Rotational grazing effects on rangeland vegetation at a farm scale
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Authors: E. J. Jacobo, A. M. Rodrigues, N. Bartoloni, and V. A. Deregibus
Date: 2006
Journal: Rangeland Ecology & Management
Volume: 59
Number: 3
Pages: 249-257
Summary of Methods: The effectiveness of rotational grazing to improve rangeland condition was examined by comparing floristic composition of two main plant communities under rotational and continuous grazing systems in the Flooding Pampa region (between 35°-38° S; 57°-63° W) of Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Four separate sites with two neighboring farms per site were examined over 4 years. Adjacent farms represented continuous and rotational grazing treatments and incorporated mid-slope and lowland vegetation communities. Annual rainfall data was collected during the duration of the study in addition to plant basal cover, species composition, bare soil, litter and standing dead material were recorded in each paddock during November and December.
Article Summary / Main Points: Grazing method and annual variation in grazing events had no effect on total plant basal cover in the midslope vegetation communities. Midlsope communities under rotational grazing positively influenced basal cover on legumes, C3 annual grasses and C₃ perennial grasses than prostrate C₄ grasses. In the lowland communities, total plant basal cover was not affected by either grazing treatment or annual variation. Rotational grazing increased the cover of hydrophytic grasses and reduced the cover of forbs in the lowland communities. Rotational grazing in the lowland communities had higher litter cover and less bare ground compared with continuously grazed sites. During drier years, rotational grazing systems caused greater decreases in total cover of sedges and a greater increase in total legume covers compared to continuously grazed sites.
Vegetation Types: Not Applicable
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Grazing systems Stocking rate Rangelands
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: grazing systems, farm scale, plant community structure, plant diversity, rangelands, stocking rates, temperate grasslands
Annotation: This study may provide a decent reference for rotational grazing systems that span multiple ecozones of midslope and subirrigated grasslands. The reduction in bare soil along with an increase in forage quality illustrated the benefits of rotational grazing systems. Only one stocking rate was examined for both rotational and continuous grazing treatments along with one grazing exposure and rest period across the entire study. Soil sampling other than bare ground estimates and in-depth vegetation sampling seemed to be neglected. Additionally, livestock foraging behavior, livestock terrain conditioning and preferential foraging patterns in relation to patch grazing and uniformity were not considered.
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