Meadow Land Research Articles

ECOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF FLORA OF MEADOWS OF THE ROMENSKO-POLTAVSKY GEOBOTANICAL DISTRICT

The article paper deals with the ecological structure of the meadows flora of the Romensko-Poltavsky geobotanical district. The identified species were analysed according to 12 ecological factors, which belong to two groups – edaphic and climatic. In the first group, the plants of meadow lands were studied according to 7 ecological factors, among which sub-mesophytes (174 species or 28,9%) and mesophytes (149 species or 24,8%) prevail in relation to soil water regime. In relation to the soil moisture variability, the dominance of two ecogroups was revealed, they are hemi-hydrocontrastophiles (227 species or 37,8%) and hemi-hydrocontrastophobes (226 species or 37,6%). In terms of soil acidity, sub-acidophytes (275 species or 45,8%) and neutrophiles(244 species or 40,6%) were identified. In relation to the soil salinity of the soil in the studied meadow, phytocoenoses semi-eutrophes (288 species or 48%) are leading. In terms of carbonate content in the soil, hemi-carbonatophobes (235 species or 39,1%) and acarbonatophiles(203 species or 37,8%) prevailed. Hemi-nitrophiles (297 species or 49,4%) prevail in terms of nitrogen content in the soil, and sub-aerophiles (305 species or 50,7%) in terms of soil aeration. The meadow plants of the Romensko-Poltavsky geobotanical district were studied according to5 ecological factors of the climatic group, among which the most prominent were sub-mesotherms (309 species or 51,4%) and sub-microtherms (240 species or 39,9%) in relation to the thermal regime. In terms of climate humidity, sub-aridophytes dominate (233 species or 38,8%). In terms of climate continentality, hemi-continental (258 species or 42,9%) and hemi-oceanic (207 species or 34,4%) are dominant. Sub-cryophytes are the most numerous in relation to the cryo-regime(302 species or 50,2%). In relation to light conditions, sub-heliophytes are represented by the largest number of species (493 species or 82%).

A Predictive Model for Cropland Transformation at the Regional Level: A Case Study of the Belgorod Oblast, European Russia

The problem of choosing the type of land use is now more relevant than ever. Against the backdrop of the growth of urbanized territories, the challenge is to preserve cropland, maintain the quality of soil resources, and find a balance between competing land uses. Forecasting and modeling changes in the area of cropland is a sought-after area of research against the backdrop of a growing shortage of fertile land and a threat to food security. In this study, on the example of one of the agriculturally most developed administrative regions of Russia (Belgorod Oblast), an approach to statistical modeling of agricultural land areas over the past 30 years is shown. Two approaches were used: statistical modeling of the dynamics of the total area of the study region’s cropland depending on the balance of other types of land and spatial interaction modeling of cropland in a key area. For the study region, administrative districts with positive and negative cropland dynamics were identified; the main types of land were revealed, due to which cropland is withdrawn, and a regression balance model was developed. It was revealed that the implementation of the planned regional programs to expand the development and conservation of meadow lands will reduce cropland by 3.07% or 83.2 thousand ha. On the example of one of the administrative districts with high rates of urbanization, the probability of cropland transformation into other types of land was estimated and a predictive spatial model of land use was developed. According to the forecast, about 6.2 thousand ha of cropland will turn into residential development land, and 2/3 of their area will be concentrated within 6 km from the borders of the regional capital city (Belgorod). The presented approach to forecasting the area of cropland and the threats of its reduction due to the need to replace other types of land is relevant for all agricultural regions and countries with developing urbanization processes.

Creation, management and devaluation – examining the workings of the seventeenth-century meadow economy in southern Sweden

ABSTRACT Meadow land use has been the object of very limited historical research in Sweden, as most studies have focused on ecological or functional aspects. Research on the economy of meadows is rare. This paper addresses this issue by studying the investment in, and management of, meadows in seventeenth-century Sweden considering landesque capital, a concept referring to long-term investments in land through labour. We also examine the local economic institutions developed to handle this type of capital. By analysing seventeenth-century century court records from the districts of Östra, Redväg and Kind, a more complete picture emerges of the processes and contexts in which meadows were created, managed and devalued / revalued over time. Meadow capital was constantly under threat of degeneration due to biophysical processes, and this paper explores the different strategies used to handle this problem. Outlying meadows were often more flexible in terms of ownership and were often used by others when abandoned, either by agreement or surreptitiously, which frequently led to future ownership conflicts. The comparatively limited number of cases relating to meadows nonetheless emphasises the fairly low transaction costs incurred by institutions related to meadow land use at this time. It was often the outlying meadows that appeared in court proceedings, most likely related to these meadows not being contiguous to the rest of the land of the person using them as well as these meadows having a more dynamic owner/usership history compared to infield meadows.

