Pasture Communities Research Articles

Soil carbon increases with long‐term cattle stocking in northern temperate grasslands

AbstractGrassland management aimed at enhancing carbon (C) in soil is an important tool in mitigation of rising atmospheric CO2, yet little is known of how grassland soil C changes with livestock stocking rate (SR). We relate soil organic and inorganic C mass (t ha−1 to 60 cm depth) with cattle stocking over periods of 7–27 year for 32 paddocks distributed across nine community pastures in the mixed‐grass prairie of Saskatchewan, Canada. Initial analysis comparing Akaike information criterion models showed that cattle SR explained a greater proportion of variance in soil C, particularly soil organic C, than rainfall. Soil organic C mass increased with cattle SR (R2 = .293; p = .001), even when the latter was normalized to account for differences in vegetation composition and growing conditions among pastures. Normalized SR varied from 0.49 to 2.30 times recommended levels, over which SOC increased from 24.7 to 57.4 t ha−1. Increases in soil organic C under greater stocking coincided with increased abundance of introduced vegetation, particularly the rhizomatous grass Poa pratensis. Inorganic soil C accounted for 34.6% of total soil C, being particularly large below 30 cm soil depth, but did not vary with stocking rate. These findings indicate that both organic and inorganic C are important pools of C in northern temperate grassland soils, with soil organic C positively associated with long‐term cattle SR. Further studies are recommended to understand more fully the mechanisms regulating grazing impacts on soil C mass in northern temperate grasslands.

Improving forest governance or messing it up? Analyzing impact of forest carbon projects on existing governance mechanisms with evidence from India

This research analyses the interactions and impacts of forest carbon projects on existing governance mechanisms viz. policies, institutions and implementation structures. It critically evaluates the assumption that forest carbon projects always result in improved governance of resources. Empirical evidence from a World Bank funded project in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India suggests that these projects might conflict with existing policies and complicate property relations on the ground. These projects might be used by powerful stakeholders as a tool to scuttle the progressive policy reforms. In the case of Himachal Pradesh, state bureaucracy and local elites have used forest carbon project to thwart the progressive policy provisions of HP common land vesting and utilisation (Amendment) Act 2001 and Forest Rights Act 2006, which were enacted to recognise individual and community rights on the community and forest lands respectively. Similarly, existing institutional issues related to lack of inclusiveness, participation and transparency have been exacerbated by the availability of increased resources from the project. Project activities such as fencing and changing land use of community pastures through plantations can adversely impact local livelihoods. Hence, it is imperative to undertake a comprehensive assessment of potential risks and conflicts before implementation of such projects.

Conflict and Cooperation in Global Commons: Theory and Evidence from the Caspian Sea

The conventional literature on the commons involves small, local resources such as coastal fisheries, community forestry, small-scale irrigation, and community pasture. We focus on conflict and cooperation in the Caspian Sea – a global commons – involving five claimant countries as well as interests of major powers (the United States, European Union, and China). Building on the work of Stern and Young on the study of conflict and cooperation in global commons, we model the case as a prisoner’s dilemma game with the two different outcomes. In the North Caspian Sea, competing claimant countries – Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan – have agreed to cooperate and solve their differences over ownership of oil fields. In contrast, claimants in the South Caspian Sea – Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan – have failed to cooperate despite decades of trying. Using analytic narratives, we suggest that politics (or strategic calculations) could help explain these two different outcomes. In making these calculations, countries will act in their rational self-interest, given the prospects of international anarchy. We suggest that this realist account can be partly explained by the convergence of economic interests, geopolitics, and cultural distance. We argue that the study of global commons would benefit from understanding realist theories of international relations.

Surveying pasture communities in diachronic analyses by 3D models: the diachronic canopy variation model

