and mixed grazing of cattle and sheep on grassland diversity patterns
and mixed grazing of cattle and sheep on grassland diversity patterns
and mixed grazing of cattle and sheep on grassland diversity patterns
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Effect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>o- <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>mixed</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> grassl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>diversity</strong> <strong>patterns</strong><br />
Melanie Seither<br />
University <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Goettingen<br />
Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Grassl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Science
Background<br />
Plant <strong>diversity</strong> Ecosystem functi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
resource use (Hooper & Vitousek, 1998)<br />
productivity (Tilman et al., 2006; van Ruijven & Berendse,<br />
2007)<br />
stability (Dodd, Barker & Wedderburn, 2004)<br />
Grassl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> maintenance management<br />
Grazing sward heterogeneity plant <strong>diversity</strong> ↑<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dominant species: coexistence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
subordinates<br />
gaps: seedling establishment<br />
I Introducti<strong>on</strong>
Hypotheses<br />
1. Vegetati<strong>on</strong> compositi<strong>on</strong> differs after <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g> or<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
<br />
Differences in forage selectivity, treading, excreti<strong>on</strong> pattern<br />
2. The homogeneity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the vegetati<strong>on</strong> is higher in<br />
co-grazed compared to m<strong>on</strong>o-grazed pastures.<br />
http://www.beautys.de/v/wiese<br />
+gruene+wiese+rasen+gras+g<br />
rasflaeche+2.html<br />
http://www.schafis.com/<br />
?<br />
http://www.<strong>on</strong>linekunst.de/bauernregel<br />
n/mai.htmlhttp://<br />
www.rund-umschulmilch.at/kuhgeheimnis/<br />
wiekueheaussehen/<br />
Complementary forage use<br />
Homogeneous utilisati<strong>on</strong> & disturbance<br />
I Introducti<strong>on</strong>
Experimental site<br />
<br />
> 16 years: pastures<br />
Soil: Pelosol (texture: clayey/silty loam)<br />
Herbicide<br />
(2006)<br />
Diverse sward<br />
Lolio- Cynosuretum<br />
Grass sward<br />
Diverse<br />
sward<br />
9.2 ± 2.5 13.8 ± 3.7<br />
Plant species (mean ±s.d.), 2007<br />
basis: 5 x 9 m² per paddock<br />
II Methods
Experimental site<br />
<br />
Solling Upl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>s, Germany<br />
(51°46’47.85’’ N, 9°42’11. 71’’ E ;<br />
184-209 above sea level)<br />
Precipitati<strong>on</strong>: 879 mm<br />
Mean annual temperature: 8.2 °C<br />
GoogleEarth<br />
II Methods
Design<br />
Factor<br />
Sward type<br />
Grazing variant<br />
Replicati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Level<br />
Grass sward<br />
Diverse sward<br />
Cattle (C)<br />
Sheep (S)<br />
Co-grazed (CS)<br />
3 Blocks<br />
- paddock: 0.5 ha<br />
- rotati<strong>on</strong>al <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g>: 12 to 8 LU ha -1 (1 LU = 500 kg)<br />
3 times/ year<br />
7- 14 days<br />
May–September<br />
II Methods
Experimental animals<br />
German Simmental<br />
(cows & calves)<br />
Blackheaded & Leine<br />
(ewes & lambs)<br />
II Methods
Measurements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>diversity</strong> <strong>patterns</strong> (2007-2009)<br />
(May/June):<br />
• plant species number & yield proporti<strong>on</strong><br />
(Klapp & Stählin, 1936)<br />
• plant species<br />
after <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
• Sward height: 50 measurements/<br />
paddock (Castle, 1976)<br />
Multivariate & univariate analyses<br />
II Methods
Effects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> vegetati<strong>on</strong> compositi<strong>on</strong><br />
Principal comp<strong>on</strong>ent analysis<br />
(PCA)<br />
Variables:<br />
year, sward type, <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> variant<br />
Covariables:<br />
spatial factors (slope, blocks)<br />
Species fit range: 5-100 %<br />
Species names: 3+4 first letters.<br />
1. Year, Sward & <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> effects<br />
(RDA: M<strong>on</strong>te Carlo permutati<strong>on</strong><br />
test)<br />
2. Cattle & co-<str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g>:<br />
similar vegetati<strong>on</strong> compositi<strong>on</strong><br />
(PCA)<br />
III Results
Grazing effects <strong>on</strong> functi<strong>on</strong>al groups (% Yield)<br />
C: <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g> forbs<br />
S: <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g> legumes<br />
CS: C+S grass<br />
G/D: grass/ diverse sward<br />
Year 0: before start <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Year 1/ 2: after 1/ 2 years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Small letters: <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> variants differ<br />
within <strong>on</strong>e sward (p< 0.05).<br />
Statistics: Chi² or Fisher test.<br />
Year<br />
effect<br />
<br />
1. Dicots ↑<br />
2. Sheep: Legumes ↓(diverse<br />
sward)<br />
III Results
Grazing effects <strong>on</strong> sward height structure<br />
C: <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
S: <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
CS: Cattle + Sheep<br />
Small letters: <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> variants<br />
differ within <strong>on</strong>e sward (p< 0.05).<br />
Statistics: repeated measurement<br />
ANOVA (Data: 2009).<br />
1. Sheep: low quality (grass<br />
sward)<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> in short sward<br />
areas ↑<br />