Comparative Study Regarding Yield and Economic Effect of Agricultural Activities Carried Out in Meadow and Hill Conditions, in the Branistea Area, Galaţi County

The current study carries out a technical-economic analysis of the agricultural activity that takes place in conditions of meadow lands compared to the agricultural activity that takes place in conditions of hilly lands, aspects that largely characterize the agriculture of Galaţi County. The paper highlights the technical and economic aspects that can characterize the two distinct zonal situations of agricultural production. The obtained data specify which are the most appropriate crop conditions and agricultural crops and measure these aspects in monetary units.

Monitoring studies of habitats of rare species and tree-dwelling insects in the Emerald Network sites

The pine stands of the Vyshcha Dubechnia State Forestry Enterprise in the Emerald Network sites Kyivske Reservoir UA0000094, Kyivske Podesennia UA0000233, Mizhrichynsky Regional Landscape Park UA0000047 are an important reserve that includes species and habitats of insects that are subject to protection. Most of the existing studies in this area were designed to identify and describe individual habitats, while xylophagous insects were not considered. The purpose of the research was to identify rare and endangered species of tree-dwelling insects in unique natural complexes. The research methods included reconnaissance surveys to determine the species composition of insects and their density. The surveys were conducted in 2020-2022, covering 33 plots with a total area of 50.5 hectares. The monitoring was performed through regular surveys of the territories, during which rare species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine and the Berne Convention resolution were identified. A desktop analysis of forestry materials was conducted. Rare species of insects subject to protection are encountered, but outside the areas where monitoring observations were conducted. These are mainly water, marsh, meadow lands, etc. Accounting for stem pests such as Scolytinae (small pine engraver Tomicus minor and pine shoot beetle Tomicus piniperda), Buprestidae (steelblue jewel beetle Phaenops cyanea) and Cerambycidae (pine sawyer Monochamus galloprovincialis and timberman beetle Acanthocinus aedilis). The identified populations of xylophagous insects are described as low to medium density, occurring only on very weakened trees, and species such as Chrysobothris affinis, Cerambyx scopolii, and Scolytus ratzeburgi are rare. The results of the study will serve as an informational base for the development of regional biodiversity conservation programs and the implementation of mechanisms for the sustainable use of forest resources

Away but connected: from the mountains of Babia to the plains of Cáceres. A study of Spanish transhumance at the turn of the nineteenth to the twentieth centuries

AbstractOne of the most important systems of sheep transhumance since the Middle Ages in Spain occurred between the mountains of northern Leon and the Extremadura Meadow lands – a 500-kilometre journey on foot. We analyse here an interesting collection of thirty letters, written at the turn of the nineteenth to the twentieth century, and sent by the shepherds responsible for the flock from the wintering land to the owner of the animals. The only connection with the owner for seven long months but also with their villages and families, were these letters.

Scientific approaches to the use of self-seeded forests on agricultural lands of private property in territorial communities

Based on the given data on the level of forest cover in the regions of Ukraine, it was found that forests grow unevenly and, accordingly, this indicator varies from 3.7% in Zaporizhzhia to 51.4% in Zakarpattia Oblasts. It is substantiated that this problem can be overcome through the legal protection of self-seeded forests on privately owned agricultural lands. It was found that most of the problems, shortcomings and gaps in the legislative, economic and political direction related to the use of these lands are settled by the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Preservation of Forests” No. 2321-IX dated June 20, 2022. The concept of self-forested land has been clarified and it has been established that a plot of land is considered to be self-forested, provided that information about the belonging of all its lands to self-forested land is entered in the State Land Cadastre. Studies conducted on the further fate of self-seeded forests within the territories of territorial communities indicate that the preservation of self-forested lands on agricultural lands and natural meadow lands is not always expedient and economically justified in terms of territorial communities in different regions of Ukraine due to their inherent specificities. The facts of the presence of self-forested land plots on the territory of the investigated territorial communities have been established. Accordingly, scientific approaches to their solution are proposed. In particular, it is suggested that with a significant dominance of forest lands in the structure of the community’s land fund, namely, in the case of more than 50% forest cover and the predominance of forest land areas in more than two times over agricultural lands, self-afforestation of agricultural lands on the territory of the community should not be allowed.

