Grazing exclusion promotes grasses functional group dominance via increasing of bud banks in steppe community

Zhao, Ling‐Ping; Wang, Dong; Liang, Fu‐Pei; Liu, Yü; Wu, Gao‐Lin

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109589

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…While grazing plays an important role in maintaining highly productive grasslands, those suffering excessive grazing pressure, extensive degradation or of lower productivity often benefit from the complete removal of grazing livestock. A long‐term (20 and 30 years) grazing exclusion zone was developed in the steppe grasslands of China, which observed an increase in perennial grass cover, as well as higher density bud banks of favourable grasses when compared to the grazing sites (Zhao, Wang, Liang, & Wu, 2019). The effects of different degrees of overgrazing were observed by Török et al (2018) within four different Hungarian steppe grassland communities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…grazing exclusion zone was developed in the steppe grasslands of China, which observed an increase in perennial grass cover, as well as higher density bud banks of favourable grasses when compared to the grazing sites (Zhao, Wang, Liang, & Wu, 2019). The effects of different degrees of overgrazing were observed by Török et al (2018) within four different Hungarian steppe grassland communities.…”

Section: Grazing Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Weed management for landscape scale restoration of global temperate grasslands

et al. 2020

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Globally, temperate grasslands have been significantly degraded as a result of urbanisation, grazing and agriculture. Weeds now dominate most of these ecosystems, resulting in the loss of ecosystem services, reduced carrying capacity for farmers, and reduction of habitat for native plants and animals. This paper reviews the literature relating to temperate grassland restoration efforts across the globe, noting which techniques and combinations have been used successfully to reduce weed dominance and promote native recruitment and establishment. This review concludes that, using a combination of four restoration techniques, provided the highest level of success, with the caveat that, ongoing weed management should be budgeted for in all projects. There is no single optimal method for restoration and weed control, with success depending on specific site conditions and the scope and aims of particular projects. However, any form of target plant transfer was observed to significantly enhance the restoration's success and reduce exotic plant biomass. There is clearly a need for an increase in long‐term monitoring of restoration projects in order to make more confident assumptions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Grazing Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weed management for landscape scale restoration of global temperate grasslands

et al. 2020

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“…The promotion of certain managements such as grazing or long‐term exclusion of grazing could lead to a change in dominance of above‐ground biomass (different plant functional groups) ultimately affecting the proportion of palatable grasses and unpalatable forbs in temperate ecosystems (Zhao et al, 2019). However, plant competition (del‐Val & Crawley, 2005), and grazing behaviour of the animals also influence the composition and perenniality of plant communities (Matches, 1992), the functional groups and the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation (Adler et al, 2001; Bullock et al, 2001; Díaz et al, 2007; Fernández‐Lugo et al, 2013) as well as soil physical and chemical properties (Augustine and Frank, 2001; Steffens et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of 15‐year sward management on vertical distribution of plant functional groups in a semi‐natural perennial grassland of central Europe

Kassahun

Pavlů

et al. 2021

Applied Vegetation Science

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Aims: The nutrient concentration in herbage and biomass productivity analyses are dependent on the vertical distribution of different sward layers where the sampling is done. Notably, a majority of studies indicate clipping biomass to the ground level without any consideration of the vertical distribution. This study examined the effect of cutting and grazing intensities on the vertical distribution of plant functional groups. Location: Oldřichov Grazing Experiment, northern Czechia. Methods: During a 15-year experiment: (a) intensive and (b) extensive grazing without cutting; (c) cutting in June followed by intensive and (d) extensive grazing; and (e) undefoliated treatment were applied throughout the vegetation season. Biomass data were collected at two layers in the sward (below and above 3 cm) and separated into five functional groups. Biomass data were analysed to examine the succession and effects of treatments on vertical distribution of functional groups. Results: Treatment effects were differentiated after 2-3 years from the introduction of management, but the composition of functional groups fluctuated over time. Treatments significantly affected total biomass of all functional groups and the vertical distribution within swards of most groups. Particularly intensive grazing significantly decreased the total biomass of graminoids, forbs, and dead biomass in favour of legumes (which increased). This led to a shift in the relative biomass distribution from the upper sward layer to the lower layer for most functional groups except for legumes and mosses. Conclusion: The high proportion of dead biomass in the lower sward layer suggests the need for a methodological approach that considers clipping of biomass only above 3 cm when sampling for productivity and forage quality analysis. This approach would avoid including biomass from below 3 cm or the lower layer, which would be ungrazed by cattle. Many previous studies may have reported a distorted or inflated value in herbage productivity or forage quality results.

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“…Soil quality may be affected by these approaches and it generally determines the structure and productivity of the plant community (Kiani et al, 2017; Lin, Xia, & Wan, 2010; Liu et al, 2021; Hubbard, Strickland, & Phatak, 2013; Pritchett, Kennedy, & Cogger, 2011). The trade‐off between soil quality and plant community structure is an important issue because of intensive human disturbance in semiarid grassland in recent years (Wang et al, 2020; Zhao, Wang, Liang, Liu, & Wu, 2019). Globally, atmospheric nitrogen deposition rate has increased three‐ to five‐fold over the past century due to anthropogenic activities, such as fossil fuel combustion and the application of artificial nitrogen‐based fertilizers (Hu & Wan, 2019; Kim et al, 2015; Long et al, 2020; Xiao et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More than 90% of grasslands in China are categorized as degraded ecosystems because of sub‐optimal management systems and unregulated collection of fuel and medicinal plants (Miao et al, 2020a; Wan et al, 2015; Zhao et al, 2019). It is necessary to examine optimal grassland management practices that can maintain long‐term productivity without decreasing soil quality and associated soil degradation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of mowing and fertilization on soil quality in a semiarid grassland of North China

et al. 2020

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Soil quality has been defined as the capacity to sustain biological productivity and maintain environmental quality. Mowing and fertilization may affect ecosystem function through numerous soil properties, especially in semiarid grasslands where plant growth is limited by nutrient availability. However, the effects of grassland management on the trade‐off between soil quality and plant community structure is still unclear. Understanding the effect of land use type on soil quality is essential to adopt proper grassland management practices for a specific region. Principal component analysis was used to calculate a soil quality index (SQI) with 18 variables under the following treatments: control, mowing, nitrogen addition, and mowing plus nitrogen addition in August 2017 in a typical steppe of North China. This study showed that nitrogen addition significantly increased SQI by 0.82, field water capacity by 3.77%, soil capillary porosity by 3.30%, and soil available nitrogen content by 13.85 mg kg−1, but reduced soil aggregate proportion by 3.07%, microbial biomass nitrogen content by 7.74 mg kg−1, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by 0.02 μmol g−1, the ratio of fungus to bacteria by 0.16, and the ratio of Gram‐positive bacteria to Gram‐negative bacteria by 0.13 across the mowing and unmowing treatments. Nitrogen addition could improve productivity by increasing the soil quality but reduce plant diversity of the grassland ecosystems. Mowing did not affect SQI and aboveground biomass. The results suggested that fertilization as grassland management improved soil quality and productivity, whereas mowing was a sustainable way to maintain plant diversity in this semiarid grassland.

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Grazing exclusion promotes grasses functional group dominance via increasing of bud banks in steppe community

Cited by 13 publications

References 44 publications

Weed management for landscape scale restoration of global temperate grasslands

Weed management for landscape scale restoration of global temperate grasslands

Effect of 15‐year sward management on vertical distribution of plant functional groups in a semi‐natural perennial grassland of central Europe

Effects of mowing and fertilization on soil quality in a semiarid grassland of North China

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