland degradation criteria have not been properly addressed in the literature. Both omissions constitute the basis for investigating the causes of grassland degradation across the QTP and the adoption of measures to manage these grasslands sustainably.

Following legume establishment, microbial and chemical associations facilitate improved productivity in degraded grasslands

Mowing and P-fertilization enhance legume seedling establishment, assisting in successful restoration of degraded grasslands. Legume establishment may influence soil chemical compounds and soil microbial assemblage to facilitate legume productivity. We aim to better understand these complex plant-soil-microbial interactions to improve grassland productivity following overgrazing. We conducted a 3-years Medicago falcata reseeding experiment was in semi-arid meadows, assessing responses of aboveground plant biomass, soil chemical compounds, and soil microbial community composition. Reseeded plots were mowed and/or P-fertilized. Application of both management practices increased grassland biomass compared with all other combinations. Soil chemical diversity predicted fungal alpha diversity, and fungal alpha diversity positively correlated with aboveground biomass. Our results indicate reseeded alfalfa directly altered bulk soil chemical compounds with subsequent alterations in grassland microbial communities. Soils contained chemical compounds with antifungal properties that indirectly improved grassland productivity via antagonism to pathogenic fungi. Furthermore, we found three specific compounds (5-methyltridecane, pentatriacontane, and N-tridecane) reduced microbial diversity. Here we demonstrate soil chemical compounds play an important role in shaping beneficial microbial communities to improve grassland biomass. These results may help direct beneficial soil microbial community composition through improved grassland management practices.

Short-term plant community response to grassland management intended to improve forage quality for the endangered Pampas deer

The Pampas deer is a medium-sized neotropical cervid whose population has been affected by the advancement of the agricultural frontier, poaching and depredation by introduced species. As a consequence, the population of the deer has dramatically decreased and its distribution has contracted. At present, Samborombón Bay remains one of the last populations of this deer in Argentina. The management of natural pastures to improve forage quality is one of the policies adopted by authorities at this site for the conservation of this cervid species. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of grassland management practices (burning and cutting) to promote better forage quality for Pampas deer. The work was carried out in the Campos del Tuyú National Park where two plots were managed to improve the available natural pastures. These plots were burned at the beginning of autumn and intensely defoliated at the end of spring, followed by mechanical cuts in the following autumn and late spring. Multivariate analyses revealed that structure and composition varied between treatments. Green biomass, total plant cover, and forage quality of grasses increased in the plots under management for winter pastures, although no significant differences were detected between summer pastures. The results indicate that grassland management would be a useful tool to improve habitat quality for Pampas deer; however, managed grassland also lost structural heterogeneity. Despite the fact that this study reveals a short-time response of grassland to management, our study shows promising results to continue and expand this practice for the improvement of the habitat quality for Pampas deers.

Agent-Based Modeling of Sustainable Ecological Consumption for Grasslands: A Case Study of Inner Mongolia, China

Sustainable ecosystem services consumption is of vital importance to the survival and development of human society. How to balance the conflicts between ecosystem protection and ecosystem services consumption by local residents has been a serious challenge, especially in ecologically vulnerable areas. To explore the reasonable ecosystem services consumption approaches of grassland ecosystems for sustainable land system management, this study takes Hulun Buir of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as a case study region and develops an EcoC-G (ecological consumption of grassland) model based on herders’ livelihood behaviors using the agent-based model technique to simulate the dynamics of ecosystem pressure, livestock production, and living quality of herders under different grassland management scenarios over the next 30 years. The EcoC-G model links the supply and consumption of grassland ecosystem services by calculating the ecosystem net primary productivity (NPP) supply and household NPP consumption. The model includes three sub-models, namely, the individual status transferring sub-model, the households’ grassland-use decision sub-model, and the ecosystem pressure sub-model. In accordance with multi-objective grassland management practices, the following four land management scenarios were simulated: (1) baseline scenario, (2) increasing household’s living standard, (3) ecosystem protection, and (4) balancing living standard improvement with the protection of the ecosystem. The result indicates that by focusing on the NPP supply and consumption of the grassland ecosystem, the EcoC-G is capable of simulating the impacts of herders’ livelihood behaviors on grassland ecosystems. If timely grassland management strategies are implemented, it is possible to relieve the ecosystem pressure and improve the livelihood of local herders. The specific scenario simulation results are: (1) Under the current grassland management mode, the pasture could never be overgrazed, and herders could achieve the basic living standard, but the accumulated wealth decreased due to the decline of livestock. (2) With grazing control, herders can accumulate wealth by increasing the breeding amount and reducing the marketing rate, but the ecosystem consumption pressure can reach a maximum of 2.3 times. (3) With strict restrictions on the livestock number, the pressure on the ecosystem decreases; however, herders might not achieve basic living standards. (4) Modest regulation leads to rational ecological consumption intervals, meaning the ecosystem pressure will become stable and herders can gradually accumulate wealth with the achievement of basic living standards in advance.