AbstractAboveground biomass (AGB) is a parameter commonly used for assessing and monitoring primary productivity of grassland communities. Destructive AGB measurements, although accurate, are time‐consuming and do not allow for repeated measurements as required by monitoring protocols. Structure‐from‐motion (SfM) photogrammetry has been proved to be a reliable tool for rapid and not destructive AGB estimations in grass systems. Three‐dimensional (3D) models of fourteen 1 × 1 m2 pasture plots were reconstructed and AGB volume measured under several measurement settings. Volume‐based AGB measures were regressed to AGB values resulting from destructive methods to identify the measurement settings that show the best fit. Furthermore, 3D models of four mountain pasture plots were reconstructed in May, July, and August. Models relative to the same plot were aligned and their relative difference measured to produce a diachronic canopy variation model (DCVM). On the measured volume (Vd), the coefficient of density (cρ) was applied to adjust the volume values (Vadj) in relation to variation due to different DCVM point densities. The measurement setting for AGB volume estimations strongly influenced their correlation with traditional AGB scores. The best fit was obtained selecting 1 mm grid cell size and minimum point height distance. Such options were then selected to measure the DCVM. Adjusted volumes were fully correlated with the average point distance. Three plots revealed higher rates of AGB in the spring compared to summer season, as justified by the summer aridity constraints affecting vegetation productivity in Mediterranean areas. In one plot, we found an anomalous seasonal pattern, showing an AGB reduction in spring, which can be correlated with grazing, that promoted a subsequent increment in summer. Our study indicates that image‐based photogrammetric techniques allow for reliable non‐destructive measurements of surface biomass in diachronic analyses, offering a valuable tool for evaluating occurrence, magnitude, and spatial patterns of variations of community primary productivity over time. Diachronic canopy variation model produced congruent patterns of inter‐seasonal canopy variations proving to be a useful tool for analyzing local disturbance to vegetation canopy caused by grazing.

The role of hedgerows in soil functioning within agricultural landscapes

Intensification of agriculture has led to major losses of hedgerows and field margins worldwide. Soil sample extraction, in situ time series of soil moisture, temperature and soil water quality analyses, annual earthworm sampling and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi sampling enabled comparison of soil functions between typical hedgerows, grass field margins, pasture and arable (mainly winter wheat) fields in a temperate, lowland setting. Mean bulk density (upper 50 cm), surface compaction and soil moisture content were significantly lower while organic matter content and porewater dissolved organic carbon concentrations were significantly greater in hedgerow soils, than margins or fields. Mean nitrate and phosphate concentrations were three and ten times larger, respectively, in soil solutions under hedgerows than arable fields while ammonium concentrations were least in arable fields. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was significantly greater under hedgerows (median = 102 mm hr−1) where it took an average of one hour longer for soils to reach maximum moisture content following rainfall, than adjacent arable (median = 3 mm hr−1) or pasture fields and margins (median = 27 mm hr−1). Hedgerow soils had a greater proportion of flow through micropores and less macropore flow than other soils. The pasture and margin soils had the largest proportion of macropore flow (>85%) and more (and larger) anecic earthworm species, such as Lumbricus terrestris which produce vertical burrows. Earthworm density, biomass and diversity were greater in pasture and margin soils, followed by hedgerow soils, and tended to be lowest in arable soils. For both total and AM fungi, hedgerow soils hosted a distinct and heterogeneous soil community, margin and pasture communities were diverse but clustered together, and arable communities formed a distinct cluster, with low inter-sample variation and significantly lowest AM fungal richness. The findings demonstrate that soils under hedgerows, which should be conserved, can provide important functions on farmland including storing organic carbon, promoting infiltration and storing runoff, increasing earthworm diversity and hosting distinct AM communities.

Biomass energy flow screening for good governance in agricultural system: A Case study in Terengganu state

A good and sustainable governance in agricultural waste management is considered effective by maximising the economic profit, and at the same time minimising the effect of environmental pollution. This paper presents the findings of the flow of biomass energy in the agricultural productivity system in Terengganu by using Material Flow Analysis (MFA) technique with the aid of SubsTance Flow Analysis (STAN) 2.5 software. Simultaneously, a combined focus was also given by studying the governance system of the relevant parties in organising the agricultural waste management. The findings show that the biomass energy flow centred on the crop subsystem with the total energy input of 509 Peta Joule (PJ) per year from which 68 percent was contributed by the pasture community, which was equivalent to 344 PJ per year. Other than that, the livestock subsystem that was dominated by cattle species contributed the highest biomass energy flow of 54 percent which is equivalent to 202 PJ per year. In addition, it was also found that the involvement of governance, especially from the agropreneur, was still unclear and inadequate which indirectly contributes to the zero bioenergy development in this region. It is hoped that the developing of MFA technique with social field performed in this research would be able to highlight several important issues such as current flow and reservoir level in other area. Keywords : agricultural biomass, agriculture waste, biomass energy, governance, Material Flow Analysis (MFA), Terengganu

