Temporary Grass Research Articles

Indirect herbivore biomanipulation may halt regime shift from clear to turbid after macrophyte restoration

Eutrophication transforms clear water into turbid water in shallow lakes. Current restoration techniques focus on re-establishing the clear-water state rather than on its maintenance. We investigated the response of submerged macrophytes to temporary grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and scraping snail (Bellamya aeruginosa) introductions. We also explored the impacts of herbivores on underwater light conditions to identify their long- and short-term potential to halt regime shift from clear to turbid after clear-water state reestablishment. Herbivores reduced both the biomass of submerged macrophytes and accumulated nutrients in the tissue of submerged macrophytes. This potentially avoided the pulse of endogenous nutrient release which would have exceeded the threshold required for the regime shift from clear to turbid. However, herbivores had a non-significant impact on submerged macrophyte-reduced light attenuation coefficient, which has a positive linear relationship with water chlorophyll a. Further, grass carp and snails enhanced the inhibition ratio of submerged macrophytes to phytoplankton by 3.96 and 2.13 times, respectively. Our study provides novel findings on the potential of herbivore introduction as an indirect biomanipulation tool for halting the regime shift of shallow lakes from clear to turbid after the restoration of submerged macrophytes.

Inter-row floor management is a powerful factor for optimising vine balance in a non-irrigated organic Barbera vineyard in northern Italy

Floor management in organic viticulture plays a key role as weed suppression and soil health must be warranted through practices that minimise the recourse to extensive tillage and herbicides, while any resident vegetation or sown cover crop should exert moderate competition for water and nutrients towards the consociated vines. Lack of knowledge exists about the fraction of soil cover crop coverage (Scc) which might represent the best compromise between the above needs. A four-year study (2017–2020) was conducted in an organically managed cv. Barbera/420 A vineyard in the North-West of Italy, comparing five floor management treatments each having light tillage as the practice chosen to control the under trellis weed growth. Inter-row treatments were permanent grass (PG), tillage (T), alternate tillage and permanent grass every second mid-row (AGT), a variant of this last treatment, where the tilled mid-row was used for growing a temporary winter cover crop terminated in spring (AGC) and temporary grass (TG) where grass was disked post-harvest (mid-October) until natural growth resumption in late winter (mid-February). An assessment was made for soil profile and physicochemical composition, floristic analyses performed in T, PG, and TG treatments, vegetative growth, yield components, grape maturity at harvest, single leaf gas exchange as well as midday and pre-dawn leaf water potentials. While overall scant, mostly season-related differences were found for leaf function and water status, soil management heavily impacted vine performance. Year-round soil cover crop coverage (Scc) regressed towards total pruning weight/vine and yield/vine showed high linear correlation (R2 = 0.93) for pruning weight/vine (to be reduced by 38% at 75% Scc vs. 0% Scc of the T treatment), whereas yield/vine was quite poorly correlated (R2 = 0.21) showing a 15% decrease in PG vs. T. Regressing Scc vs total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), total anthocyanins and phenolics concentration disclosed mild linear correlation (R2 = 0.52) for the two technology ripening parameters and a much tighter fit for colour and phenolics (R2 = 0.79 and 0.90, respectively). AGT had an intermediate behaviour between its two extremes (i.e. T and PG) without assuring any significant marginal gain. Conversely, modulating PG into TG through a temporary removal of the resident vegetation in the fall and AGT into AGC by growing a winter cover crop terminated in the spring as mulching, gave the highest yield at adequate technological and phenolic ripeness. PG assured maximum grapes total soluble solids and total anthocyanin concentration at harvest; however, due to its low vigour, several shortcomings also followed, such as low yeast available nitrogen and malic acid concentration, as well as a tendency to accumulate high amounts of flavonols. Our work led to the conclusion that AGC and TG treatments are quite valuable choices under the specific environment for successful soil management in organic vineyards.

Microbial biomass, microbial diversity, soil carbon storage, and stability after incubation of soil from grass–clover pastures of different age

A laboratory incubation study with clover grass pasture soils of seven different ages (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 16 production years) was carried out to determine initial soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks and potentials for greenhouse gas emissions (N2O and CO2). Compared with the soil from the recently established pasture, an increase of total soil C and N was observed along with pasture age. Greenhouse gas emissions were low and not significantly different among the soils from younger pastures (0–5 years), but especially N2O emissions increased markedly in the soil from 16-year-old grass–clover. Low emissions might mainly be due to an early C limitation occurring in the soils from younger pastures, which was also corroborated by decreasing levels of cold water-extractable C and early shifts within the microbial community. However, higher emissions from the old pasture soil were offset by its increase in total soil C. A longer ley phase without soil disturbance may therefore be beneficial in terms of overall C sequestration in systems with temporary grass–clover swards.