An agent-based model for assessing grazing strategies and institutional arrangements in Zeku, China

The assessment of grassland grazing strategies and institutional arrangements is essential for ensuring the sustainable development of grassland grazing systems. By employing per-pixel grazing information derived from remote sensing data, this paper presents an agent-based model of grassland grazing (ABMGG) for Zeku, China that was designed as a framework for assessing the effects of different combinations of grazing strategies and institutional arrangements on grassland status. By calibrating the parameter values of the ABMGG to the system status values under a policy that has already been implemented, the ABMGG can help us to understand grassland degradation in response to management interventions for each patch of land. In the Zeku implementation, it was found that although different grazing policy scenarios could not significantly improve or decrease the overall grassland leaf area index, a rotational group grazing scenario with a land market tenure system did produce a smaller number of severely degraded grass patches than other policy scenarios (except regional continuous grazing). This provides a new perspective on the consequences of grassland management practices where past research has concentrated more on overall grassland productivity. The ABMGG can extend the ability of policy assessment tools to a high resolution level with pixel-specific real-time remote sensing data, making the assessment results more accurate and representative.

Fungal Endophyte Communities of Three Agricultural Important Grass Species Differ in Their Response Towards Management Regimes.

Despite the importance of endophytic fungi for plant health, it remains unclear how these fungi are influenced by grassland management practices. Here, we investigated the effect of fertilizer application and mowing frequency on fungal endophyte communities and their life strategies in aerial tissues of three agriculturally important grass species (Dactylis glomerata L., Festuca rubra L. and Lolium perenne L.) over two consecutive years. Our results showed that the management practices influenced fungal communities in the plant holobiont, but observed effects differed between grass species and sampling year. Phylogenetic diversity of fungal endophytes in D. glomerata was significantly affected by mowing frequency in 2010, whereas fertilizer application and the interaction of fertilization with mowing frequency had a significant impact on community composition of L. perenne in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Taken together, our research provides a basis for future studies on responses of fungal endophytes towards management practices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study simultaneously assessing fungal endophyte communities in aerial parts of three agriculturally important grass species over two consecutive years.

Remote sensing equivalent water thickness of grass treated with different fertiliser regimes using resample HyspIRI and EnMAP data

The aim of this study was to test the spectral settings of the forthcoming EnMAP and HyspIRI hyperspectral imagers in estimating equivalent water thickness of native grass grown under different management practices, using two regression ensembles (partial least squares regression (PLSR) and sparse partial least squares regression (SPLSR). Results showed that the HyspIRI spectral settings better characterised Equivalent water thickness (EWT) of grass grown under different fertiliser regimes in relation to the EnMAP spectral settings. Specifically, t-test analysis indicated there were significant differences (α = 0.05) between the (pooled) relative root mean square errors derived using the HyspIRI spectral settings when compared to those exhibited by EnMAP. When all data was combined, HyspIRI spectral data settings exhibited relatively higher accuracy in estimating grass EWT with a RMSE of 3.039 cm−2 (RRMSE = 31.7%) and an R-square of 0.59 when compared to EnMAP which exhibited a RMSE of 3.216 g cm−2 (RRMSE = 33.6%) and an R-square of 0.54. The near infrared and shortwave infrared bands were selected as the most optimally variables in estimating grass water content across different grassland management practices using the SPLSR. These findings are critical for monitoring grasslands condition at landscape scale. Overall this information is critical for determining and understanding their moisture retention capacity across different land management practices and in light of climate variability and change.

Species and functional diversity of arthropod assemblages (Araneae, Carabidae, Heteroptera and Orthoptera) in grazed and mown salt grasslands

Grazing and mowing are widely applied management practices in semi-natural grasslands, which are one of the most important habitats for biodiversity conservation in Europe. Due to the decline in extensively grazing livestock numbers, an increasing area of formerly grazed grasslands has being used as mown grasslands. However, we have scarce information on how arthropod assemblages are influenced by mowing in formerly grazed pastures. We assessed the effects of mowing compared to grazing on the species richness, abundance and functional diversity of arthropods in three grassland complexes in Hungary. Since 2005, these salt grasslands have been divided into two management units: extensive grazing management has been continued in one part, while annual late cutting has been established in the other part. In each management unit five sites were sampled. Spiders and ground beetles were sampled using pitfall traps, orthopterans and true bugs were sampled using sweep nets twice before cutting in 2015. In total, the data relating to 12,576 adult individuals of 334 species were analysed using mixed-models. Plant-dwelling true bugs and orthopterans responded more sensitively to mowing than ground-dwelling spiders and ground beetles. Beside the general negative effect of mowing on the species richness and abundance of plant-dwelling arthropods, the shifts in the community weighted mean values of these assemblages suggested the importance of the body size, trophic behaviour and dispersal ability of species in the functional response of these assemblages to the different management regimes. Ground beetles and spiders were rather influenced by the differences in the moisture conditions and vegetation properties. Presumably, strong abiotic stressors such as drought can partly override management effects on ground-dwelling arthropods. The effect of uniform and simultaneous biomass removal on large areas, and the direct mortality caused by mowing was the most disadvantageous for plant-dwelling arthropods. Based on our results, traditional management practices should be prioritized in grassland conservation, as alternative management practices might be less effective in preserving grassland biodiversity.