Revision and new proposals regarding Salvia officinalis communities after new findings from the Abruzzo region, Central Adriatic Italy

ABSTRACTSalvia officinalis communities are not common in Italy. Until recently, the studies carried out in Italy have generally not always been thorough regarding the physiognomic type of these communities and have not clearly distinguished between the real garrigues and the pasture communities (with more or less abundant Chamaephytes). A finer approach, allowing a correct interpretation of micro-mosaic patchiness, is necessary when the “elementary area” is chosen to be analyzed, in order to permit this kind of distinction. In the Abruzzo region, on the Central Adriatic side of Italy, this species is quite rare and is exclusively represented by the angustifolia variety. Actually, only few S. officinalis communities were known and studied in the Abruzzo region. New localities were found for this species and related communities. A newly uploaded dataset from the region is documented here, combining literature review data and new relevés, and is analyzed by multivariate methods. Results show that the Salvia officinalis garrigues of the Abruzzo region are not all attributable to the same plant association, as the coenological features of these communities are quite variable, depending mainly on geomorphological and climate features. Only half of the literature relevés previously attributed to the Saturejo montanae-Salvietum angustifoliae association are clearly ascribable to it, while the other half concerns anomalous aspects, poor in diagnostic species. A new set of diagnostic and differential species is proposed for that association; and two new variants have been proposed. We also propose a new association: Euphorbio spinosae-Salvietum angustifoliae, with two sub-associations, both found in newly studied localities. Further similar thorough reviews are desirable for other associations described in South-Eastern Europe, taking into account a fine separation between chamaephyte dominated communities and those that are mainly hemicryptophytic.

The studies of the reaction to the salt stress of varieties of fodder crops for formation of pastures in the conditions of North Western Caspian

On the territory of the North-Western Caspian, significant areas occupy soils with varying degrees of salinity, therefore, to form pastures in these areas, it is necessary to select species and varieties of crops that tolerate salt stress. We conducted expeditionary studies on the study of floristic composition, as well as phenological, biometric observation and thoroughly studied the soil cover of pasture communities. As a result, plant species from these communities were selected, which were the most adapted to the unfavorable conditions of the Northwest Caspian region, and other species and cultivars were added from the world collection of All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Plant Growing of other ecogeographical regions. Expeditionary research on the selection of species of pasture plants was carried out on the territory of the West Ilmenno-hillock landscape area, and laboratory studies in the laboratory of the All-Russian Research Institute of Veterinary Research in the period 2011-2017. The purpose of the study is to select varieties and species of perennial pasture crops that are most resistant to high salt content in the soil. When studying the ability of species and varieties to tolerate salt stress, plants were isolated according to their fitness for stress. The most adapted plants, where the percentage of viable seeds was from 24% to 30%, the average ability to tolerate salt stress with germination in seeds of 15%, and varieties and species with an germination from 0.1% to 0% - are unsuitable. To very adapted to salt stress include species and varieties of the plant: Elytrigia elongate (Host.) Nevski, var. Salt - 30%; Elymus novae-angliae (Scribn.) Tzvelev) Ozernensky variety - 28%; elongated elm (Elytrigia elongate (Host.) Nevski) variety Stavropol 10 - 28%; elongated elm (Elytrigia elongate (Host.) Nevski) sort Argonaut - 27%; Agropyron pectinatum (M. Bieb.) Variety - 26%, Bromopsis inermis (Leyss.) Holub, cultivar Stavropol 31 - 24%.

Impact of an invasive weed, Parthenium hysterophorus, on a pasture community in south east Queensland, Australia.

Parthenium weed is a highly invasive alien species in more than 40 countries around the world. Along with severe negative effects on human and animal health and crop production, it also causes harm to ecosystem functioning by reducing the native plant species biodiversity. However, its impacts on native plant species, especially in pasture communities, are less known. Given parthenium weed causes substantial losses to Australian pastures' productivity, it is crucial to estimate its impact on pasture communities. This study evaluates the impact of parthenium weed upon species diversity in a pasture community at Kilcoy, south east Queensland, Australia. Sub-sites containing three levels of parthenium weed density (i.e. high, low and zero) were chosen to quantify the above- and below-ground plant community structure. Species richness, diversity and evenness were all found to be significantly reduced as the density of parthenium weed increased; an effect was evident even when parthenium weed was present at relatively low densities (i.e. two plants m-2). This trend was observed in the summer season as well as in winter season when this annual weed was absent from the above-ground plant community. This demonstrates the strong impact that parthenium weed has upon the community composition and functioning throughout the year. It also shows the long-term impact of parthenium weed on the soil seed bank where it had displaced several native species. So, management options used for parthenium weed should also consider the reduction of parthenium weed seed bank along with controlling its above-ground populations.