Grass cover on forest clear-cut areas ameliorates some soil chemical properties

Clear-cut areas formed after forest decline due to acid deposition, pest attacks, or wind-breaks in temperate mountainous regions are often populated by grass (mainly Calamagrostis villosa). This study focused on the changes of soil chemical characteristics under the grass cover replacing the forest, focusing mainly on aluminium (Al) speciation. Clear-cut area due to strong acid deposition in the Jizera Mountains (Northern Bohemia) was studied. The soils under grass cover exhibit higher pH values and lower exchangeable Al content compared to adjacent surviving forest. Mobile Al species under the grass have larger proportion of non-toxic organic complexes. The content of exchangeable base cations is slightly higher under the grass. The positive effect of grass on soil chemistry was enhanced by liming. The temporary grass cover can therefore improve soil chemical quality for following reforestation. However, the differences are generally limited to surface organic horizons. Similar results were found also on a bark-beetle clear-cut area in the Bohemian Forest (Southern Bohemia) with smaller acid deposition; nevertheless, most differences were not significant there.

Effects on animal performance of summer grazing of Molinia dominant semi-natural rough grazing by cattle and sheep

The Less Favoured Areas (LFAs), which occupy almost half of the agricultural land in the UK, can be divided into two categories: rough grazing (semi-natural) and grassland (improved permanent pasture and temporary grass). Although rough grazing accounts for two-thirds of the land, it contributes only 15% to total output. However, it is this category that requires more sympathetic grazing management if its environmental value is to be maintained or enhanced. While some information exists on the impact of grazing by cattle on semi-natural vegetation communities such as Molinia caerulea (Grant et al., 1996) there is a lack of information on the effects that grazing with cattle or sheep over the summer months might have on animal performance. The underlying hypothesis for this experiment was that grazing in summer would have beneficial effects on animal performance through changes in the short term in the structure of the vegetation, and in the long term through changes in both structure and species composition.

Succession changes of temporary grass stands on set-aside land

The mixtures of <i>Bromus marginatus</i> Nees ex Steud. + Coronilla varia L., Festuca pratensis L. + Lotus corniculatus L., Dactylis aschersoniana Graebn. + Trifolium repens L., Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P. Beauv. ex J.S. et K.B. Presl + Medicago lupulina L. were sown in rows of 125 mm in the year 1997 in Prague (chernozem, altitude 281 m a.s.l., average precipitation is 472 mm per year, average year temperature 9.3°C). The stands were one or three times per year cut with the mass removing or one or two times mulched. Botanical composition (by weight method), number of present species and agrobotanical groups (grasses, legumes, other dicotyledonous) coverage were measured during 6 years of vegetation. The species number was highest on plots cut 3 times (6–17), it increased linearly. The sown species share in the dry mass yield was 75–99% and the share of grasses decreased linearly with time. The significantly highest dry mass yield was reached when mulched two times per year Bromus marginatus Nees ex Steud. with Coronilla varia L. (till 14 t/ha ). The stands coverage was 43–80%.

Dynamics of stand composition changes in grass and grass-clover stands and relations between dominant species

Changes in the species composition of temporary grass and grass-clover crops stands were studied in 1994–2000. The assessment consisted in determination of the dominance of individual species, measurement of their aboveground biomass weight and subsequent comparison of detected values. The measurements were evaluated by the method of determination of distance between vectors of stand composition and by the subsequent standardization. Resulting values are in a good agreement with the hither to knowledge and confirm that more favourable yield parameters are achieved within 30–60% of total changeability. Changes of species composition and stand changeability are at their initial stages of succession given by external changes mainly contributed to by the group of clumpy grass species and by internal changes within the group of pod-bearing plants.

