Grazing Animals Research Articles

ДИСТАНЦИОННОЕ ЗОНДИРОВАНИЕ ПАСТБИЩ ДЛЯ ПРОГНОЗИРОВАНИЯ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ ОВЕЦ

This article discusses the prospects for the use and rapid development of modern satellite systems and observation technologies in pasture farming. The main possibilities of constructing a predictive model for planning the productivity of pasture herbage on the basis of multivariate analysis of remote sensing are presented. The obtained data are used to build a technological map of animal grazing. Currently, the data obtained as a result of satellite observation and associated technologies are increasingly used in tasks related to obtaining reliable objective information about the state of agricultural land and the possibility of their industrial use. To solve the set tasks, specialized information systems and models of various levels of predicting the productivity of the land used and the productivity of pasture animals are rapidly being developed and implemented. As objectively observable data on the current state of pastures in our studies, we used multispectral images of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 Earth remote sensing satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA). The data obtained made it possible to establish the relationship between the productivity of rangelands and the vegetation index obtained by the remote method and verified by the contact method during field trials. Studies of the chemical composition and nutritional value of forage grazing plants made it possible to assess the yield of nutrients and energy from 1 m2. According to the results of accounting for the live weight of the controlled animals, it was found that the live weight of sheep grazed on pasture No. 1 statistically significantly exceeded this indicator by 6.2% in analogues that were grazed on pasture No. 2. Based on the results obtained, recommendations were made to substantiate the periods of optimal use of pasture areas, based on the use of digital methods of remote monitoring.

Risk Assessment of Contaminants in Sewage Sludge Applied on Norwegian Soils

Risk Assessment of Contaminants in Sewage Sludge Applied on Norwegian Soils

Mixtures Created for Artificial Meadow-Pasture Areas According to the Animal Type to Graze and the Effect of Organic Fertilization on Botanical Composition

This research was carried out in Selçuk University Abdülkadir Akçin application area. The aim of the study is to determine the effects of organic fertilization on botanical composition in plant mixtures created for artificial meadow-pasture areas created according to animal grazing habits. 3 different mixes for meadow and pasture; Ovine-poultry ( Lolium perenne, Festuca rubra, Poa pratensis, Trifolium repens ), cattle-1 ( Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata, Bromus inermis, Trifolium pratense, Medicago falcata ), cattle-2 ( Festuca arundinecea, Dactylis glomerata, Astragalus cicer, Trifolium pratense, Medicago falcata ) were prepared and 6 different fertilizers (cow-sheep-chicken-worm-chemical-without fertilizer) were applied for these mixtures. The botanical compositions of the mixtures were determined by frame method. Results indicated that the botanical composition of grasses was found the highest in the mixes prepared for ovine-poultry and sheep manure, while the ratio of legume plants was found the highest in the mixture prepared for cattle-2 and in the parcels where chicken manure was applied.

Exploring options for a PES-like scheme to conserve red panda habitat and livelihood improvement in western Nepal

Mountain ecosystems in western Nepal provide critical habitats for the endangered red panda. These habitats also need to satisfy the daily livelihood requirements of local communities. High levels of resource dependence and unsustainable resource use are creating pressure on the provision of ecosystem services in the region. Understanding the views of local villagers about their willingness to constrain the use of forest resources is the first step towards helping them realise sustainable environmental management. We conducted a survey among villagers to determine their willingness to participate in a potential PES-like scheme to help the conservation of the red panda habitat through reduced use of forest resources. Choice experiment results indicate that a high proportion of respondents (87%) were willing to accept payments in return for reducing the use of the high pastures for animal grazing while a reduction in the harvest of medicinal plants would require more compensation. People living inside a protected area were willing to accept a lower compensation than those outside. Respondents indicated that they would prefer communal over personal compensation payments. The findings could support design and implementation of a PES-like scheme that concurrently manages the nexus between effective conservation, sustainable resource utilisation and livelihoods improvement.