Grazing pressure impacts on two Aristida/Bothriochloa native pasture communities of central Queensland

Managing native pastures for sustainable and economic production requires a good understanding of grazing effects on pasture dynamics. The Aristida/Bothriochloa pastures of north-eastern Australia are important for cattle production but little data on grazing pressure impacts on pastures are available to guide management decisions of producers, for land management education programs, or for predictive modelling. To address this deficiency, four different continuous grazing intensities were imposed on woodland communities over 7 or 8 years at two sites: a Eucalyptus populnea (poplar box) and a E. melanophloia (silver-leaved ironbark) community. Both sites had replicated paddocks grazed at a low, medium or high grazing pressure by +/− tree killing using herbicide (12 paddocks), and 12 ungrazed (nil grazing pressure) 1-ha plots subjected to the same tree-killing contrasts. Grazed paddock areas were fixed and varied between 3.5 and 21.5 ha. Differential grazing pressures were reset each autumn, by adjusting cattle numbers to consume over the next year the equivalent of 0%, 25%, 50% or 75% of the standing pasture mass available. Pasture grasses suitable as indicators of grazing pressure were identified for both communities. Under low grazing pressure, Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) was the only desirable grass to show a significant increase in total contribution over time at both sites, although Dichanthium sericeum (Queensland bluegrass) also increased its contribution at the poplar box site. Chloris species increased their contribution as grazing pressure increased. The proportion of less palatable Aristida spp. (wiregrasses) in the pasture was not affected by high grazing pressure, although they increased at low grazing pressure in the poplar box community. There were no consistent changes in native legumes or weedy forb species to any treatment. Increasing grazing pressure had a greater negative effect on pasture mass, ground cover and pasture crown cover area than on changing species composition. Most changes in composition due to grazing pressure were smaller than those associated with variable seasonal rainfall, and were greater in the poplar box community. In above-average rainfall years grazing up to 50% of autumn standing pasture mass had no detrimental effect on composition in treeless poplar box country in the short term. The pastures remained stable or improved in both communities when grazing pressure was set annually to utilise 25% of the standing autumn forage.

The Soil Seedbank of Pasture Communities in Central Queensland Invaded by Parthenium hysterophorus L.

A study examining the composition and dynamics of the soil seedbank was conducted at two locations in central Queensland between December 2007 and May 2009. These two grassland communities were infested with parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.), which had been present at both sites for at least 25 years. During the period of study, the seedbank varied between 5 962 and 16 206 seeds/m2 at the Clermont site and between 6 795 and 24 862 seeds/m2 at the Moolayember Creek site. Parthenium weed exhibited a very abundant and persistent seedbank, accounting for 80−87% of the seedbank at the Clermont site and 3−26% of the seedbank at the Moolayember Creek site. The species richness and species diversity of the seedbank, as well as the seed abundance of several native and introduced species, were higher at the Moolayember Creek site than at the Clermont site. The domination of the seedbanks by parthenium weed, especially at Clermont, suggests that the weed is having a substantial negative impact on seedbanks of native plant communities. The diversity of the seedbank at the Clermont site was found to be lower in comparison with that observed during an earlier study in 1995−1996, while the diversity at Moolayember Creek was found to have increased. Hence, the prolonged presence of parthenium weed may have substantially reduced the diversity of the seedbank at the Clermont site, while improved management practices may have increased diversity at the Moolayember Creek site.