2. Cattle: low crude fibre<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tent (diverse sward)<br />
higher forage intake.<br />
III Results
C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
1. Vegetati<strong>on</strong> compositi<strong>on</strong> differs after <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g> or<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g>. <br />
<br />
Significant effects <strong>on</strong> vegetati<strong>on</strong> compositi<strong>on</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
Sward height distributi<strong>on</strong>s differed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g> & <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g> pastures<br />
legume yield <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g> pastures ↓<br />
2. The homogeneity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the vegetati<strong>on</strong> is higher in cograzed<br />
compared to m<strong>on</strong>o-grazed pastures. <br />
<br />
No effect <strong>on</strong> vegetati<strong>on</strong> evenness (data not shown)<br />
<br />
<br />
Sward height distributi<strong>on</strong>s: intermediate between <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
plots<br />
Vegetati<strong>on</strong> compositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g>/ co-grazed pastures similar<br />
IV C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s
C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
Evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> effects <strong>on</strong><br />
Sward structure<br />
Vegetati<strong>on</strong> compositi<strong>on</strong><br />
Grazing effects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g> & <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> vegetati<strong>on</strong><br />
Co-<str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> might be<br />
beneficial to <strong>diversity</strong> in the l<strong>on</strong>g-term<br />
a management opti<strong>on</strong> for <strong>diversity</strong>-targeted grassl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IV C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Picture:<br />
http://www.kuh-<strong>on</strong>line.de/
Thanks to<br />
Berit Greune<br />
Ute Petersen ( support with multivariate analyses)<br />
Vegetati<strong>on</strong> survey<br />
Numerous practical trainees<br />
Grassl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workgroup<br />
http://de.sevenload.com/bilder/qCbARUP-Blumenwiese-im-Fruehjahr
Thank you<br />
for your attenti<strong>on</strong>!
C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s:<br />
Evidence for <str<strong>on</strong>g>grazing</str<strong>on</strong>g> effects <strong>on</strong><br />
Sward structure<br />
Frequency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> different sward height classes differs in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g> & <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g> grazed pastures<br />
variance coefficients <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> sward height: <str<strong>on</strong>g>cattle</str<strong>on</strong>g> > <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
pastures<br />
Treading & Forage selectivity<br />
dicot yield ↑<br />
seedling establishment ↑<br />
coexistence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> subordinate species<br />
legume yield ↓ in <str<strong>on</strong>g>sheep</str<strong>on</strong>g> pastures (diverse sward)<br />
Homogeneity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nutrient excreti<strong>on</strong><br />
trampling tolerance Year 2 > Year 1<br />
IV C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Pictures:<br />
http://www.kuh-<strong>on</strong>line.de/
References<br />
Castle, M.E. (1976). A simple disc instrument for estimating herbage<br />
yield. Journal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the British Grassl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Society, 31, 37-40.<br />
Dodd, M.B., Barker, D.J., & Wedderburn, M.E. (2004). Plant <strong>diversity</strong><br />
effects <strong>on</strong> herbage producti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> compositi<strong>on</strong>al changes in New<br />
Zeal<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> hill country pastures. Grass <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Forage Science, 59, 29-40.<br />
Hooper, D.U. & Vitousek, P.M. (1998). Effects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> plant compositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>diversity</strong> <strong>on</strong> nutrient cycling. Ecological M<strong>on</strong>ographs, 68, 121-149.<br />
Klapp E. <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Stählin A. (1936) St<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>orte, Pflanzengesellschaften und<br />
Leistung des Grünl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>es. Ulmer, Stuttgart.<br />
Nösberger, J. & Rodriguez, M. (1996). Increasing bio<strong>diversity</strong> through<br />
management. Grassl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Science in Europe, 1, 949-956.<br />
R (2008). Versi<strong>on</strong> 2.7.2. The R Foundati<strong>on</strong> for Statistical Computing.<br />
ter Braak, C.J.F. & Šmilauer, P. (1997-2004). Canoco for Windows 4.5.<br />
In Plant Research Internati<strong>on</strong>al, Wageningen, Netherl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>s.<br />
Tilman, D., Reich, P.B., & Knops, J.M.H. (2006). Bio<strong>diversity</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ecosystem stability in a decade-l<strong>on</strong>g grassl<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> experiment. 441,<br />
629-632.<br />
van Ruijven, J. & Berendse, F. (2007). C<strong>on</strong>trasting effects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>diversity</strong><br />
<strong>on</strong> the temporal stability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> plant populati<strong>on</strong>s. Oikos, 116, 1323-<br />
1330.