Plant‐Herbivore Interactions

Sollenberger, Lynn E.; Wallau, Marcelo

doi:10.1002/9781119436669.ch10

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 102 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It can also affect the ecosystem by altering degree of land cover as well as soil physical, chemical, and biological characteristics which are associated with multiple environmental impacts on soil health, plant productivity, and grassland structure (Dubeux et al., 2009; Yang et al., 2013). Animal‐mediated effects on grazed grasslands include poaching, trampling, spatially heterogeneous defoliation, and spatial heterogeneity of dung and urine deposition leading to redistribution of soil nutrients (Dubeux et al., 2007; Sollenberger & Wallau, 2020). Thus, optimal grazing management can deliver benefits including improved forage accumulation and nutritive value, lower feed costs, and improved livestock performance (Jerrentrup, 2013; Wei et al., 2011).…”

Section: Grassland Usesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An important question remains: To what extent can management be intensified without deteriorating the soil attributes in the term of system resilience? Since grassland ecosystem functions are a result of complex interactions between herbivores, vegetation, soil, and atmosphere (Sollenberger & Wallau, 2020), desired management outcomes must be reflected in all components of the ecosystem and should include maintaining (a) functional plant communities characterized by sward canopy structure that is well suited for grazing herbivores; and (b) soil cover in order to protect soil health and quality and provide the necessary ecosystem services for sustainable development of human society.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

How does grassland management affect physical and biochemical properties of temperate grassland soils? A review study

Mayel

Jarrah

Kuka

2021

Grass and Forage Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Temperate grasslands occupy 9 million km 2 , representing 8% of earth's terrestrial surface (Figure 1) (Sala et al., 2013;White et al., 2000). Most permanent grasslands are land-use systems established by humans over centuries and therefore a part of our cultural landscape (Hejcman et al., 2013). Grasslands occur most commonly where site-specific conditions are less favourable for crop farming, while primarily found on marginal land. Grassland herbaceous plant communities evolved in close relation with herbivores and are adapted to defoliation. Defoliation is defined as removing plant shoots by grazing or mowing, and it is described in terms of intensity, interval between events, timing relative to season or plant growth stage, or by its spatial heterogeneity (Sollenberger

show abstract

Section: Grassland Usesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How does grassland management affect physical and biochemical properties of temperate grassland soils? A review study

Mayel

Jarrah

Kuka

2021

Grass and Forage Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The results of Szymczak, Moraes et al (2020) agreed with studies that demonstrated intermediate SSH at the STIR ‐max for other forage species (Fonseca et al, 2012; Mezzalira et al, 2014; Silva et al, 2017). These finding have implications at the plant–animal interface (Sollenberger & Wallau, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Convergence points of optimal herbage accumulation and intake rate by sheep grazing tall fescue

Szymczak,

de Moraes,

Sulc

et al. 2023

Grass and Forage Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pasture management oriented towards sustainable intensification and stability of yield must consider the ideal balance between the mass of leaves removed by grazing and the mass left as residual. The former supports high animal production and the later supports an optimum soil–plant carbon balance. This study aimed to evaluate the optimal herbage level from both plant and animal perspectives, through the adjustment of instantaneous herbage accumulation rate as estimated by the Gompertz curve model and short‐term intake rate of sheep. Weekly tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) herbage accumulation was measured during seven growth periods with initiation dates in October, November and December 2015, and March, April, August and September 2016 and with the initiation dates arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Total herbage mass, leaf lamina mass, pseudo‐stem + sheath mass, senescent mass, and sward surface height were measured each week. The results demonstrated that a pre‐grazing sward surface height of 22.3 cm of tall fescue promoted the maximum short‐term intake rate of sheep and the optimum herbage accumulation rate in the spring and autumn periods. In general, the convergent point occurred after the maximum instantaneous leaf lamina accumulation rate and before the maximum instantaneous accumulation rate of pseudo‐stem + sheath and senescent material. We suggest the existence of a convergent point in which both primary and secondary production of pastoral ecosystems could be fostered.

show abstract

“…In the present study, we revealed that the herbage mass and tussock cover in response to grazing management practices significantly affected the STIR, which was maximized at moderate levels of herbage mass and tussock cover. Even though STIR does not necessarily translate into daily intake (which is dependent on forage availability; Sollenberger & Wallau, 2020), its evaluation and response to diverse canopy characteristics allow for a better understanding of the effect of HA and grazing intensity on animal performance, mediated by the canopy structure and the mechanisms involved on bite selection and formation. Thus, STIR becomes an important explanatory variable of daily intake (Allden & Whittaker, 1970; Cangiano, 1999) and consequently animal productivity (Hodgson, 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Remarkably, moderate grazing intensities maximize primary production and animal performance in these pastures (Correa & Maraschin, 1994;Moojen & Maraschin, 2002). Despite the potential lack of relationship between STIR and daily intake (Sollenberger & Wallau, 2020) mass. This fact emphasizes how complex this relationship can be in heterogeneous and multi-specific native grasslands (Bonnet et al, 2015).…”

Section: Stirmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moderate grazing intensities modulate canopy structure that influences short‐term intake rate of heifers grazing a natural grassland

Wallau,

Neves,

Caram

et al. 2023

Grassland Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Grazing management frequently relies on forage availability as an indicator of performance. However, canopy structure and composition can play an important role in foraging behavior and intake in native grasslands. Here, we aim to (1) assess the effect of grazing management on herbage biomass, tussock cover, average canopy and inter‐tussock canopy height, and to (2) study the effect of these canopy structure components on short‐term intake rate (STIR) and patch selectivity of beef cattle, in a native grassland in the Campos region in southern Brazil. Ten 1000 m2 experimental units were built in five paddocks (two per paddock) managed with different herbage allowance (HA) treatments: four fixed year‐round HA (1 to 4 kg dry matter [DM]/kg live weight [LW]) and one variable HA (2 and 3 kg DM/kg LW during spring and the rest of the year, respectively). The experimental units were grazed individually with four heifers during 45 min, in two grazing cycles. Before each grazing session, we assessed the total herbage mass, average and inter‐tussock canopy height, and tussock cover. During the 45‐min grazing sessions, we evaluated the STIR (g DM/kg LW0.75/min) and grazing time in tussock and inter‐tussock strata. Increasing the HA increased the total herbage mass, canopy height and tussock cover. The STIR was maximized with herbage mass of 2200 kg DM/ha and a tussock cover of ~7%, canopy structures related with moderate grazing intensities (i.e., 2 and 3 kg DM/kg LW), which increased the selection opportunity by herbivores. Canopy structures associated with heavy (1 kg DM/kg LW) and lenient grazing intensity (4 kg DM/kg LW) determined linear decreases of 50% in STIR.

show abstract

Plant‐Herbivore Interactions

Cited by 4 publications

References 102 publications

How does grassland management affect physical and biochemical properties of temperate grassland soils? A review study

How does grassland management affect physical and biochemical properties of temperate grassland soils? A review study

Convergence points of optimal herbage accumulation and intake rate by sheep grazing tall fescue

Moderate grazing intensities modulate canopy structure that influences short‐term intake rate of heifers grazing a natural grassland

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About