Managing Mixed-Grass Prairies for Songbirds Using Variable Cattle Stocking Rates

Most remaining grasslands are used for livestock grazing; stocking rates could be managed to help stop declining songbird populations. We examined the effects of stocking rates on grassland songbirds in northern mixed-grass prairies using a beyond–Before-After-Control-Impact manipulative experiment in Canada’s Grasslands National Park and adjacent community pastures. The study area consisted of nine 300-ha pastures grazed at a range of stocking rates starting in 2008. We conducted songbird surveys at six upland plots in each pasture from 2006–2010 and measured vegetation structure within each plot from 2008–2010 (n = 54). We evaluated the effects of stocking rates on habitat structure and songbird abundance using linear and generalized linear mixed models. Baird’s sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) relative abundance declined with increasing stocking rates. Chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus) relative abundance increased only at higher stocking rates, indicating a possible threshold effect. Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) relative abundance decreased with stocking rates above 0.4 AUM after a year of grazing. Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii) relative abundance declined with grazing, but the effect was weak and only significant in 1 year. Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) abundance was unaffected by grazing. Stocking rates may be used to benefit grassland songbirds and may alter avian communities after as little as 1 month of livestock grazing. Applying a range of stocking rates regionally may provide habitat for many species.

Rangelands of Central Asia: challenges and opportunities

Rangelands of Central Asia (referring to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in this study), the largest contiguous area of grazed land in the world, serve as an important source of livelihood for pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in this region. They also play an important role in absorbing CO2 as a global carbon sink. However, unsustainable management of rangelands has led to their degradation hugely by downgrading their potential agro-ecological, environmental and socio-economical roles. This paper reviewed the rangeland degradation in Central Asia, a topic which so far has received only scant coverage in the international scientific literature. It also provided examples of successful experiences and outlined possible options that land managers can adopt to enhance the sustainable management of these vast degraded rangelands. The experiences and lessons described in this paper may also be relevant for other degraded rangeland areas, especially in the developing countries. The causes of rangeland degradation within the Central Asian region are numerous, complex and inter-related. Therefore, while addressing the factors associated with improper rangeland management may shed some light on the causes of rangeland degradation, the scope of this paper would not be all-encompassing for the major causes of degradation. There is a need to develop and widely apply the viable and locally accepted and adapted packages of technical, institutional and policy options for sustainable rangeland management. Incentivizing the collective action of small-scale pastoralists who group together to facilitate access to remote pastures can reduce the degree of overgrazing within community pastures, such as those near the settlements. We also found that migratory grazing through pooling of resources among small-scale pastoralists can increase household income. After their independence, most Central Asian countries adopted various rangeland tenure arrangements. However, the building of enhanced capacities of pasture management and effective local rangeland governance structures can increase the likelihood, which will be sustainable and equitable. Finally, this paper presented several promising technical options, aiming at reversing the trend of rangeland degradation in Central Asia.

Collembolan preferences for soil and microclimate in forest and pasture communities

The goal of the present study was to determine whether the habitat preference of collembolan species is more influenced by soil properties or by microclimate and whether the preference for a given soil matches the preference for the corresponding microclimate. To answer these questions, we set up a soil core transfer experiment between a forest and an adjacent pasture. We first eliminated the entire soil fauna from forest and pasture soil cores and inoculated them with a new community originated from forest or pasture. After enclosing them, in order to prevent exchanges of soil animals between treated soil and surrounding environment, soil cores were transplanted back to the field for four months and a half. The experimental design comprises every combination of three factors (community origin, soil nature and microclimate) for a total of 8 treatments. Twenty-two species were present in the experiment, 16 of which were present in more than 10% of the experimental soil cores. We determined habitat preference for these 16 species using a large dataset comprised of field observations in the same region. Results showed that most forest species did not withstand pasture microclimate, although some of them preferred pasture soil. Likewise several pasture species were favoured by the forest microclimate, some of them also preferring forest soil. We concluded that forest species were absent (or less abundant) in pastures because they are not resistant enough to drought, while pasture species were absent (or less abundant) in forests because of food requirements, and/or soil physicochemical properties such as soil pH and organic carbon content, and/or were less competitive. Moreover, when selecting their habitat, some species are submitted to a trade-off between preferences for different habitat features.

Spatial data integration for the environmental characterization of pasture macrotypes in the Italian Alps

AbstractIn the Italian Alps, local climate, topography and soil play a dominant role in pasture distribution. In this study, pre‐existent layers of spatial data were used to identify the geographical locations of the main pasture communities (macrotypes) dominating these mountainous areas and to characterize them environmentally. The influence of the environment on macrotype distribution was assessed by principal component analysis (PCA) and a kernel density estimation (KDE) on nine explanatory variables extracted from soil–topography–climatic gridded maps. Results indicated the reliability of the method. The ecological description disentangled from PCA and KDE analysis fitted well with the ecological exigencies of seven macrotypes, identified as most representative in terms of their extent, ecological and pastoral importance across the Alps. This was more evident for high‐altitude communities and xeric species, but less evident for the more ubiquitous, mixed or fragmented macrotypes. The results show that three main environmental regions can be distinguished across the area: a relatively wet and cold region located at the highest altitudes dominated by mountainside pasture macrotypes; an intermediate area comprising macrotypes without any marked environmental needs; and relatively dry and warm areas at the lowest altitudes dominated by xeric species and rich semi‐natural grasslands. Method strengths, weaknesses and possible applications of the results are discussed.

