Abandonment in grazing systems: Consequences for vegetation and soil
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Authors: B. Peco, A. M. Sanchez, and F. M. Azcarate
Date: 2006
Journal: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
Volume: 113
Number: 1-4
Pages: 284-294
Summary of Methods: The effects of long-term (30 years) grazing abandonment was examined on the Sierra de Guadarrama range (40° 51′ N; 03° 57′ W) in Central Spain. Two dehesa habitats (upper slope-arid, and lower slope-wet meadow) grasslands with two grazing treatments (grazed, abandoned) were compared. Grazing occurs year round with low stocking rates of 0.5 livestock units per hectare. Sunlight, soil parameters and vegetation were measured on each site. Specific variables for comparison in this study included vegetation floristic composition, species richness, spatial heterogeneity, canopy light resources and soil physical and chemical properties.
Article Summary / Main Points: Livestock grazing effected vegetation community structure (richness and heterogeneity) and floristic composition. There were no differences in species richness on abandoned sites at both habitats. Spatial heterogeneity at the small-scale was found to increase with grazing abandonment on both habitats. Canopy sunlight was not a significant factor on grazed and abandoned grasslands in both habitats. Grazing increased soil fertility and water holding capacity on up slope-arid sites. Species richness was slightly higher in grazed zones of upper slope habitat when compared to abandoned zones, while there was no difference on lower slope habitat.
Vegetation Types: Not Applicable
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Grazing Species diversity Soil physical properties
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: dehesa, floristic composition, grazing, grazing abandonment, lower slope, par extinction rate, spatial heterogeneity, species richness, soil physical and chemical properties, upper slope
Annotation: The findings of this study are minimally applicable to North American rangeland situations. This study has failed to include long-term climatic variability and lacks evidence of carefully collected field data over the past 30-years following grazing abandonment. Additionally, local fire regimes have not been included, potentially weakening the scientific strength and ecological relevance of this study.
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