Effects of Abandonment on the Functional Composition and Forage Nutritive Value of a North Adriatic Dry Grassland Community (Ćićarija, Croatia)

Abstract

Abstract. Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris association is one of the most widespread types of pasture in Istria and of great environmental and economic interest. The research aims were to test if forage quantity, nutritive value and functional composition (grasses and grass-like, legumes, and forbs percentage) of these pastures change significantly in relation to: time of the growing season, management type (low use intensity grazing/grazing abandonment) and topographic variables. During 2008, phytomass samples were collected in grazed and ungrazed pastures of Ćićarija (Croatia), in May, June, and September. Their composition in dry matter, ash, crude protein (CP), neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF, ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were determined and net energy for lactation (NEL) and yield NEL were calculated. These variables followed a double trend, linked to the phenological phases of grasslands and to a land use/topographic gradient. Yield, yield NEL, dry matter, NDF, ADF and ADL increased during the growing season, while CP, NEL and IVDMD decreased. Yield, yield NEL, grasses and forbs, ash, and IVDMD were tied to the ungrazed pastures spread on the slopes, while ADF, ADL and dry matter had stronger correlation with grazed grasslands spread on the flat lands.

How mowing restores montane Mediterranean grasslands following cessation of traditional livestock grazing

“…Our results also indicate that the reduction of B. rupestre cover after recurrent mowing was correlated to the increase of the relative contribution of species with high pabular value. This means that the treatment improved the overall feed value of pastures, confirming previous findings by Vitasović-Kosić et al (2014). In addition, Catorci et al (2014a) proved that defoliation of B. rupestre tussocks led to an increase in nitrogen and a decrease in lignin content of the new leaves.…”

“…This process generally reduces the overall feed value of pastures (i.e. Vitasović-Kosić et al, 2014), negatively affecting the economic sustainability of mountain farming and exacerbating the abandonment trend of the mountain areas (Catorci et al, 2014a;Scocco et al, 2018).…”

Land use change in the high mountain belts of the central Apennines led to marked changes of the grassland mosaic

“…leads to modifications of the community composition and to a decrease in species richness, especially of the small‐statured ones (Catorci et al., ). Moreover, the spread of Brachypodium has been linked to a reduction of forage quality for both domestic (Vitasović Kosić, Tardella, Grbeša, Škvorc, & Catorci, ) and wild (Corazza, Tardella, Ferrari, & Catorci, ) herbivores. Analogously, the increase in turf density following grazing cessation was considered harmful for several bird species, including Alectoris graeca (Rippa et al., ).…”

Disentangling the Effects of Disturbance from Those of Dominant Tall Grass Features in Driving the Functional Variation of Restored Grassland in a Sub-Mediterranean Context

“…[9,10], with an overall decrease in species richness and diversity [9]. Moreover, Brachypodium spread reduces the overall feed value of pastures [11], thus negatively affecting mountain farming economic sustainability [12]. Because of this profound impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services, restoration of pastures after tall-grass invasion (B. rupestre in the study case) is a paramount issue.…”