The emigration of peoples from the area of Western Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Balkans civil conflict and implications for the Avifauna (Case study Pašića polje at Bosansko Grahovo)

We compare the avifauna between two peeriods, before and after Balkans civil conflict in a region of Western Bosnia, the municipality of Bosansko Grahovo. The present study investigated bird-abundance in 3 habitats (lokalites) of the area Pašića polje: 1) Settlements/village Luka, 2) Pastures, 3) Meadow and Agricultural land. Thirty years of data on bird numbers in breading season (from 20th May until end of June) were analysed. By doing this we were able to capture the overall changes that happened at the landscape level and understand them in terms of ecological processes taking place at the habitat scale. Forty-six bird species were observed. We detected more species and more individuals in the period between 2004 and 2018. Our study demonstrated that abundance of the bird sgnificantly different before and after the Balkans civil conflict. Abundance of 35 species was different in the two study periods and during the first period the mean abundance was mostly lower than in the second one. Two species disappeared from the investigated localities, E. citrinella and A. campestris, while several species expanded their range or nesting site. The big decline in the Pašića polje region of some species such as the O. oenanthe, the M. alba, on the pastures, and the P. domesticus and P. pica in the settlements, can be explained by outmigration and changes in land use patterns, or non-use. Rural emigration has been complete (all population) during Balkans civil conflict and a smaller part of the population returned only after 3-5 years. Most of the changes observed support the hypothesis that the differences observed in the bird community are caused by the changes that occurred in the vegetation as a result of agricultural and grazing abandonment.

Investigating the carbon emission aspects of agricultural land utilization in Turkey.

As a pathway to environmental sustainability, several approaches to sustainable agriculture practices have consistently been echoed through international government agencies such as the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Development Programme. Given this perspective, this study examines the carbon emission effects of the categories of agricultural land utilization (this includes arable land, permanent cropland, meadows land, and forest land) for Turkey over the period 1988-2019. The study further explores the dimension of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emission from agricultural land use for sown crops, fruits and beverages, vineyards, and olives, in addition to the effect of economic expansion. By employing the autoregressive distributed lag empirical approach, the study finds that the use of agricultural land for arable farming and permanent plantation helps to reduce carbon emissions, especially in the long-run, while the impact of meadows is also desirable only in the short-run. Consequently, the study further shows that the use of farmland for fruits and beverages, and vineyard mitigates carbon emission, especially in the long-run. Whereas the use of farmland for olives plantation and fallow exhibits a significant contribution of carbon emission, especially in the short-run with elasticities of 0.91 and 1.48 respectively. Moreover, economic expansion in Turkey causes significant harm to environmental quality in the long-run thereby truncating its short-run desirable environmental effect. In order to sustain the largely efficient agricultural practice in Turkey, the study offers two policy dimensions to the government and the country's stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:988-996. © 2021 SETAC.

Reed Canary Grass for Energy in Sweden: Yields, Land-Use Patterns, and Climatic Profile

