Does Stocking Rate Manipulation Promote Pasture Sustainability in the Humid Tropics?

Abstract

Stocking rate manipulation was examined as a means of improving plant diversity (as a measure of pasture sustainability and forage value) in a native grass pasture used for dairy production in the humid tropics of Veracruz, Mexico. Given that environmental impact reduces biotic diversity, plant phylogenetic and functional diversity should decline with increased stocking rate. Stocking rates of 2, 3, and 4 cows Á ha À1 and a rotational grazing plan of 3 d of occupation and 27 d of rest per pasture were applied continuously over 5 yr. Across 200 quadrats in each of two replicate paddocks per treatment, observed species richness, phylogenetic diversity (average taxonomic distinctness based on species presence/absence), and functional diversity (life-cycle duration and growth habit) were assessed. Most species were forb/herbs and forb/herb-subshrubs. Perennial species declined with increased stocking rate (F¼16.36, 0.05. P. 0.02) while annual-perennial species increased (F¼76.88, 0.01. P. 0.005); the proportion of annual species was least prominent and did not differ significantly. Observed species richness and phylogenetic diversity did not differ significantly with stocking rate. The correlation between functional diversity for life-cycle duration and phylogenetic diversity was significant and positive, suggesting that plant communities were predominantly assembled randomly from the surrounding species pool rather than through interspecies interactions acting to naturally filter immigrant species, thus leading to more opportunistic and undesired species. Although grazing pressure was not sufficient to alter indices or production measures, they did reveal shifts that may precede further pasture decline, indicating pasture sustainability was not being achieved. These rapid assessment methods permit monitoring for early warnings of reductions in pasture sustainability and forage quality for cattle.

Impact of stocking rate on species diversity and composition of a subtropical grassland in Argentina

“…; Campbell et al. ). Some of these differences among studies may stem from environmental conditions of each study site.…”

“…; Campbell et al. ) with grazing intensity. This diversity of responses probably relates to the different grassland types studied, which range from sub‐humid to semi‐arid, tropical to temperate and lowland to upland (Milchunas et al.…”

CRM-Based Dynamic Decision-Making With Hesitant Fuzzy Information for the Evaluation of Rangelands

“…However, they are affected by many factors such as thin soils, aridity, low productivity per unit area and so on (Reeves & Baggett, 2014). With the degradation of rangeland becoming an increasingly serious problem, people have paid attention to the sustainable development of rangelands (Campbell, Rodríguze, Ortiz, & Gallegos, 2013;Abolhassani, Oesten, Rajmis, & Azadi, 2013). Sustainability means that the needs of the present generation should be respected without impairing the future ones to meet current needs (Peano, Migliorini, & Sottile, 2014;World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987).…”

“…To support decisions on rangeland policy, the close links between economic, ecological and social processes must be addressed (Gross et al, 2006;Zendehedl, Rademaker, Baets, & Huylenbroeck, 2009). Sustainability of rangeland ecosystem is influenced by comprehensive factors, such as global climate change, human production activities and the size of livestock (Campbell et al, 2013;Silva et al, 2017). Therefore, how to make effective evaluation for the rangelands seems to be an important and challenging task.…”