Use of internal markers to estimate feed intake and selection of forage in sheep fed grass and legume hay

The accurate prediction of feed intake is the most important information required to assess the feed conversion efficiency of individual grazing animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of three approaches using the combined performance of four internal markers: indigestible dry matter (iDM); indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF); titanium (Ti); and the isotopic signature of carbon (δ13C). These markers were used to predict the individual intakes of sheep that were fed grass and forage legumes. Twenty-one Santa Inês sheep were randomly divided according to three diets: 100% Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana grass (CTL diet); 25% inclusion (as fed basis) of Macrotyloma axillare legume (MAC diet); and 50% inclusion (as fed basis) of Stizolobium aterrimum legume (MUC diet). After the 10-day diet adaptation period, the animals were transferred to individual metabolic cages, where they were kept for seven days with daily measurements and collection of feed offerings, feed leftovers, and feces samples. The iDM and iNDF fractions of the samples were determined after 240 h of in situ incubation. The natural Ti concentration was determined by benchtop energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). The abundance of 13C was determined by mass spectrometry. The accuracy of the predictions of digestibility and intake was increased when the fecal recovery rate of the internal markers (P < 0.05) was corrected. The proportion of grass and legumes in the feces was accurately predicted by the 13C method. The combined use of iNDF and 13C markers could be an alternative for predicting individual digestibility and intake of grasses and legumes by animals that are fed mixed diets.

Eating While the Eating’s Good: How Fire Creates a Magnet for Grazing Animals

Tallgrass prairie is disappearing because farming and development have replaced it. This ecosystem is home to a unique group of plants, animals, and microbial life. The processes of fire, grazing by animals, and drought are important to the tallgrass prairie. They can influence each other and prairie life. For example, pyric-herbivory is the interaction of fire and grazing on the landscape. Burned areas attract herbivores (plant eaters) like a magnet. After fires, plant growth is nutritious and easy to find. Herbivores prefer grazing recently burned areas, creating patches of different habitats that support many other wildlife species, too. You can see pyric-herbivory in action at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, where fire, cattle, and bison are a part of the preserve’s management team! Healthy tallgrass prairie needs both fire and grazing.

In vitro Fermentation Profile and Methane Production of Kikuyu Grass Harvested at Different Sward Heights

Highly digestible forages are associated with anin vitrolow-methane (CH4) rumen fermentation profile and thus the possibility of reducing CH4emissions from forage-based systems. We aimed to assess thein vitroruminal fermentation profile, including CH4production, of the top stratum of Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus - Hochst. ex Chiov) harvested at different sward heights (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 cm). Herbage samples (incubating substrate) were analyzed for their chemical composition,in vitroorganic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and morphological components.In vitroincubations were performed under a randomized complete block design with four independent runs of each treatment. Gas production (GP),in vitrodry matter digestibility (IVDMD), CH4production, total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, and their acetate, propionate, and butyrate proportions were measured following 24 and 48 h of incubation. Herbage samples had similar contents of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and crude protein for all treatments. However, a higher acid detergent fiber (ADF) content in taller sward heights than in smaller sward heights and a tendency for metabolizable energy (ME) and IVOMD to decrease as sward height increased were found. Similarly, the stem + sheath mass tended to increase with increasing sward height. Amongst the nutrients, ME (r= −0.65) and IVDMD (r= −0.64) were negatively correlated with sward height (p&amp;lt; 0.001) and ADF was positively correlated with sward height (r= 0.73,p&amp;lt; 0.001). Both the GP and IVDMD were negatively related to the sward height at both incubation times. Sward heights of Kikuyu grass below 30 cm display anin vitroprofile of VFAs high in propionate and low in acetate, with a trend toward lower methane production of CH4per unit of IVDMD. These findings are important to aid decision-making on the optimal sward height of Kikuyu grass and manage animal grazing with the opportunity to reduce CH4production.