The effect of management practices on bumblebee densities in hedgerow and grassland habitats

Large-scale declines in pollinator species are a concern at present. Such declines have been attributed to a range of factors that act in tandem, rather than in isolation. Some of the most pervasive factors affecting pollinator populations are habitat loss and degradation, which results in the loss of floral resources, nesting sites and landscape connectivity. Intensification of agriculture and urbanisation are two major causes of such habitat alterations. Hedgerows and grasslands are two vital habitats for pollinators in European landscapes. When managed appropriately, these habitats may provide abundant floral resources and nesting opportunities, as well as connectivity between habitats in a fragmented landscape. This study examined the effects that management practices of hedgerows and grasslands may have on bumblebee species, an important group of wild pollinators. Bumblebee abundance was recorded using transect walks in managed and unmanaged sites, including both hedgerows and grasslands. Greater densities of bumblebees were found in unmanaged grasslands in comparison to managed grasslands. Unmanaged hedgerows were also found to have a greater density of bumblebees than managed hedgerows. These results indicate that sites which are less intensively managed provide a more suitable habitat for bumblebees. Therefore, our study underlines the importance of (a) enforcing restrictions on hedge-cutting, and (b) reducing the management intensity of grasslands to provide adequate habitat for pollinators.

Land-Use Intensity Rather Than Plant Functional Identity Shapes Bacterial and Fungal Rhizosphere Communities.

The rhizosphere encompasses the soil surrounding the surface of plants’ fine roots. Accordingly, the microbiome present is influenced by both soil type and plant species. Furthermore, soil microbial communities respond to land-use intensity due to the effects on soil conditions and plant performance. However, there is limited knowledge about the impact of grassland management practices under field conditions on the composition of both bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere of different plant functional groups. In spring 2014 we planted four phytometer species, two forbs (Plantago lanceolata, Achillea millefolium) and two grasses (Dactylis glomerata, Arrhenatherum elatius) into 13 permanent experimental grassland plots, differing in management. After 6 months, rhizosphere and bulk soil associated with the phytometer plants were sampled, microbial genomic DNA was extracted and bacterial 16S and fungal ITS rDNA were sequenced using Illumina MiSeq. Our study revealed that the rhizosphere microbial community was more diverse than the bulk soil community. There were no differences in microbial community composition between the two plant functional groups, but a clear impact of root traits and edaphic conditions. Land-use intensity strongly affected plant productivity, neighboring plant richness and edaphic conditions, especially soil C/N ratio, which in turn had a strong influence on root traits and thereby explained to large extent microbial community composition. Rhizosphere microbes were mainly affected by abiotic factors, in particular by land-use intensity, while plant functional type had only subordinate effects. Our study provides novel insights into the assembly of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities in response to land-use intensity and plant functional groups in managed grassland ecosystems.

Why public policies face difficulties in protecting mountain pastoral landscapes: some lessons from the history of the volcanic landscape of the Chaîne des Puys / Limagne fault, France

ABSTRACTThe ‘Chaîne des Puys/Limagne fault’ is a unique landscape located in the French Massif Central, and famous for its original and perfect landforms. For more than 400 years, it has been subjected to various local, national, and European policies intended to protect its ‘natural’ and open aspect. Though these landscapes look natural, they are the result of interactions between local forest- and grassland-management practices, natural vegetation dynamics, and regulation by environmental policies. Some parts of the area have seen their biodiversity and landscape quality increase, but others have been abandoned or forested, resulting in closed landscapes and reduced biodiversity. Based on a review and a systemic analysis of the policies, this article aims to analyse the reasons for their lack of effectiveness, and propose some principles that can help future policies to be more effective in protecting mountain grazing landscapes with the support of local communities.

