scholarly journals Effects of Different Grazing Systems on Aboveground Biomass and Plant Species Dominance in Typical Chinese and Mongolian Steppes

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yintai Na ◽  
Jinxia Li ◽  
Buho Hoshino ◽  
Saixialt Bao ◽  
Fuying Qin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Mean Deviation ◽  
Species Dominance ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Mongolian Grassland ◽  
Remote Sensing Methods

This study investigated the effects of different grazing systems on plant communities, and examined the causes of Mongolian grassland desertification. The typical steppes near the Chinese-Mongolian border were studied using quadrat sampling and remote sensing methods. Aboveground biomass in the steppe areas differed significantly among the three grazing systems (p < 0.05): Biomass in the grazing-prohibited areas (455.9 g) was greater than that in the rotational-grazing areas (268.4 g) and the continuous grazing areas (122.2 g). Aboveground biomass was well correlated with the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI; y = 5600x2 + 260x + 110; R2 = 0.67; p < 0.05). The relative mean deviation between the aboveground biomass was calculated using this regression and the measured biomass was 29.1%. The Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) values for nomadic-grazing areas were greater than those for continuous-grazing areas in 1989, 2005, 2011, and 2016, and were significantly greater in 2011 and 2016. The SAVI values for the continuous-grazing areas were slightly, but not significantly greater, than those for the nomadic-grazing areas in 1993. Plant species that dominated in moderately degraded areas were most dominant in nomadic-grazing areas, followed by continuous-grazing areas and grazing-prohibited areas. Plant species that dominated in lightly and heavily degraded areas were most dominant in continuous-grazing areas, followed by nomadic-grazing areas and grazing-prohibited areas. Generally, continuous grazing caused more serious grassland degradation than did nomadic grazing, and nomadic-grazing areas tolerated more intense grazing than did continuous-grazing areas.

scholarly journals Climate Effects on Tallgrass Prairie Responses to Continuous and Rotational Grazing

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuting Zhou ◽  
Prasanna H. Gowda ◽  
Pradeep Wagle ◽  
Shengfang Ma ◽  
James P. S. Neel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
The United States ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Grazing Systems

Cattle grazing is an important economic activity in the tallgrass prairie systems in the Great Plains of the United States. Tallgrass prairie may respond differently to grazing management (e.g., high and low grazing intensity) under variable climate conditions. This study investigated the responses of two replicated (rep a and rep b) tallgrass prairie systems to continuous (C) and rotational (R) grazing under different climate conditions over a decade (2008–2017). The enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and gross primary productivity (GPP) were compared between grazing systems (C vs. R), while EVI was compared among paddocks under rotational grazing to show the impacts of time since grazing. The average EVI in rep a was usually higher than that in rep b which could be explained by different land characteristics (e.g., soil types) associated with different landscape positions. Similar to EVI, GPP was usually higher in rep a than rep b. The average growing season EVI and GPP were higher in rotational grazing than continuous grazing in rep b but not in rep a. The average EVI of paddocks in rotational grazing systems only converged in the growing season-long drought year (2011). In other years, EVI values varied from year to year and no paddock consistently outperformed others. The variations in EVI among rotational grazing paddocks in both reps were relatively small, indicating that rotational grazing generated an even grazing pressure on vegetation at annual scale. Overall, climate and inherent pasture conditions were the major drivers of plant productivity. However, the stocking rate in continuous grazing systems were reduced over years because of deteriorating pasture conditions. Thus, the results indirectly indicate that rotational grazing improved grassland productivity and had higher stocking capacity than continuous grazing systems under variable climate conditions. Adaptive grazing management (adjustment in stocking rates and season of use to adapt to changing climatic conditions) instead of a fixed management system might be better for farmers to cooperate with changing climatic conditions.

Rotational grazing increases purple prairie clover frequency in the rangeland plant communities under semi-arid environment

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianqi Zhao ◽  
Alan D. Iwaasa
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
Increasing Precipitation

Purple prairie clover (PPC, Dalea purpurea Vent.) is a grazing tolerant perennial legume with good nutritional quality and is widely distributed across North America. Deferred rotational grazing (DR) and continuous grazing (CG) are the most widespread grazing systems on North American grasslands. We conducted a 10-year grazing study to assess the effects of environmental factors and grazing on the frequency of PPC in plant communities. The results showed that the frequency of PPC decreased and then increased with increasing precipitation under CG (P<0.05), while there was no significant change under DR (P>0.05). Meanwhile, PPC frequency increased with temperature under DR (P<0.05), but did not change under CG (P>0.05). Both grazing systems and the number of grazing years had a significant effect on PPC frequency (P<0.05), and there is no interaction between those two factors (P>0.05). We found that from 2011 to 2020, the growth rate of PPC population is 18.24% and 11.69% per year under DR and CG grazing, respectively. Moreover, after 10 years of grazing, the PPC increase in DR was 22.86% higher than that of CG. Thus, selecting the DR grazing system can increase PPC and is an effective practice for coping with environmental changes.