Dynamics of Land Management and Implications on Pastoral Livelihoods in Northern Tanzania.

Pastoralism as a mode of production has had an important bearing on the livelihoods of many people in arid and semiarid environments. In the recent decades' policies for land management in pastoral communities have changed from customary to statutory policies. This study analysed the dynamics of land management and their influence on the pastoral livelihood system at Kimana and Njoro villages in Kiteto district, northern Tanzania. Data for the study were collected from two focus groups, six key informants at the district level, and 296 households (equivalent to 10.1%) using household questionnaires, Findings show that whereas land is managed under customary and statutory laws, the emphasis is more on statutory laws. Statutory laws foster individualization of land ownership to some activities such as crop production, whereas communal lands are left for animal grazing only. Under statutory laws, individual land ownership is likely to be influenced by crop production, male-headed households, climate change, and resource use conflicts. However, statutory laws cannot guarantee sustainable resource management as the natural resources management institutions cannot dictate activities done in individual lands, as opposed to traditional systems. There is a need to harmonize traditional and modern forms of land management for increasing productivity and enhancing sustainable natural resources management.

A holistic view of Holistic Management: What do farm-scale, carbon, and social studies tell us?

Holistic Management (HM) is claimed to increase production of plants and animals while also increasing soil organic carbon under all conditions in all habitats. Peer-review literature does not support these claims, but several studies report social benefits. Proponents of HM have criticized the small-scale of some studies (less than 2 ha), stating that production and climate benefits only emerge on large working farms (2–66 ha or larger, our size definitions). Here we summarize the conclusions from 22 peer-reviewed studies, focusing on farm-scale studies, and the few social and soil carbon studies from across the globe. Conclusions were synthesized into a diagram showing how grazing pattern (or density), stocking rate and animal type influence biology, climate resilience, and agricultural economics, as well as how HM’s management component affects society. This synthesis confirms that HM’s intensive grazing approach either has no effect or reduces production, as evidenced by farm-scale studies in United States of America, Argentina and South Africa, thus negating the claim by HM proponents that there is a difference between ‘the science and the practice’. Seven peer-reviewed studies show that the potential for increased carbon sequestration with changed grazing management is substantially less (0.13–0.32) than the 2.5–9 t C ha-1 yr-1 estimated by non-peer-review HM literature. Five studies show that HM provides a social support framework for land users. The social cohesion, learning and networking so prevalent on HM farms could be adopted by any farming community without accepting the unfounded HM rhetoric, and governments could allocate funds to train extension agents accordingly. A future focus on collaborative adaptive farm management and other innovations will be more helpful than any further debate about grazing density.

Survival of forest strips in ash and slag dump territory of Chita combined heat and power plant

This article is a continuation of research on creation of forest protective strips on the territory of sanitary protection zone with intensive influence of ash and slag dump of the Chita CHPP-1 (TGC-14). Earlier (2017-2019), plantings were made focused on reducing atmospheric pollution, improving soil properties, regulating surface runoff that prevents erosion, fixing ground cover, reducing wind speed and retaining small solid particles. The aim of the research was to analyze survival rate and health of woody and shrubby plant species in protective forest strips; to obtain linear indicators of plant growth and development in experimental plots. In the course of the research, it was found that the overall survival of plants in the experimental plots differed by year. Survival rate of woody and shrubby plant species also differed. Larix gmelinii, Betula pendula, Hippophae rhamnoides, Crataegus sanguinea, Caragana spinosa and Elaeagnus commutata had the highest survival rate in the experiment. The survival of shrubs was generally better than that of trees. Among shrub species, Caragana spinosa (92 and 81 %) and Elaeagnus commutata (95 and 86 %) were characterized by good survival in plantings in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Rosa acicularis (20 %), Spiraea media and Sorbaria sorbifolia (28 %) showed low survival in 2019. The plant survival varies significantly depending on the planting season, types of seedlings and planting technology. The use of planting material (wildfowl) with a large earthen lump increases plant survival in forest protection strips. Unfavorable factors that have a negative impact on the transplanted plants are man-made landscapes, harmful atmospheric impurities from the ash and slag dump. Moreover, competitive relations with herbaceous plants, intensive grazing of animals, insect and disease damage have an additional impact. For healthy growth of plants, it is necessary to perform care for plantings, and organizational measures (fencing of experimental plots with signal tapes). It is important to continue observations and repeat plantings to clarify the adaptive ability of plant species grown in protective plantings, improve planting technology.