Research Highlights: (1) Reed canary grass (RCG) is analysed in Sweden compared to willow and poplar for 2001–2020. (2) Each crop presents a different land-use and climatic profile. (3) Average yield records of RCG are similar to willow and poplar. (4) There are divergences between trial-based and commercial yields. (5) Existing land-use change patterns suggest meadow > RCG and RCG > cereal. (6) RCG land area is very sensitive to policy incentives. Background and objectives: RCG is an alternative crop for biomass-to-energy due to high yield and frost tolerance. We assess the cultivation in Sweden by using an extensive compilation of data, with emphasis on the extent of the cultivation, climatic profile, land-use patterns, and productivity. Material and methods: RCG plantations are analysed for 2001–2020. A geostatistical analysis is performed to characterize where it is cultivated and the land uses associated. Climatic, productivity, and yield profiles are compared to willow and poplar plantations from experiments and from commercial plantations. Results: The results show that the cultivation of RCG expanded after 2005, with a maximum of 800 ha in 2009, to then decrease to the current levels of about 550 ha. It is mainly grown in colder climatic areas, with lower agricultural productivity than willow and poplar. Mean yields from trials are 6 oven dry tonnes (odt) ha−1 year−1; commercial yields are 3.5 odt ha−1 year−1. RCG replaces meadow land and then is replaced by cereals when abandoned. Conclusions: RCG is an interesting alternative with similar yields (commercial and trials) as other energy crops, but its success is more sensitive to policy incentives.

Infection and Spread of Root Rot Caused by Heterobasidion parviporum in Picea abies Stands after Thinning: Case Studies on Former Pasture and Meadow Lands

Afforestation of former agricultural lands is a common practice in several countries. This is beneficial for avoiding diseases carry-over from previous forest generations and to expand forest areas. However, several biotic and abiotic risks have been reported in such stands, including a higher risk of Heterobasidion root rot after thinning. Therefore, this study investigates the spread of Heterobasidion root rot in three Picea abies (L.) Karst. plantations in Latvia established on former pasture and meadow lands and subjected to forest management practices. Initially, to determine average infection rate, we sampled all standing trees (157 in total) along transects within sampling areas. On the transects, the proportion of trees suffering from Heterobasidion root rot varied from 16 to 33% among stands. Based on those data and observed dieback over all the stands, we established circular sample plots in disease centres where all trees and stumps were analysed. The average infection rate in the circular plots varied from 34 to 41%. Obtained Heterobasidion isolates were analysed with species-specific primers and were all determined to be Heterobasidion parviporum Niemelä & Korhonen. Isolates were paired to detect the number and size of genotypes. Of 141 genets examined, 99 were isolated from only one tree or stump, while 42 formed genets including two or more trees or stumps indicating spread of infection through root contacts. The total number of Heterobasidion genets per hectare in studied stands varied from 72 to 484. The following conclusions were reached: (i) stands on former non-forest lands (pastures and meadows) can be highly susceptible to Heterobasidion infection after thinning, (ii) the pathogen may form expanding territorial clones in both former pasture and meadows and (iii) stump treatment with biological or chemical control agents is recommended to prevent Heterobasidion infections.

Hemijska svojstva dugotrajno zalivanih livadskih zemljišta doline Belog Drima u području Kline

The impact of long-term (> 100 yr) irrigation on soil chemical properties was studied on eight plots in the Beli Drim river valley in Kosovo and Metohija near Klina, Serbia. For these studies, soil samples from shallow profiles were collected from only one or two depth zones of the Ah horizon; and from moderately deep and deep profiles, from two to three depth zones for the purpose of comparing irrigated field and non-irrigated meadow lands. Water from the Beli Drim River and surface gravity systems (irrigation furrows or border strip irrigation) were used for irrigation. Chemical variables included determination of pH-H2O, content of CaCO3, content of humus, hydrolytic acidity, sum of basic cations, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation. On irrigated soils, the results of chemical analysis showed on average a small increase in pH-H2O (0.07 pH units), as well as a significant decrease in humus content (2.00-4.75%), sum of basic cations (4.98-12.98%) and cation exchange capacity (12.8%) compared to the non-irrigated land of the study area. Long-term irrigation had no effect on hydrolytic acidity and base saturation in the Ah horizon of the investigated lands. Namely, the mentioned variations in the chemical properties of the investigated soils show that slight processes of reduction in the humus content and reduction of the content of base cations occured. Data on the chemical properties of the investigated soils indicate that the destructive processes of reduction in the humus content and leaching of base cations must be controlled in order to achieve a stable sustainable system of high productivity and prevent their further deterioration.