Floristic composition and pasture condition of Aristida/Bothriochloa pastures in central Queensland. II. Soil and pasture condition interactions

Sustainable management of native pastures requires an understanding of what the bounds of pasture composition, cover and soil surface condition are for healthy pastoral landscapes to persist. A survey of 107 Aristida/Bothriochloa pasture sites in inland central Queensland was conducted. The sites were chosen for their current diversity of tree cover, apparent pasture condition and soil type to assist in setting more objective bounds on condition ‘states’ in such pastures. Assessors’ estimates of pasture condition were strongly correlated with herbage mass (r = 0.57) and projected ground cover (r = 0. 58), and moderately correlated with pasture crown cover (r = 0.35) and tree basal area (r = 0.32). Pasture condition was not correlated with pasture plant density or the frequency of simple guilds of pasture species. The soil type of Aristida/Bothriochloa pasture communities was generally hard-setting, low in cryptogam cover but moderately covered with litter and projected ground cover (30–50%). There was no correlation between projected ground cover of pasture and estimated ground-level cover of plant crowns. Tree basal area was correlated with broad categories of soil type, probably because greater tree clearing has occurred on the more fertile, heavy-textured clay soils. Of the main perennial grasses, some showed strong soil preferences, for example Tripogon loliiformis for hard-setting soils and Dichanthium sericeum for clays. Common species, such as Chrysopogon fallax and Heteropogon contortus, had no strong soil preference. Wiregrasses (Aristida spp.) tended to be uncommon at both ends of the estimated pasture condition scale whereas H. contortus was far more common in pastures in good condition. Sedges (Cyperaceae) were common on all soil types and for all pasture condition ratings. Plants identified as increaser species were Tragus australianus, daisies (Asteraceae) and potentially toxic herbaceous legumes such as Indigofera spp. and Crotalaria spp. Pasture condition could not be reliably predicted based on the abundance of a single species or taxon but there may be scope for using integrated data for four to five ecologically contrasting plants such as Themeda triandra with daisies, T. loliiformis and flannel weeds (Malvaceae).

Effect of Different Grazing Intensities on the Spatial-Temporal Variability in Above-Ground Live Plant Biomass in North American Mixed Grasslands

. Areas with relatively high spatial heterogeneity generally have more biodiversity than those that are spatially homogeneous areas due to increased potential as habitat. Management practices such as controlled grazing also affect the biodiversity in grasslands, and we hypothesize that this is due in part to the impacts of variation in grazing on plant heterogeneity and its spatial patterns. Understanding these mechanisms is important for designing an effective grazing system from a livestock management point of view. We used satellite-based, above-ground, live plant biomass (ALB) estimates at a pasture scale, in an experimental area located across the border of the East Block of Grasslands National Park (GNP) and an adjacent community pasture, to assess the effects of 5 intensities of grazing on the spatiotemporal pattern of ALB in mixed grasslands. Overall, heterogeneity increased with grazing intensity, whereas the spatial range decreased, except at the highest intensity, which had no impact on heterogeneity.Résumé. Les zones à relativement forte hétérogénéité spatiale ont généralement une plus grande biodiversité que les zones spatialement homogènes en raison de l’habitat potentiel accru. Les pratiques de gestion telles que le pâturage contrôlé influencent également la biodiversité dans les prairies. Nous émettons l’hypothèse que cela est dû en partie à l’impact des variations du pâturage sur l’hétérogénéité de la végétation et ses structures spatiales. La compréhension de ces mécanismes est importante pour la conception d’un système de pâturage efficace d’un point de vue de la gestion du bétail. Nous avons utilisé des estimations satellitaires de la biomasse végétale vivante aérienne à l’échelle du pâturage dans une zone expérimentale située à la frontière du bloc Est du parc national des Prairies «GNP» et un pâturage communautaire adjacent pour évaluer les effets de 5 intensités de pâturage sur la structure spatio-temporelle de la biomasse végétale vivante aérienne dans les prairies mixtes. Dans l’ensemble, l’hétérogénéité a augmenté avec l’intensité du pâturage tandis que la portée spatiale a diminué, sauf à la plus haute intensité qui n’a eu aucune incidence sur l’hétérogénéité.