282 Nutritional Monitoring of Prenatally Stressed and Translocated Brahman Heifers

Abstract One drought mitigation strategy is transporting livestock to non-drought locations. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of prenatal stress and translocation on growing Bos indicus heifers. Twelve heifers born in spring 2019 at Overton, TX (1245 mm annual precipitation) were transported ~700 km to Sonora, TX (610 mm annual precipitation) in April 2020. Six heifers (283±10 kg) were born to dams subjected to transportation stress during mid-gestation (PNS) and 6 (279±17 kg) were born to non-stressed dams (CON). Heifers grazed a series of 24-ha native range pastures (aboveground forage biomass; 1508±390 kg/ha) and were sampled (non-shrunk BW/BCS score, feces) at 2-wk intervals from May through September. Fecal samples were collected from the ground or the rectum of each animal and stored at -20o C until processed for near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and prediction of diet crude protein (CP) and digestible organic matter (DOM). Inputs to a grazing animal nutrition model for prediction of BW included diet CP and DOM, age, and weather. Differences between groups for BW and nutritional parameters were determined by analysis of variance or paired t-test. Both groups gained BW (22±4 kg) throughout the study, there were no differences (P &amp;gt; 0.1) due to treatment. Diet CP and DOM were affected by date (P &amp;lt; 0.01) as diet quality declined from spring to fall. Percent diet CP was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in PNS than CON, especially during July and August (6.94±0.10 vs 6.23±0.17, respectively). Corresponding values for diet DOM were (59.53±0.55 vs 59.14±0.43, respectively; P = 0.09). Observed vs model-predicted weight was different (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for both groups when using CP-based outputs, but not when using metabolizable protein-based outputs (P &amp;gt; 0.1). In summary, PNS heifers selected a diet of greater CP than CON, and tended to select a diet greater in DOM.

184 Statistical Analysis of Grazing Research

Abstract Research in the area of pastures, forages, and grazing livestock has a storied history within the realm of statistical analysis. Unlike traditional experiments in ruminant nutrition, in which an animal is fed individually and data are collected to assess the applied treatment, research on the grazing animal presents its own unique set of challenges. The collection of data on multiple scales (e.g., animal, pasture, landscape, time) brings into question the appropriate assignment of the experimental unit, and variance and covariance estimates must account for both the spatial and temporal effects of the environment. Oftentimes, the designs, assumptions, and rules-of-thumb taught to us in graduate school do not meet muster to adequately address the intricacies of this situation. This presentation will seek to address these complications and present statistically-sound solutions to obtain the maximum information from experimental data. First, a historical examination will be offered of how grazing experiments were originally handled. Next, conjecture will be offered as to why these methods may not remain valid and how advances in computing power and statistical theory allow us to obtain more information from the experiment. Finally, solutions to common scenarios will be offered whereby a more adequate or complete description of the experiment may be obtained.

