The Effects of Burning and Simulated Grazing on Productivity, Forage Quality, Mortality and Flowering of Eight Subalpine Herbs in Kosciusko National Park.

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
JH Leigh ◽  
DH Wood ◽  
AV Slee ◽  
MD Holgate
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
National Park ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Plant Mortality ◽  
Management Implications ◽  
Simulated Grazing ◽  
Domestic Stock

The effects of simulated grazing and burning on biomass production, forage quality (CP and DM digestibility), plant mortality and flowering of 4 native perennial grasses (Poa phillipsiana, P. sieberana, Danthonia pilosa and Festuca asperula) and four perennial forbs (Aciphylla simplicifolia, Arthropodium milleflorum, Bulbine bulbosa and Hypochoeris radicata) growing in Kosciusko National Park were studied over a 16-month period. Cutting at 8-week intervals reduced the amount of regrowth at successive harvests as well as the survival of individuals. The season in which a single cut was made generally had a greater effect on the amount of regrowth than length of the regrowth period. Burning promoted flowering and improved the forage quality of the grasses. Rabbits bred only when they were able to obtain forage with a minimum protein content of 14%, provided mainly by the forb species. The management implications resulting from the interaction of fire and grazing, particularly by rabbits and domestic stock, for ecosystem quality are discussed.

Forage quality and use of reforested habitats by snowshoe hares

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (9) ◽  
pp. 2080-2083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon L. Rogowitz
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Conifer Plantations ◽  
Browse Species

The forage quality of habitats associated with mature conifer plantations and the use of these habitats by resident snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) were evaluated. The winter forage of hares was composed of deciduous stems that were predominantly low in protein content and not preferred. The crude protein content of the principal browse species, Viburnum dentatum, was only 4.6–6.4% during winter months. However, snowshoe hares feeding on the low-protein browse maintained their body weight. The intake of protein was maximized by the consumption of stem ends, which compensated for the low-protein forage. Use of habitat by snowshoe hares was closely related to the vegetative cover but did not correlate well with forage availability. Sites preferred by hares had a well-developed overstory (mature spruce) but only sparsely available forage during the winter. Thickets of early-successional deciduous vegetation had high use and contained most of the low-protein browse.

scholarly journals The effect of utilization term on the biomass production, organic matter digestibility and ergosterol content of semi-natural grass stand in the autumn and in winter

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
Jiří Skládanka
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Natural Grass ◽  
Elytrigia Repens ◽  
Grass Stand ◽  
Organic Matter Digestibility ◽  
Autumn And Winter

The biomass of dry matter (DM) and forage quality of a  grass pasture in the  Bohemian-Moravian Highlands (Czech Republic), situated at an altitude of 553 m a.s.l., was measured in late autumn and in winter in the  period from 2000 to 2003. The semi-natural grass pasture was dominated by Festuca rubra, Taraxacum officinale, Elytrigia repens, Dactylis glomerata, Trisetum flavescens, Poa spp., Agrostis tenuis and Phleum pratense. Biomass production and forage quality were measured in November, December and January after one preparatory cut in June or two preparatory cuts in June and July, and in June and August. Biomass of DM decreased from November to January and ranged, depending on the  year and the  number of preparatory cuts, from 0.37–3.13  t  ha – 1 in November to 0.15–1.36  t  ha – 1 in January. The biomass of DM decreased the  later the  preparatory cut. Organic matter digestibility decreased from November to January, ranging from 0.448–0.606 in November to 0.352–0.578 in January. A delayed preparatory cut resulted in an increased digestibility. Ergosterol concentration increased with the  progressing autumn and winter, ranging from 40–111  mg  kg – 1 DM in November to 110–265  mg  kg – 1 DM in January. Lower ergosterol concentrations were observed after a  late preparatory cut. The results were statistically analysed by ANOVA and Tukey HSD test. The length of the  main use was observed to have a significant effect on biomass of DM, digestibility of organic matter and ergosterol concentration (P < 0.05) in all three years of the  investigation.

Influence of Woody Species on Aboveground Biomass Production and Quality of Two Perennial Grasses in Semi-arid Rangelands of Central Argentina

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-98
Author(s):  
Blazquez Francisco Rubén ◽  
Daniel Valerio Peláez ◽  
Romina Jessica Andrioli ◽  
Omar Raúl Elia
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Central Argentina ◽  
Arid Rangelands ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Does the Admixture of Forage Herbs Affect the Yield Performance, Yield Stability and Forage Quality of a Grass Clover Ley?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5842
Author(s):  
Heike Lorenz ◽  
Thorsten Reinsch ◽  
Christof Kluß ◽  
Friedhelm Taube ◽  
Ralf Loges
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Yield Stability ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Simulated Grazing ◽  
The Given

It is unclear whether the use of multi-species swards is a suitable measure for climate change adaptation by achieving high and stable dry matter (DM) production and good forage quality in grazing systems. The objective of the study is to evaluate whether a complex rather than a simple grass clover mixture enhances performance under nitrogen (N)-deficient conditions due to greater diversity in plant functional traits. During a four-year field experiment, a three-species and a seven-species grass clover mixture were compared under one cutting-for-conservation and two simulated grazing (defoliation every three or four weeks) treatments. The results revealed a similarity in the DM yields of both seed mixtures, indicating that in the given conditions the species in the simple mixture already offered crucial yield-determining functional traits. Different growth patterns, however, led to higher intra-annual yield stability in the complex mixture. In the cutting-for-conservation system, DM yields were higher, but this came at the expense of reduced metabolisable energy and crude protein contents and lower inter-annual yield stability. We conclude that higher seeding costs for multi-species mixtures are compensated by greater yield stability while offering the potential for additional eco-system services like enhanced carbon sequestration and diverse food for pollinators.