Türkiye, Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi ve Muş İlinde Çayır Mera Yem Bitkileri ve Hayvancılığın Bugünkü Durumu

Hayvancılıkta karlı bir üretim için, yem maliyetlerinin düşürülmesi gerekmektedir. 2018 yılı Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TUİK) resmi verileri üzerinden yapılan hesaplamalara göre, Türkiye 18,6 milyon büyükbaş hayvan birimine (BBHB) denk gelen hayvan varlığının toplam kaba yem ihtiyacı 85 milyon tondur. Ancak Türkiye‘nin toplam kaba yem üretimi toplamı 59 milyon ton olup, bunun 10 mil. tonu çayır meralardan, 18 milyon tonu yem bitkilerinden, 31 milyon tonu diğer bitkisel artıklardan karşılanmaktadır. Ülkedeki toplam kaba yem açığı 26 milyon ton olup, bu da toplam ülkenin toplam kaba yem ihtiyacının %30‘una tekabül etmektedir. Kaliteli kaba yem açığı ise bunun çok üzerindedir. Doğu Anadolu Bölgesinde ise kaba yem açığı 3,5 milyon ton (% 19) olarak hesaplanmıştır. Muş‘ta ise üretilen kaba yemin, mevcut hayvan varlığına yeterli olduğu belirlenmiştir. Hayvancılığın genel olarak meraya dayalı olarak yapıldığı Doğu Anadolu Bölgesinde üretilen yem bitkileri miktarı da Türkiye ortalamasının üzerindedir. Türkiye kaba yem açığının kapatılması için mera alanlarının ıslahı ve tekniğine uygun kullanılarak bu alanlardan daha yüksek verim alınması, tarla tarımı içerisinde yem bitkileri ekim alanlarının artırılması gerekmektedir. Kaba yem açığının kapatılması ile daha yüksek hayvansal üretim elde edilebilecek, girdi maliyetleri düşebilecek ve hayvan üreticilerin gelir seviyesi artacak ve hayvansal ürünlerin fiyatı düşebilecektir. Çalışmada Türkiye, Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi ve Muş İli çayır mera yem bitkileri durumu, kaba yem üretim durumu, kaba yem açığı konuları irdelenmeye çalışılmıştır.

Permafrost existence is closely associated with soil organic matter preservation: Evidence from relationships among environmental factors and soil carbon in a permafrost boundary area

Permafrost regions store a large amount of soil organic carbon (SOC). Although permafrost degradation with climate warming can stimulate soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition, it remains unknown that whether the permafrost existence benefits SOM preservation. Here, a boundary area of permafrost and non-permafrost zone was selected to test the hypothesis that SOM underlain by permafrost has been better preserved than the area without permafrost under similar climatic conditions. The interactions among topography, vegetation cover, permafrost, soil variables and SOC distribution were examined. The results showed the sites beneath wet meadow land covers, which are usually underlain by permafrost, have higher SOC stocks than those of alpine meadows without permafrost. Based on mixed effects models, both soil water content and bulk density explained higher SOC content variances in the sites without permafrost than the sites underlain by permafrost. The north-facing non-permafrost sites have significantly higher SOC contents than those in south-facing non-permafrost sites. Vegetation cover, aspect, and permafrost have mixing effects on SOC contents both in permafrost and non-permafrost sites. Soil particle size and the rock fragment content are good predictors for prediction of SOC contents, while the best predictor was depending on the presence of permafrost. These results suggested that under similar climatic conditions, permafrost existence favors the preservation of SOM, this should be taken into consideration in the future carbon emission from permafrost regions since permafrost degradation can lag behind climate warming in many areas.