183 Designing Research for Beef Cattle Production in Extensive Environments

Abstract Designing research for beef cattle production in rangeland environments is an ongoing challenge for researchers worldwide. Specifically, creating study designs that mirror actual production environments yet have enough observations for statistical inference is a challenge that often hinders researchers in efforts to publish their observations. Numerous journals will accept “case study” or observational results that lack valid statistical inference. However, these journals are limited in number and often lack impact. Approaches are available to gain statistical inference by creating multiple observations within a common group of animals. Approaches to increasing statistical observations will be discussed in this presentation. Modeling animal behavior and performance on extensive rangeland landscapes is commonly practiced in wildlife ecology and, more recently, has been published in Animal Science journals. Additionally, new technology has made it possible to apply treatments (e.g., supplementation studies) to individual animals on extensive environments where large, diverse herds/flocks of cattle/sheep are managed as a single group. Use of individual animal identification (EID) and feed intake technology has opened a wide range of research possibilities for beef cattle production systems research in rangeland environments. Likewise, global positioning system (GPS) collars and activity monitors have created the opportunity to evaluate animal grazing behavior in remote and extensive landscapes. The use of multiple regression models to evaluate resource use in extensive environments will, in turn, help managers optimize beef cattle production and the sustainable use of forage/rangeland resources. Embracing new technologies such as GPS, activity monitors, EID tags, and feed intake monitors combined with multiple regression modeling tools will aid in designing and publishing beef cattle production research in extensive rangeland environments.

Fodder status in drought year and the practice of free range grazing in Bundelkhand region of India

Free range grazing of animals, is a practice followed since many years by farmers of Bundelkhand region of India which often leads to conflict in the community. Inadequacy of fodder is the main reason for this. Scientific analysis of fodder scenario in the region which comprises 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh using secondary data of crops, livestock and land use pattern was carried out so that districts with severe shortage of fodder get priority in livestock development projects. Besides, primary data was collected from 43 farmers to know the reasons for practicing it. Results indicated that 3 districts Tikamgarh, Jhansi and Jalaun belonged to deficient and 4 districts-Mahoba, Hamirpur, Banda and Chitrakoot were in severely deficient dry matter categories. Region faces dry matter shortage of nearly 42%. In all the districts, contribution of crop residue to total dry matter was more. However contribution of greens and concentrate did not vary much and remained almost same across districts. Analysis of primary data revealed that 67.44% of farmers in the region follow the practice of free range grazing. Majority (62.79%) expressed shortage of fodder and water for livestock in summer as the main reason to follow this practice. Establishing cattle shelters during summer in villages was suggested by 67.44% of farmers to restrain from following this practice. Convergence of efforts of different agencies and farmers is required to promote agrihorti- silvipastoral system for sustainable fodder availability in the region.

Bovine Trypanosomiasis Epidemiology and Tsetse Fly Density in Jimma Arjo District, East Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

BackgroundBovine trypanosomosis remains a vital livestock disease and constraint which is intimidating livestock health and production, regardless of ongoing tsetse and trypanosomosis control struggles in Jimma Arjo district, East Wollega zone, Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out with the objective of determining prevalence of cattle trypanosomiasis and apparent tsetse fly density in six randomly selected peasant associations of Jimma Arjo District from April 2018 to January 2019.ResultsFrom overall 819 arbitrarily selected cattle (n= 36; 4.39%), infection rate was recorded. Selected animals were invariably infested with different trypanosome species among which Tryapanosoma congolense (80.55%) was the most common, followed by T. vivax (11.11%), T. brucei (5.55%) respectively. Co-infection of T. vivax and T. congolense accounted for 2.77% of total infection rate. This finding indicates a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) among good, medium, and poor body condition animals with respect to Tryapanosomosis infection rate. Poor body condition animals were highly infected with trypanosome parasite as compared to medium and good body condition score animals. This study shows statistically significant association was obtained between mean packed cell volume (PCV) and trypanosomiasis infection rate (P<0.05). The lower mean PCV value (21.14%) were highly affected as compared with high mean PCV value animals (25.26%). The result of entomological survey, by using mono pyramidal traps deployed near animal grazing field and rivers of selected peasant association (PA), showed presence of four Glossina species namely Glossina morsitans, G. pallidipes, G. tachinoides, and G. fuscipes with high fly density per trap in Meta PA. Higher catches of G. fuscipes were registered as compared to other vectors.ConclusionGenerally, this study indicated the disease is still a main problem for livestock health and production in the study area and it necessitates disease and tsetse fly control.