Spatial and Temporal Pattern in the Grazing of Grasses by Sheep Within a Semi-Arid Wooded Landscape.

1995 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
KC Hodgkinson ◽  
JW Terpstra ◽  
WJ Muller
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plant ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Plant Mortality ◽  
Research Facility ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Domestic Stock

Grazing the woodlands of semi-arid and arid Australia by domestic stock has extensively collapsed perennial *grass populations and thereby fostered woody plant increase. This study examined the pattern of grazing of individual grass plants by sheep in the landscape of a semi-arid woodland, and a model was developed describing the spatial and temporal influences on the grazing pressure placed on plants. Plants of two widespread perennial grass species differing in palatability, Eragrostis eriopoda and Thyridolepis mitchelliana, were examined weekly in two contrasting periods at the CSIRO Lake Mere Research Facility. The plants were located throughout the landscape in lightly- and heavily- stocked paddocks. Patterns of grazing in space and time were determined by examining the grazing of marked tillers. No preference was shown for previously ungrazed plants and only occasionally were previously grazed plants preferred. Thyridolepis mitchelliana plants were slightly preferred over E. eriopoda plants. Landscape zones receiving water and nutrients from elsewhere were preferred for grazing but the effect was weak. The foliage biomass of herbaceous plants in the immediate vicinity of a grass plant did not influence the number of tillers grazed nor the probability of the plant being grazed. Overall the defoliation of individual plants by sheep was weakly determined by landscape location, stocking level, plant species and prevailing forage on offer. The influence of spatial and temporal variation was small; random grazing of grass plants was the rule. This finding suggests that the grazing pressure on palatable perennial grasses in the paddocks of semi-arid woodlands will be similar across wooded landscapes and that spatial variability in plant mortality could be due to. the combined effect of plant water stress, which varies spatially and temporally, and grazing pressure which varies temporally but not spatially.

scholarly journals Biomass production and forage quality of head-smut disease resistant Napier grass accessions

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
IW Kariuki ◽  
SW Mwendia ◽  
EN Muyekho ◽  
SI Ajanga ◽  
DO Omayio
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Napier Grass ◽  
Head Smut ◽  
Disease Resistant

The effect of bovine saliva on growth attributes and forage quality of two contrasting cool season perennial grasses grown in three soils of different fertility

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kerim Gullap ◽  
H. Ibrahim Erkovan ◽  
Ali Koc
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Belowground Biomass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L

The aim of this study was to determine the response of Dactylis glomerata L. (Orchardgrass) and Festuca ovina L. (Sheep fescue), to bovine saliva application in a loamy soil (most fertile), a sandy loam and a sandy soil (least fertile). The effects of cutting and cutting + saliva on relative height growth rate (RHGR), above- and belowground biomass and forage quality attributes [crude protein, NDF (neutral detergent fibre) and ADF (acid detergent fibre)] were investigated. The results showed that the cutting and cutting + saliva treatments resulted in greater RHGR than the control, but only with D. glomerata in the sandy soil did the application of saliva increase the RHGR. However, saliva applied after cutting increased the aboveground biomass averaged over all species and all three soils. Saliva applied to D. glomerata increased the belowground biomass in the sandy loam and sandy soils but decreased it in F. ovina in the sandy soil. The application of saliva had no effect on the crude protein or the NDF content of either species in any of the soils. On the other hand, the application of saliva after clipping increased the ADF of F. ovina but decreased that of D. glomerata averaged over all three soils. Averaged over both species, the ADF was increased by the addition of saliva in the sandy soil, had no significant effect in the sandy loam (P > 0.05) and was slightly increased in the loam.

scholarly journals Values of Travel Time for Recreational Trips under Different Behavioural Rules

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6831
Author(s):  
Rosa Marina González ◽  
Concepción Román ◽  
Ángel Simón Marrero
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
National Park ◽  
Revealed Preference ◽  
Discrete Choice Models ◽  
Model Specification ◽  
Regret Minimization ◽  
Random Regret Minimization

In this study, discrete choice models that combine different behavioural rules are estimated to study the visitors’ preferences in relation to their travel mode choices to access a national park. Using a revealed preference survey conducted on visitors of Teide National Park (Tenerife, Spain), we present a hybrid model specification—with random parameters—in which we assume that some attributes are evaluated by the individuals under conventional random utility maximization (RUM) rules, whereas others are evaluated under random regret minimization (RRM) rules. We then compare the results obtained using exclusively a conventional RUM approach to those obtained using both RUM and RRM approaches, derive monetary valuations of the different components of travel time and calculate direct elasticity measures. Our results provide useful instruments to evaluate policies that promote the use of more sustainable modes of transport in natural sites. Such policies should be considered as priorities in many national parks, where negative transport externalities such as traffic congestion, pollution, noise and accidents are causing problems that jeopardize not only the sustainability of the sites, but also the quality of the visit.

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