Effects of grass ley set-aside on runoff, erosion and organic matter levels in sandy soils in East Shropshire, UK

Investigations were conducted to assess the potential contribution of grass ley set-aside to soil conservation. Ten runoff plots at the Hilton experimental site, Shropshire, UK, were put to a temporary grass ley in April 1991, to simulate one specific set-aside land use. Plot slope angles varied between 7 and 15°. Runoff and erosion rates over 5 years were low, despite the occurrence of potentially erosive rains. Mean runoff was 0.22% of precipitation (S.D. 0.16, n = 49 plot years), compared with an 11-year mean value of 0.14% on permanent grassland. Erosion rates decreased to tolerable levels once ∼ 30% vegetation cover had established, then rates remained low, despite the occurrence of potentially erosive rains. Under developed ley cover, plot erosion rates were ∼ 0.1−0.5 t ha −1 year −1, with a mean value of 0.23 t ha −1 year −1 (S.D. 0.14) for 49 plot years. Results suggest erosion rates progressively decrease through time, as the ley cover matures. Erosion rate and slope angle were poorly correlated, suggesting leys are highly effective for soil conservation, even on steep slopes. Physical processes of slope wash became inefficient in transporting soil, while plot observations suggest that biological processes became more important, particularly exposure and subsequent erosion of soil from mole hills and worm casts. Mean soil organic matter content increased consistently and significantly on the set-aside plots, by a mean value of 0.39% in 2 years and 0.78% in 4 years. Soil erodibility significantly decreased. Results suggest that using grass leys for set-aside could prove a viable soil conservation technique. Grassland could also be used as ‘soakaways’ in arable systems; braking, filtering and infiltrating runoff, thus decreasing net sediment transfer downslope.

Chemical fractionation of lake sediments to determine the effects of land-use change on nutrient loading

Lake studies allow contemporary sediment and nutrient dynamics to be placed in a historical context in order that trends and rates of change in catchment inputs may be calculated. Here, a synthesis of the temporal information contained in catchment and lake sediment records is attempted. A chemical fractionation technique is used to isolate the different sediment sources contained in the lake core, and 210Pb dates provide an accurate record of changes in lake sediment sources over the past 100 years. The extent to which land-use records, collated from agricultural census returns, and process-based studies of sediment and nutrient export from different catchment land uses can be used to explain the trends observed in the lake sediments is examined. Sediment influx to the study lake has increased from less than 2 mm year −1 prior to the Second World War to over 10 mm year −1 at present. The source of the sediment is largely unaltered and unweathered allochthonous material eroded from the catchment. Land-use records suggest that the intensification of agriculture, characterized by a shift towards arable land immediately postwar, followed by an increase in the area of temporary grass in the 1960s, may be the cause of accelerated catchment erosion; both land-use changes would have increased the area of ploughed land in the catchment. An increase in the number of cattle and sheep in the catchment from around 2000 and 6000, respectively, in the 1940s, to a peak of nearly 7000 cattle and over 15 000 sheep in the 1980s, provides a further source of sediment and nutrients. Livestock are grazed on permanent grassland which is commonly located on steep hillslopes and in riparian zones where saturation-excess surface runoff may be an important hydrological pathway. Rainfall simulation experiments show that surface runoff from heavily grazed grassland has a high suspended sediment, ammonium-nitrogen and particulate phosphorus load. The combined effect of the long-term increase in the organic loading from livestock and the inorganic N and P load from fertilizers, may be the source of nutrient enrichment in the lake.

Variability of unsaturated zone water transport parameters: implications for hydrological modelling. 1. In situ measurements

Physically based hydrological models require values of saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity to solve the equations used to describe subsurface flow. Variability of these parameters within and between various land uses and soil types is an important consideration if hydrological behaviour is to be described realistically. A catchment in south-west England has been chosen to validate the European Hydrological System (Système Hydrologique Européen — SHE). The catchment includes three land use domains — arable (including temporary grass), permanent grassland and woodland. For the unsaturated zone component of the SHE both saturated hydraulic conductivity, K s, and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity as a function of matric suction, K(ψ), are required. The aim of this investigation was to measure the parameters for input to the model, to assess the variability of these parameters and to determine whether or not parameters should be used for each domain independently. A Guelph permeameter was used to obtain K s and α, which describes the slope of the logarithmic unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function ( K( ψ) = K s exp( αψ)). Measurements at four depths were carried out. Domains were chosen according to land use — arable land (including temporary grass), permanent grassland and woodland. Both K s and α were found to be lognormally distributed. The K s values were highest in the grassland and lowest in arable land. The difference between means was significant for K s but not for α in the three domains. High values of K s were attributed to preferential flow along slate faces and root-induced channels in the grassland and woodland, respectively, as indicated by dye tests. Finally, it was concluded that, as K s and K(ψ) differ significantly between domains, different hydrological behaviour would be expected. It is therefore recommended that different parameter sets be used for modelling the individual domains.