scholarly journals Aboveground Biomass Mapping of Crops Supported by Improved CASA Model and Sentinel-2 Multispectral Imagery

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2755
Author(s):  
Peng Fang ◽  
Nana Yan ◽  
Panpan Wei ◽  
Yifan Zhao ◽  
Xiwang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Production Management ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Vegetation Indices ◽  
Biophysical Parameters ◽  
Edge Information ◽  
Casa Model ◽  
Red Edge ◽  
Biomass Mapping

The net primary productivity (NPP) and aboveground biomass mapping of crops based on remote sensing technology are not only conducive to understanding the growth and development of crops but can also be used to monitor timely agricultural information, thereby providing effective decision making for agricultural production management. To solve the saturation problem of the NDVI in the aboveground biomass mapping of crops, the original CASA model was improved using narrow-band red-edge information, which is sensitive to vegetation chlorophyll variation, and the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR), NPP, and aboveground biomass of winter wheat and maize were mapped in the main growing seasons. Moreover, in this study, we deeply analyzed the seasonal change trends of crops’ biophysical parameters in terms of the NDVI, FPAR, actual light use efficiency (LUE), and their influence on aboveground biomass. Finally, to analyze the uncertainty of the aboveground biomass mapping of crops, we further discussed the inversion differences of FPAR with different vegetation indices. The results demonstrated that the inversion accuracies of the FPAR of the red-edge normalized vegetation index (NDVIred-edge) and red-edge simple ratio vegetation index (SRred-edge) were higher than those of the original CASA model. Compared with the reference data, the accuracy of aboveground biomass estimated by the improved CASA model was 0.73 and 0.70, respectively, which was 0.21 and 0.13 higher than that of the original CASA model. In addition, the analysis of the FPAR inversions of different vegetation indices showed that the inversion accuracies of the red-edge vegetation indices NDVIred-edge and SRred-edge were higher than those of the other vegetation indices, which confirmed that the vegetation indices involving red-edge information can more effectively retrieve FPAR and aboveground biomass of crops.

Tree species dominance in neotropical savanna aboveground biomass and productivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 496 ◽  
pp. 119430
Author(s):  
Marcela de Castro Nunes Santos Terra ◽  
Jamir Afonso do Prado-Júnior ◽  
Cléber Rodrigo de Souza ◽  
Luiz Otávio Rodrigues Pinto ◽  
Eduarda Martiniano de Oliveira Silveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Neotropical Savanna ◽  
Species Dominance

scholarly journals Improving the knowledge of plant potential biodiversity-ecosystem services links using maps at the regional level in Southern Patagonia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yamina Micaela Rosas ◽  
Pablo L. Peri ◽  
María Vanessa Lencinas ◽  
Romina Lasagno ◽  
Guillermo J. Martínez Pastur
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Southern Patagonia

Abstract Background Biodiversity supports multiple ecosystem services, whereas species loss endangers the provision of many services and affects ecosystem resilience and resistance capacity. The increase of remote sensing techniques allows to estimate biodiversity and ecosystem services supply at the landscape level in areas with low available data (e.g. Southern Patagonia). This paper evaluates the potential biodiversity and how it links with ecosystem services, based on vascular plant species across eight ecological areas. We also evaluated the habitat plant requirements and their relation with natural gradients. A total of 977 plots were used to develop habitat suitability maps based on an environmental niche factor analysis of 15 more important indicator species for each ecological area (n = 53 species) using 40 explanatory variables. Finally, these maps were combined into a single potential biodiversity map, which was linked with environmental variables and ecosystem services supply. For comparisons, data were extracted and compared through analyses of variance. Results The plant habitat requirements varied greatly among the different ecological areas, and it was possible to define groups according to its specialization and marginality indexes. The potential biodiversity map allowed us to detect coldspots in the western mountains and hotspots in southern and eastern areas. Higher biodiversity was associated to higher temperatures and normalized difference vegetation index, while lower biodiversity was related to elevation and rainfall. Potential biodiversity was closely associated with supporting and provisioning ecosystem services in shrublands and grasslands in the humid steppe, while the lowest values were related to cultural ecosystem services in Nothofagus forests. Conclusions The present study showed that plant species present remarkable differences in spatial distributions and ecological requirements, being a useful proxy for potential biodiversity modelling. Potential biodiversity values change across ecological areas allowing to identify hotspots and coldspots, a useful tool for landscape management and conservation strategies. In addition, links with ecosystem services detect potential synergies and trade-offs, where areas with the lowest potential biodiversity are related to cultural ecosystem services (e.g. aesthetic values) and areas with the greatest potential biodiversity showed threats related to productive activities (e.g. livestock).