Regeneration of the rare meadow species Iris sibirica in a postcultural land

ABSTRACT Investigations aimed at assessing agricultural activity in Molinia meadow and subsequent land abandonment on the species composition of plant cover, habitat characteristics, as well as regeneration of the Iris sibirica population were conducted in the year 2018 in the Gielniów Hummock (Southern Poland, Central Europe). The observations were carried out on two meadow complexes 1) subjected to disturbance by removal of plant cover, four-year cultivation of Zea mays L. (called postcultural meadow) and 2) unmanaged from at least 15 years (called abandoned meadow). In the abandoned meadow, advanced secondary succession was observed, while in the postcultural meadow the regeneration of meadow species inter alia Iris sibirica was noticed. The population of the aforementioned taxon presumably regenerated thanks to seedling recruitment and subsequent vegetative growth of juvenile individuals. The abundance of the population Iris sibirica was greater in the postcultural meadow. The number of leaf rosettes was greater in the abandoned meadow. The number of previous and current-year generative stems, as well as the number and dimensions of capsules, were similar in both study sites. The lower height of the leaves and generative stems of Iris sibirica in the postcultural meadow might be caused by the low height of plant cover and the lack of necessity of competition for light with neighbouring species. The obtained results lead to the promising conclusion that populations of endangered species Iris sibirica might regenerate in habitat of postcultural meadow, if not strongly destroyed (e.g. habitat of short-lived cultivation of annual species without pesticides).

Soil modification in a chronosequence of postagricultural ecosystems of the intrazonal lithogenic matrix (Arkhangelsk region, Russia)

Processes of soil self-restoration and soil modification in the chronosequence of postagricultural ecosystems located within the intrazonal (floodplain) soils of boreal forests were studied. Successional changes in ecological features of the floodplain meadow soil properties in the postagricultural period were considered. We used arable land plots (22 model fields) in the Northern Dvina River delta (Primorsky District, Arkhangelsk region, Northwestern Russia) that have been removed from agricultural practice for the past 50 years and are currently at the self-overgrowing stage. Primary/secondary floodplain meadows with natural floodplain soils were used as reference plots. Changes in soil profiles and chemical properties in an old-arable horizon were observed during the restoration of abandoned fields. Floodplain soils of the Northern Dvina River basin occupied 4.8% of the area. These soils were characterized by high fertility and were actively used in agricultural production in the past. Postagricultural ecosystems of the Northern Dvina River floodplain tended to form natural waterlogged soils to varying extents. Ecosystems were characterized by a short period of soil restoration. The soil restoration process was slower than the vegetation cover restoration process. Soil fertility of the arable horizon persisted for 20 years. A cost-effective return of floodplain meadow lands to agricultural production is feasible over a period of 40 years. Then, soils return to natural floodplain soils, whereby they become waterlogged and lose their fertility.

Продуктивність і кормова цінність люцерни порівняно з іншими багаторічними травами

The purpose. To determine the best perennial leguminous grasses at organic and mineral fertilizing and perfection of technological measures of production of feed raw material with continuous uniform receipt of vegetable mass for manufacture of ecologically safe grassy feedstuffs on dark grey podzolized soils. Justification of norms and ratios of basic nutrient elements of fertilizers for Lucerne-cereal grass stand, features of its conversion depending on fertilizer systems, use and development of measures of rational application of solid mineral fertilizers on meadow lands in conditions of northern part of Forest-steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Systems analysis, field, laboratory, analytical, mathematical-statistical, calculative-comparative. Results. The basis of botanical content of single-species sowings of perennial leguminous grasses made sowed crops. Perennial leguminous grasses in the first 3 years of use essentially predominated as to their productivity over grass family — brome grass. Productivity of leguminous grasses without fertilizers made 9–12 t/hectare of dry mass, 7–9 t / hectare of f.u., 90–103 GJ/hectare of exchange energy. Perennial leguminous grasses accumulated in above-ground vegetable mass on the average 155–302 kg/hectare symbiotically fixed nitrogen for 3 years of use of grass stands. Growing of perennial leguminous grasses with the purpose of production of grassy feedstuffs is economically efficient as even without fertilization they ensured deriving about 7724–9803 hrn/hectare of conditionally-net profit at cost price of 546–630 hrn/1 t of f.u. with the level of profitableness 165–205 %. Conclusions. The highest productivity had the grass stand with Lucerne. The greatest accumulation of symbiotically fixed nitrogen had Lucerne, which indexes of economic efficiency were the highest. Most economically expedient was importation of preparation Wuxal-Microplant.