The Contemporary Regional Structure of British Agriculture

In this treatise, the author tried to investigate regional structure of British agriculture from the view point of farming system in an attempt to clarify intraregional differential of agricultural land use on the county level, on which we have not any report as before. The author concluded results of investigation as follows.1) The geographical distribution of Alternate Husbandry and Multifield system. In applying Fallow Index and Temporary Grass Altenation ratio, farming regions can be devided into three categorical types, namely, from eastern parts of Great Britain to westward, agricultural regions specializing in grain cultivation followed by grass growing region, between these regions, mixed farming region can be observed. As a whole, there ranged from east coast side of the British Isles to the westward Multifield system, mixed farming system, followed by Alternate Husbandary.2) In contrast with main crop group. We can devide main crop into intentive cormophyte item (Boden bereichernde Pflanzen), extensive one (Boden schonende Pflanzen), and grain crop (Boden angreifende Pflanzen). Areal differentiatiation of those subdevided group, as a whole, corresponds to geographical destribution of Alternate Husbandry region and Multi field system region.3) Judging from combination Specialization Index with Land Productivity Index of main crops, We get characteristic distribution of agricultural regions, namely, a) grain crop region, in which high Land Productivity Index with top ranked Specialization Index are recognized in eastern parts of Isles, b) Grass and Hoed crops are highly cultivated to the north and north-west ward, productivity is ranked in high order relatively, Wales marks in both Index in the lowest.Causes of distinguished geographical pattern above mentioned can be attributed mainly to natural environment, especially climatological difference and factor of levelling balance of demand and supply in labor expenditure.4) In turn, when observed from Land Utilization Types in compared with regional variations of Comprehensive Land Productivity, highly intensive farming regions are composed of 4 central poles: 1) Fenland region, 2) Region of Home country aggromerated in Greater London, 3) Lancashire region, 4) Birmingham region, which are exclusively specialized in intensive Cormophyte items with high Comprehensive Productivity. from these 4 central poles to north and westward, we can easily observe agricultural land use patterns which put the accent on extensive cormophyte items with low Comprehensive Productivity. British Agriculture have been tried to adjust herself to elastic farming system, vz, Ley Farming as a sort of alternate husbandary in past 100 years in trying to absorb the direct shock caused by economic fluctuation, maintaining fertility of agricultural land as well. In those context, main theme of this paper is, in advance historical investigation, to make clear regional structure of British Agriculture in the light of Ley Farming system.

Overseeding Florida Lawns for Winter Color

Overseeding is the practice of using a temporary grass that is seeded into the permanent lawn to provide winter color. While this practice is common on golf courses, athletic fields, and high-profile landscape areas, the principles also apply to homeowners who wish to have a green lawn year-round. It is important to remember,however, that this also entails year-round lawn maintenance. This document is ENH14, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food andAgricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date August 22, 2001. Revised September 2001.

The Farmer's Viewpoint on Aerial Application of Fertilisers and Sprays

What is the normal practice of a reasonably good farmer in the matter of fertiliser application to both arable and grass crops? First, there is such a wide disparity between the practice of a good farmer and the rest that it can only be hoped that all will soon be brought up to the good standard. A recent survey showed that about 50 per cent of temporary grass and 70 per cent of permanent grassland in England and Wales still receive no nitrogen fertiliser.Normal application to both temporary and permanent grassland (for light and medium soils) is three to five cwt. of a compound (12: 12: 18) plus two applications of nitrogen, or expressed as straight fertilisers:

The British Association at Bournemouth: Section M. Agriculture

DURING the past four years—or since the ploughing programme began to take shape—grass-land has been officially cold-shouldered in no small degree. The cause was obvious and the reasons were good. The result of compulsory and voluntary ploughing has been that, whereas in 1914 the total area in Great Britain under temporary and permanent grass (hay and pasture) was practically 21,500,000 acres, it was barely 19,500,000 acres in 1918, a reduction, namely, of about 2,000,000 acres. During the same period the arable area, other than temporary grass, increased from about 10,500,000 acres to 12,500,000 acres. In Ireland during these years the area under grass (permanent and temporary) fell from about 12,500,000 aci;es to less than 11,250,000 acres. The United Kingdom at the present time comprises about 30,500,000 acres of permanent and temporary grass and 15,500,000 acres o of land under crops other than grass and clover. This is over and above some 16,000,000 acres of mountain land used for grazing.