Long term defoliation by cattle grazing with and without trampling differently affects soil penetration resistance and plant species composition in Agrostis capillaris grassland

There are no long-term experimental studies dealing with plant community responses to trampling. Here we report the results for soil penetration resistance and plant species changes in mesotrophic temperate Central European grassland after 12-years of grazing management with and without trampling by cattle. Five grazing treatments (intensive and extensive grazing; cut for hay in June followed by intensive or extensive grazing; and intensive grazing with no trampling under permanent electric fencing) with two replicate blocks have been applied since 1998. Species richness, species composition, sward height, nutrient availability in soil and soil penetration resistance were recorded and evaluated. For statistical analysis we used one way ANOVA and RDA with the Monte Carlo test. Long term grazing by large herbivores had a significant effect on soil penetration resistance with the lowest values in the ‘not trampled’ treatment. Legumes, particularly Trifolium repens, and short forbs (especially Veronica serpyllifolia) were supported by intensively defoliated and trampled treatments, whereas tall forbs (mainly Aegopodium podagraria, Hypericum maculatum) prevailed under the extensively managed treatments. The cover of tall and short graminoids was not dependent on applied treatments. The ‘not trampled’ treatment had the highest prevalence of bryophytes (domination of Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus) and was also the richest in a number of vascular plant species; however, it also had the lowest evenness index. Long-term defoliation by grazing animals without trampling does not lead to the creation of typical pasture swards. Species forming pasture communities are essentially dependent on regular defoliation by grazing and regular trampling by hooves, which causes a high degree of soil compaction as well as sward disruption.

Network analysis reveals that bacteria and fungi form modules that correlate independently with soil parameters.

Network and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to determine interactions between bacterial and fungal community terminal restriction length polymorphisms as well as soil properties in paired woodland and pasture sites. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that shifts in woodland community composition correlated with soil dissolved organic carbon, while changes in pasture community composition correlated with moisture, nitrogen and phosphorus. Weighted correlation network analysis detected two distinct microbial modules per land use. Bacterial and fungal ribotypes did not group separately, rather all modules comprised of both bacterial and fungal ribotypes. Woodland modules had a similar fungal : bacterial ribotype ratio, while in the pasture, one module was fungal dominated. There was no correspondence between pasture and woodland modules in their ribotype composition. The modules had different relationships to soil variables, and these contrasts were not detected without the use of network analysis. This study demonstrated that fungi and bacteria, components of the soil microbial communities usually treated as separate functional groups as in a CCA approach, were co-correlated and formed distinct associations in these adjacent habitats. Understanding these distinct modular associations may shed more light on their niche space in the soil environment, and allow a more realistic description of soil microbial ecology and function.

Forage resource development in India

Livestock is an important asset of small and marginal farmers in the Indian rural economy, however, its profitability is dependent on efficient feeding and marketing. Chronic shortage of feed and fodder resources during the last few decades indicates that most of the livestock were underfed. This shortage could be traced to growing livestock population, low productivity and less emphasis on forage cultivation by livestock owners. Neglect of community pastures and lack of concern for development of feed resources reflect on the performance of small ruminants. Owners did not show interest in feeding their animals due to low productivity. Sources of fodder for feeding livestock indicated that 54% of the total fodder was met from crop residues, 18% fodder from grasslands and only 28% fodder was from cultivated fodder crops. Breed improvement is the most critical factor for improving milk yield of cows and buffaloes in India and also for other species of livestock. Improved livestock will motivate livestock owners to feed better quality feeds and forages. While improving forage resources, it is necessary to address the opportunities related to production and efficient use of crop residues and increasing the fodder yield of cultivated fodder crops on agricultural lands and on wastelands and community pastures. Forage and feed development should be an integral aspect of the dairy and meat value chain to ensure proper forward and backward integration, necessary to optimize the production and profitability of livestock industry. There is a need to establish effective communication between scientists and poor farmers.