Goat and Sheep Grazing in Shrub-Infested Semi-arid Woodlands of New South Wales.

1986 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
BH Downing
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
New South ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Dietary Preferences ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Local Observation ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Western Division

Examination of data on dietary preferences of sheep, goats and cattle suggests that different grazing systems are desirable for each of the three major woodland types (belah-rosewood, mulga, poplar box) examined. Competition for herbs, frequently palatable to all animal species, indicates that goats and sheep are unsuitable for joint use either in heavily wooded country or where annual herbaceous production is less than 200 kg-ha. Supplementary feeding, fire and judicious stocking are proposed as a strategy for inducing goats to eat a proportion of unpalatable shrubs. The literature provides little helpful information on how rangelands in the Western Division should be managed. No reports are given on comparisons of grazing systems, such as rotational grazing, rotational resting, and continuous grazing. No guidance is given on grazing after burning of the rangeland. Recommendations are generally against the use of goats for control of woody plants, whereas local observation shows this to be an apparently effective practice. The recommendations are mostly based on experimental procedures which, although suitable for detecting animal dietary preferences in the short term, are less appropriate for investigation of the effects of grazing on range condition in the long term. Some suggestions are made towards a different approach for: investigating the effects of grazing by sheep and goats on rangeland condition, and the economic implications of this in terms of animal production.

scholarly journals A matter of time: Recovery of plant species diversity in wild plant communities at declining nitrogen deposition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Berendse ◽  
Rob H. E. M. Geerts ◽  
Wim Th. Elberse ◽  
Thiemo Martijn Bezemer ◽  
Paul W. Goedhart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Nitrogen Deposition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Plant Species Diversity ◽  
Wild Plant

INFLUENCE OF HERACLEUM SOSNOWSKYI MANDEN. ON BIODIVERSITY OF VASCULAR PLANTS OF THE PROTECTED AREA «LIPOVAYA GORA» (PERM)

2020 ◽  
pp. 272-279
Author(s):  
D. N. Tiunov ◽  
◽  
E. G. Efimik ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Projective Cover ◽  
Seed Productivity ◽  
Heracleum Sosnowskyi ◽  
Rapid Spread

The problem of invasion of Sosnowsky hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) In the Lipovaya Gora SPNA in Perm is considered. A map of distribution of hogweed cenopopulations in the protected area is presented. The results of the influence of the invasion of Sosnovsky hogweed on the biodiversity of vascu-lar plants of some plant communities are presented. It was revealed that the invasion of hogweed into phytocenoses of the Lipovaya Gora protected area leads to a decrease in the biodiversity of vascular plants by about 26.4% (up to 12 plant species). The ways of introduction of cow parsnip into the communities of the protected area are considered. High seed productivity, high projective cover, reaching in some cases 100%, high phytomass, the presence of dormant seeds, rapid development in spring, and high anthropo-genic load on the territory determine the rapid spread of H. sosnowskyi.

scholarly journals Phytosociological surveys: tools for weed science?

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 469-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Concenço ◽  
M. Tomazi ◽  
I.V.T. Correia ◽  
S.A. Santos ◽  
L. Galon
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Distinct Group ◽  
Weed Science ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Ecological Evaluation ◽  
Natural Plant ◽  
Ecological Basis

In simple terms, a phytosociological survey is a group of ecological evaluation methods whose aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of both the composition and distribution of plant species in a given plant community. To understand the applicability of phytosociological surveys for weed science, as well as their validity, their ecological basis should be understood and the most suitable ones need to be chosen, because cultivated fields present a relatively distinct group of selecting factors when compared to natural plant communities. For weed science, the following sequence of steps is proposed as the most suitable: (1) overall infestation; (2) phytosociological tables/graphs; (3) intra-characterization by diversity; (4) inter-characterization and grouping by cluster analysis. A summary of methods is established in order to assist Weed Science researchers through their steps into the realm of phytosociology.

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