Early changes in species composition of upland sown grassland under extensive grazing management

Marriott, Carol A.; Bolton, G. R.; Barthram, G. T.; Fisher, Julia M.; Hood, K.

doi:10.1658/1402-2001(2002)005[0087:ecisco]2.0.co;2

Cited by 11 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Thus, at the considered time scale, treatments did not affect the qualitative species composition, but they affected abundance of established species. Marriott et al (2002) observed the same phenomenon in a five year grazing experiment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Concerning the potential seed input by this treatment there was no evidence of an effect (results not shown). Furthermore, in the closed canopy of this type of grassland there is little opportunity for seedling development (Marriott et al 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies about grazing effects generally have a temporal resolution of one or more years (e.g. Bokdam & Gleichman 2000;Marriott et al 2002) or are synchronic (e.g. Mitlacher et al 2002;Vandvik & Birks 2002;Huebner & Vankat 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal vegetation changes in mountain pastures due to simulated effects of cattle grazing

Köhler

Gillet

Gobat

et al. 2004

J Vegetation Science

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Abstract. Cattle influence grassland dynamics in three ways: herbage removal, dung deposition and trampling. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of these factors, separately or in combination, and to compare them with cattle grazing over a one year period in a field experiment conducted in the Jura Mountains of northwestern Switzerland.A set of controlled treatments simulating the three factors was applied in a fenced area: (1) repeated mowing -three levels; (2) intensive trampling -two levels; (3) manuring with a liquid mixture of dung and urine -three levels. All treatments were applied homogeneously to the entire surface of each of the 40 plots inside the exclosure. Additionally, ten plots outside the fenced area represented reference plots with regular cattle pasturing. The multivariate response of species composition was assessed three times with the point-intercept method: in spring before the treatments, in autumn after one season of treatments and at the beginning of the following year after winter rest.Multivariate analyses of vegetation data in the first year showed an overwhelming seasonal shift and significant differences induced by treatments. Abandoned and manured plots showed the largest deviation from the cattle grazed reference. Herbage removal, simulated by repeated mowing, appeared to be the most important factor for maintaining vegetation texture. Seasonal treatment effects were only partially carried over to the next spring, showing an unexpected resilience of the plant community, probably due to life-history traits and competition release following climatic disturbance in winter.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal vegetation changes in mountain pastures due to simulated effects of cattle grazing

Köhler

Gillet

Gobat

et al. 2004

J Vegetation Science

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“…Cessation or reduction of fertiliser inputs had no effect on species richness in many of the studies on mesotrophic swards [25], even after 10 years or longer [13,41,75,100]. However, the number of species increased in two studies, within six years of the cessation of fertiliser in Study M9 (Tab.…”

Section: Reduction In Fertiliser Inputsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Long-term impacts of extensification of grassland management on biodiversity and productivity in upland areas. A review

Marriott¹,

Fothergill

Jeangros³

et al. 2004

Agronomie

107

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Modern rural policies that incorporate agricultural and environmental aims within the broader framework of sustainable rural development are being formulated to address the problem of declines in grassland biodiversity and the destruction of sensitive landscapes and habitats in Europe. Extensification is the process of reducing fertiliser inputs, management intensity and stocking rates, and is central to these sustainable rural policies. However, research in the Less Favoured Areas of Europe has been fragmented and highly variable reflecting the different uses and requirements of our upland areas. Information is needed to determine the nature and timescale of changes in such systems, and whether extensive management is sustainable in the long-term. This paper presents results from a range of grassland extensification experiments across Europe, mainly within the European Union, over the past 30 years that quantify the impacts on soil, plant and animal components of the system. All have the common theme of changing the focus of land management from solely the agricultural product to include a broader range of ecological and environmental objectives. Beneficial changes in biodiversity resulted from more extensive management treatments, but at the cost of reductions in total animal output, and in some cases a reduction in individual animal performance. However, it is clear that it is a long-term process to achieve many of these changes in biodiversity, and this must be recognised by policy makers. We recommend that future extensification studies adopt an approach that will allow their results to be applied throughout Europe.

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“…and white clover are the dominant forage species found in northeastern USA pasture soil seed banks. Although the species composition of seed banks and the aboveground vegetation frequently are not closely related (Tracy and Sanderson, 2000; Thompson and Grime, 1979; Marriott et al, 2002), species composition of the vegetation may affect the abundance of seed in the seed bank. For example, Tracy et al (2004) reported that the seed bank formed under tall fescue‐ [ Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.)…”

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confidence: 99%

Soil Seed Bank Composition in Pastures of Diverse Mixtures of Temperate Forages

Sanderson

Goslee

Klement³

et al. 2007

Agronomy Journal

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Seed banks may contribute useful or weedy species that fill gaps in pastures. In a previous study, pastures planted to complex mixtures of forages had a lesser proportion of weedy species in the aboveground vegetation. In this study, we relate changes in the species composition of the seed bank to changes in the aboveground vegetation. In August 2001, four mixtures [two, three, six, and nine species of temperategrasses, legumes and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)] were established in replicated 1-ha pastures (eight total) in central Pennsylvania. Pastures were grazed by dairy cattle from April to September in 2002 and 2003. Soil cores (1.88-cm diam. by 5-cm depth) were taken in April and October in 2002and 2003, and in April 2004 to determine the density of germinable seeds. Soil samples were placed in a greenhouse under natural light and controlled temperatures for 12 to 18 mo and germinated seedlings counted regularly. The total density of germinable seeds from all species did not differ among mixtures (P 5 0.08). Annual nonleguminous forbs accounted for 79% of the germinable seeds. Yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta L.) was the dominant annual forb. There were significant differences among pastures planted to different mixtures in the density of germinable annual forb seeds; however, these differences likely occurred because of preexisting spatial variation in seed bank composition. Seeded species contributed fewer than 1000 seeds m 22 total in the 3 yr. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were the most common forage species in the seed bank. There was little relation between the species composition of the seed bank and the composition of the aboveground vegetation. Data from this study indicate that previous land management had larger effects on the soil seed bank than did planting diverse mixtures of forages.

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Early changes in species composition of upland sown grassland under extensive grazing management

Cited by 11 publications

References 21 publications

Seasonal vegetation changes in mountain pastures due to simulated effects of cattle grazing

Seasonal vegetation changes in mountain pastures due to simulated effects of cattle grazing

Long-term impacts of extensification of grassland management on biodiversity and productivity in upland areas. A review

Soil Seed Bank Composition in Pastures of Diverse Mixtures of Temperate Forages

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