"Prospects of Grassland Carbon Sink in Inner Mongolia, China"

Grassland is one important terrestrial ecosystem to play the essential role in global carbon cycle. With vast grassland, Inner Mongolia is one important base of animal husbandry in China. Due to irrational and immoderate cultivation and overgrazing, grassland degradation has become a severe issue for grassland ecosystem protection, as well as sharp decreasing of grassland carbon pool. However, through effective and efficient management practices, grassland ecosystem can be improved, degraded grassland can be restored, grassland carbon pool can be reinstated, and economic values of grassland carbon sink can be promoted. In this study, first, the situation of grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia was analyzed and carbon sink potential of degraded grassland was evaluated. Second, in order to choose the most suitable grassland management practices for different vegetation types, three representative sites, Siziwangqi (desert steppe), Maodeng Pasture Farm (typical steppe) and Etuokeqianqi (degraded grassland restoration), were selected to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of various grassland management practices. Finally, some suggestions for grassland management and carbon pool enhancement were proposed, accordingly.

Factors influencing dairy farmers’ adoption of best management grazing practices

Understanding of farmers’ influences relating to the adoption of innovations is imperative for the Irish dairy sector to improve efficiencies and productivity. There is a particular need for a better appreciation of how farmers’ grassland management practices are shaped. The Spring Rotation Planner (SRP) is a management tool that divides the area of a farm into weekly portions and takes the estimation out of planning the first grazing rotation. It offers a cost-saving alternative on many dairy farms, which could contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the sector. Adoption rates of the SRP amongst farmers have been low despite extensive promotion of its advantages. This study therefore aims to use psychological constructs to analyse factors that affect the adoption of the SRP by commercial dairy farmers in Ireland. Dairy farmers (n = 256) were surveyed from different regions within the country. Principal Component Analysis was used to empirically confirm the hypothesised Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) beliefs. Cluster analysis was thereafter employed as classification criteria to cluster respondents into types. The TPB was subsequently applied to explain intention to implement the SRP. Two clusters of farmers were elicited; low and high adopters of the SRP. Low-Adopters of the SRP were characterised by their high sense of resource constraint. It is recommended that carefully planned communication, targeted at the different farmer types, can help encourage uptake of the SRP.

The effect of abandonment on vegetation composition and soil properties in Molinion meadows (SW Poland).

Intermittently wet meadows of the Molinion alliance, as with many other grasslands of high-nature value, have become increasingly exposed to abandonment due to their low economic value. The potential consequences of land abandonment are the decrease in species diversity and environmental alterations. The issue of land-use induced changes in plant species composition and soil physico-chemical parameters have been rarely studied in species-rich intermittently wet grasslands. In this study we attempt to i) to identify determinants of plant species composition patterns and ii) to investigate the effect of cessation of mowing on vegetation composition and soil properties. The study was conducted in an area of 36 ha covered with Molinion meadows, comprising of mown sites and sites that were left unmown for 10 years. In total, 120 and 80 vegetation plots were sampled from mown and unmown sites, respectively. In these plots we measured plant community composition and soil physico-chemical parameters. The results have shown that the two groups of variables (soil properties and management) differ considerably in their ability to explain variation in plant species data. Soil variables explained four-fold more variation in plant species composition than management did. The content of soil organic matter, moisture, total nitrogen and exchangeable forms of potassium, calcium and magnesium were significantly higher in mown than in unmown grassland systems. The results revealed that soil organic matter was the component of the soil most strongly affected by management, followed by moisture, magnesium, calcium and potassium in that order. Each of these soil parameters was negatively correlated with the abundances of woody plants and invasive species. We concluded that low-intensity, late time of mowing is suitable grassland management practice to ensure high plant species diversity and sustainability of the grassland ecological system while cessation of mowing not only lead to reduced plant species richness and diversity, but also to reduced nutrient levels in grassland soils.

Ley grassland under temperate climate had a legacy effect on soil organic matter quantity, biogeochemical signature and microbial activities

Temporary (ley) grassland introduced into cropping cycles has been advocated as being beneficial for the delivery of ecosystem services by agricultural soils. The management of these temporary grasslands has unknown effects on soil organic matter (SOM) concentrations and biogeochemical properties of the cropland soils following the grassland phase. Here, we investigated the legacy effect of differently managed temporary grasslands, i.e. change of soil properties lasting beyond three years of crop. We assessed soil organic carbon (SOC) quantity and SOM biogeochemical signature (composition of soil neutral carbohydrates and lignin), as well as microbial activities (potential C and N mineralization and denitrification). We used a long-term field experiment on Cambisol with temperate climate in western France, where temporary grassland management practices differed in terms of duration (3 or 6 years) and presence or absence of N fertilisation. Topsoil (10 cm) samples were collected after a 3-yr crop rotation (maize, wheat, barley).Our results showed that N fertilisation during the grassland phase was necessary to maintain soil C and N concentrations beyond three years of crop. Temporary grassland management may affect microbial activities as indicated by contrasting polysaccharide and lignin composition. It had however, no effect on potential CO2 and N2O emissions during laboratory incubations. The biogeochemical signature of SOM was close to continuous grassland only in treatments with 6 yrs of fertilized temporary grassland. We thus, conclude that the legacy effects of a grassland phase on SOC quantity and properties of SOM depend on its management.