Grazing and nitrogen addition restructure the spatial heterogeneity of soil microbial community structure and enzymatic activities

Abstract In grassland ecosystems, large herbivorous animal grazing activity and increasing nitrogen deposition strongly alter microbial community structure and function. Understanding the effects of grazing and nitrogen addition on the spatial heterogeneity in soil microbial community structure, enzymatic activities and the underlying mechanisms are crucial for making better predictions of soil organic matter dynamics and nutrient cycling. We examined the spatial heterogeneity of soil microbial community structure and enzymatic activity associated with changes in soil microclimate, soil characteristics, plant biomass and soil nutrient responses to grazing and nitrogen addition using a manipulative experiment with control (CK), grazing (G), nitrogen addition (N) and grazing plus nitrogen addition (NG) treatments in a Leymus chinensis meadow steppe, in north‐eastern China. The results demonstrated that soil microbial community structure and enzymatic activities showed a high level of spatial dependence [C/(C + C0) ≥ 0.9] in the CK plot. G, N and NG treatments not only reduced the spatial variability of soil microbial community structure and enzymatic activities but also reshaped the spatial links between enzyme activities and microbial community structure. Litter biomass, soil temperature and soil nutrients (soil dissolved inorganic nitrogen or soil dissolved organic carbon) explained 21%–27% of the spatial variability of soil microbial community structure in the CK treatment and pH was the strongest driver for the spatial variability of soil enzymatic activities. Meanwhile, the homogenization in soil water content induced by the N addition treatment was a determinant of the reduction in spatial heterogeneity of the microbial community structure. The combination of soil physico‐chemical properties (bulk density, soil pH and soil dissolved inorganic nitrogen), soil temperature and root biomass explained 32%–43% of the spatial variability of the microbial community structure in the G treatment, and N and G treatments had additive effects on the spatial heterogeneity of total PLFAs by homogenizing root biomass. Plant biomass and microbial community structure were the major drivers for the spatial heterogeneity of enzymatic activities under G, N and NG. In NG, the change in spatial variability of enzymatic activities was dominated by N addition. Regardless of grazing, N addition facilitated the spatial correlation between microbial community structure and enzyme activities. Overall, our results revealed the drivers of soil microbial community structure and enzymatic activities spatial pattern shift due to grazing and N addition, highlighting the role that spatial variability in soil microbial community structure and enzymatic activities has on the L. chinensis meadow steppe. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Pasture Quality Based on NDVI Time-Series in Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem

The evolution of dryland pasture quality is closely related to the seasonal and inter-annual variability characteristic of the Mediterranean climate. This variability introduces great unpredictability in the dynamic management of animal grazing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of two complementary tools (satellite images, Sentinel-2 and proximal optical sensor, OptRx) for the calculation of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), to monitor in a timely manner indicators of pasture quality (moisture content, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber). In two consecutive years (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) these tools were evaluated in six fields representative of dryland pastures in the Alentejo region, in Portugal. The results show a significant correlation between pasture quality degradation index (PQDI) and NDVI measured by remote sensing (R2 = 0.82) and measured by proximal optical sensor (R2 = 0.83). These technological tools can potentially make an important contribution to decision making and to the management of livestock production. The complementarity of these two approaches makes it possible to overcome the limitations of satellite images that result (i) from the interference of clouds (which occurs frequently throughout the pasture vegetative cycle) and (ii) from the interference of tree canopy, an important layer of the Montado ecosystem. This work opens perspectives to explore new solutions in the field of Precision Agriculture technologies based on spectral reflectance to respond to the challenges of economic and environmental sustainability of extensive livestock production systems.