Soil physical properties following conversion of a reclaimed minesoil to bioenergy crop production

Land use, soil management and vegetation play important roles in restoration of reclaimed minesoils (RMS). There is a growing interest in converting marginal lands to bioenergy crop production instead of using highly fertile soils, which could jeopardize food security and soil quality. The objective of this study was to assess short-term changes of soil physical and hydrological properties after converting a RMS that was under meadow to miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus) and corn (Zea mays L.) land-uses in Southeast Ohio. The study site was surface-mined for coal and lime, reclaimed and seeded with cool season grass and legume species mixture in 1986. The site remained under meadow land use until the establishment of this study in 2013. The results showed that bulk density (ρb) of the 0–10 cm soil depth (soil surface) under miscanthus and corn (1.28 and 1.25 Mg m−3) increased on average by 9% following conversion of meadow to miscanthus and corn land-uses, compared to the antecedent meadow (1.16 Mg m−3). There were no significant differences in ρb of soil below 20 cm depth, which was >1.5 Mg m−3. Decrease in soil aggregation was also observed at the soil surface after land-use change. The mean weight diameter (MWD) of water stable aggregates was 2.00 mm under the meadow land use, which was significantly lower under the corn (1.45 mm) and miscanthus (0.96 mm) land uses. Subsequently, water infiltration rate decreased by 50% in the miscanthus and corn land-uses compared to the meadow (0.23 cm min−1). Additionally, plant-available water capacity (P-AWC) also decreased by 28% in the miscanthus and corn land-uses compared to the meadow (2.5 cm) at the top 10 cm depth. The data show significant changes in some sensitive soil physical properties within a short period of one year upon converting from reclaimed meadow to miscanthus and corn land-uses, suggesting that disturbances associated with land use change have negative impact on soil properties and soil quality.

Вплив агротехнічних заходів на екобіоморфну структуру та продуктивність самовідновлювальних лучних екосистем Лісостепу

The purpose. Establish the regularities of the ecogenetic process of sudden renewal of zonally adapted and economically valuable grassland herbaceous ecological-biological systems with high self-repair ability and develop effective ways to accelerate their formation. Methods. Field, laboratory, functional-group methods analysis of grassy ecosystems. Results. The results of many years of fundamental research on the study of ecogenetic reproduction processes are highlighted on the former arable lands of zonally-adapted grassy ecological-biological systems with high self-repair ability and effective ways to accelerate their formation and improving their economic value. Conclusions. Spontaneous re-establishment of meadow lands on the former plowing lands is the cheapest, but long in time (10 – 15 years) and in the first 3 – 5 years at high weediness provides feed low quality. Starting crop of bean-cereal mixture eliminates the weed phase development of cenoses and provides on the background of no fertilizers in the first 3 years in 3.7, and on average for 10 years 2.3 times higher yield and significantly improves the quality of the feed compared with spontaneous re-establishment. Sowing at the initial stage of seed of wild species of grasses of local flora for 5 – 7 years accelerates the formation of stable and zonally adapted herbages with high self-healing ability.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions following Conversion of a Reclaimed Minesoil to Bioenergy Crop Production

AbstractThis study provides a comparative assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when converting a reclaimed minesoil that was previously under meadow to miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) and maize (Zea mays L.) land uses in Ohio, USA. Additionally, effluent from an anaerobic digester at rates of 0, 75, 150, and 225 kg N ha−1 rates was also assessed for C and nutrient fertilization. Results from the study show that land use conversion to maize had the highest net release of GHG equivalent of 6·6 Mg CO2equ ha−1 y−1, on average, across effluent application rates. Under miscanthus land use with no and high effluent application rates, net GHG equivalent on average was 4·3 Mg CO2equ ha−1 y−1, which was larger when compared with that under the meadow land use (1·6 Mg CO2equ ha−1 y−1). Miscanthus land use under medium rates of effluent application had similar net GHG equivalent (7·1 Mg CO2equ ha−1 y−1) to the maize land use. The application of effluent did increase CO2–C and N2O–N emissions; but increases in above‐ground–below‐ground biomass production (1·6 Mg C ha−1) in the meadow land use and C input from effluent retained in the soil in the miscanthus and maize land uses offset most of the effluent‐induced GHG equivalent emissions. Contribution of cumulative N2O–N to GHG equivalent emissions in general was 11% when no effluent was applied and 22% when effluent was applied across land uses. Findings from this study show that land use changes from antecedent meadow to maize and miscanthus during the first year of establishment would result in net increase of GHG emissions. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA