2 research outputs found
Effect of Sheep Grazing, Stocking Rates and Dolomitic Limestone Application on the Floristic Composition of a Permanent Dryland Pasture, in the Montado Agroforestry System of Southern Portugal
The Montado is a complex agroforestryâpastoral ecosystem due to the interactions between
soilâpastureâtreesâanimals and climate. The typical Montado soil has an acidic pH and manganese
toxicity, which affect the pastureÊčs productivity and pasture floristic composition (PFC). The
PFC, on the other hand, can also be influenced by the type and intensity of grazing, which can lead
to significant decreases in the amount of biomass produced and the biodiversity of species in the
pasture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of grazing type, by sheep, and different
stocking rates on the PFC throughout the vegetative pasture cycle in areas with and without dolomitic
limestone application. Thus, four treatments (P1UC to P4TC) were constituted: P1UCâwithout
limestone application (U) and continuous grazing (CG); P2UDâU and deferred grazing (DG);
P3TDâwith the application of limestone (T) and DG; P4TCâT and CG. In DG plots, the placement
and removal of the animals were carried out as a function of the average height of the pasture
(placementâ10 cm; removalâ3 to 5 cm). The PFC was characterized in winter, at the peak of spring
and in late spring. The PFC data were subjected to a multilevel pattern analysis (ISA). The combination
of rainfall and temperature influenced the pasture growth rates and consequently the height
of the pasture at different times of the year. Therefore, with the different growth rates of the pasture
throughout the year, the sheep remain for different periods of time in the deferred grazing treatments.
In the four treatments, 103 plant species were identified. The most representative botanical
families in the four treatments were Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae. ISA identified 14 bioindicator species: eight for the winter period, three for the late spring vegetative period and three
for the TC treatment
Effect of Sheep Grazing, Stocking Rates and Dolomitic Limestone Application on the Floristic Composition of a Permanent Dryland Pasture, in the Montado Agroforestry System of Southern Portugal
The Montado is a complex agroforestryâpastoral ecosystem due to the interactions beâ
tween soilâpastureâtreesâanimals and climate. The typical Montado soil has an acidic pH and manâ
ganese toxicity, which affect the pastureÊčs productivity and pasture floristic composition (PFC). The
PFC, on the other hand, can also be influenced by the type and intensity of grazing, which can lead
to significant decreases in the amount of biomass produced and the biodiversity of species in the
pasture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of grazing type, by sheep, and different
stocking rates on the PFC throughout the vegetative pasture cycle in areas with and without doloâ
mitic limestone application. Thus, four treatments (P1UC to P4TC) were constituted: P1UCâwithâ
out limestone application (U) and continuous grazing (CG); P2UDâU and deferred grazing (DG);
P3TDâwith the application of limestone (T) and DG; P4TCâT and CG. In DG plots, the placement
and removal of the animals were carried out as a function of the average height of the pasture
(placementâ10 cm; removalâ3 to 5 cm). The PFC was characterized in winter, at the peak of spring
and in late spring. The PFC data were subjected to a multilevel pattern analysis (ISA). The combiâ
nation of rainfall and temperature influenced the pasture growth rates and consequently the height
of the pasture at different times of the year. Therefore, with the different growth rates of the pasture
throughout the year, the sheep remain for different periods of time in the deferred grazing treatâ
ments. In the four treatments, 103 plant species were identified. The most representative botanical
families in the four treatments were Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae. ISA identified 14 bioindicator species: eight for the winter period, three for the late spring vegetative period and three
for the TC treatment