A NEW SPECIES OF CRYPTANTHA RESTRICTED TO DUNES IN NORTHWESTERN BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

Cryptantha arenophila Rebman & M.G.Simpson (Boraginaceae) is described as new. This species is restricted to sandy dunes near San Quintín, Baja California, Mexico and adjacent coastal regions. It is similar to the more common Cryptantha patula Greene in stem vestiture, calyx morphology, and inflorescence morphology. Cryptantha arenophila differs from that species in having significantly larger corolla limbs and narrowly oblong to narrowly elliptic leaves with obtuse-rounded leaf apices, as opposed to linear to narrowly lanceolate leaves with acute to obtuse leaf apices in C. patula. In addition, nutlets of C. arenophila tend to have more numerous and shorter tubercles, while those of C. patula have tubercles that are less dense and larger, although variation in this species needs further investigation. The dune habitats where the type locality of C. arenophila occurs are currently under severe impacts from animal grazing and off-road traffic, necessitating the conservation of these regions.

Effects of animal grazing on vegetation biomass and soil moisture on a typical steppe in Inner Mongolia, China

AbstractGrasslands play a very important role in the water and carbon cycle of arid and semi‐arid areas, where they are the main type of steppe globally. With this said, research into grassland ecological processes mostly consists of single‐factor controlled experiments such as precipitation, temperature or grazing, and few studies have investigated the effects of synergistic interactions between multiple factors on grassland hydrological, soil and vegetation processes. In this study, we set up a prohibited grazing area in a typical area of the Xilingole Steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. Vegetation (species richness (SR), above‐ground biomass (AGB), below‐ground biomass (BGB), etc.), precipitation and the soil moisture of 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 30 cm depths were observed continuously from 2015 to 2018. The results indicate that the species number in areas where grazing is prohibited is higher than where it is grazed, and the number and species of dominant species changes with grazing prohibition time. The AGB and BGB of prohibited areas is higher than grazed areas, and the variance rate of AGB increased rapidly (20% and 45%) at the first 2 years and then stabilized (52% and 55%), but BGB's variance rate increased slowly from 12% to 20%. The soil moisture content in the study area is higher in the surface layer than in the deeper layers. In the grazing prohibition zone, the above ground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB) were both significantly correlated with volumetric water content (VWC) at the 0.01 level. In grazing areas, there was no significant correlation between AGB and soil moisture, and the coefficient of determination between BGB and VWC was 0.6127 (p &lt; 0.01). SR did not have a significant relationship with soil moisture but indirectly response to it through BGB, especially in prohibited site. These results are important for understanding water cycle processes, grazing management and address food security issues across steppe in arid and semi‐arid regions.

Disentangling Human–Plant–Animal Dynamics at the Microscale: Geo-Ethnoarchaeological Case Studies from North Africa and the Near East

Livestock dung is a suitable material for delineating the complexity of interactions between people, plants and animals as it contains critical information on environmental and ecological issues as well as socio-economic dynamics and cultural lifeways. However, animal faecal remains and other coprogenic materials are commonly overlooked in most archaeological research programs due, in part, to methodological challenges in its recovery and identification. This paper evaluates the contribution of integrated geoarchaeological approaches, together with comparative reference ethnoarchaeological records, to interdisciplinary microscopic analyses on the identification of animal dung and its archaeological significance within farming built environments. It brings together records from a selection of recent geo-ethnoarchaeological case studies across the Near East, one of the heartlands of plant and animal domestication, and from northern Africa, an understudied key area with critical implications for neighbouring regions such as the Sahara. This article examines the state-of-the-art of dung material identifications within agricultural and pastoral settlements and their potential for tracing ecological diversity, animal management strategies, penning, grazing and foddering, seasonality, and dung use. This review highlights the value of modern reference frameworks of livestock dung as a primary source of information for disentangling human–plant–animal dynamics through time and space.