Abundance and Diversity of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) as Affected by Grazing Management in the Nebraska Sandhills Ecosystem

Wagner, Patrick M; Abagandura, Gandura Omar; Mamo, Martha; Weissling, Thomas J.; Wingeyer, Ana Beatriz; Bradshaw, Jeffrey D.

doi:10.1093/ee/nvaa130

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 53 publications

(72 reference statements)

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“…), smooth bromegrass ( Bromus inermis Leyss), Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.) and sedges. A wide variety of forbs and shrubs is ubiquitous (Wagner et al, 2021).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of litter placement, soil moisture and temperature on soil carbon dioxide emissions in a sandy grassland soil

et al. 2023

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Semiarid grasslands contribute significantly to global soil carbon (C) storage. Carbon loss from these systems via microbial decomposition is controlled by abiotic and biotic factors such as soil moisture and temperature and C input. Plant litter in these systems can be present above the soil surface or mixed with surface soil by trampling, especially in intensively grazed areas. A quantitative understanding of abiotic factors' interactive effect is critical for predicting soil C dynamics in response to grassland management and environmental conditions changes. Therefore, we conducted a 3‐month laboratory incubation experiment to quantify the impact of litter placement and soil moisture on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions under three controlled temperatures. The treatments including three litter placements (no litter, litter on top and litter mixed with surface soil) and three soil moisture levels (23%, 37% and 50% water‐filled pore space [WFPS]) were incubated at three temperatures (10°C, 20°C and 30°C). Carbon dioxide fluxes were measured every 2 weeks. Soil CO2 fluxes were higher for all moisture and litter treatments initially and declined overtime at 20°C and 30°C. Mixing litter with soil increased the cumulative CO2 emissions by 24% and 19.5% at 20°C and 30°C, respectively, compared to no litter. Also, soil‐litter mixing compared with litter on top showed a 14.3% and 21.6% increase in cumulative CO2 emissions at temperatures of 20°C and 30°C, respectively. At all temperatures, 37% and 50% WFPS resulted in similar cumulative CO2 emissions. The results from this study indicate that rising temperatures from 10°C to 30°C accelerate the effect of soil litter mixing on increasing CO2 emissions compared to litter on top and no litter.

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“…), smooth bromegrass ( Bromus inermis Leyss), Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.) and sedges. A wide variety of forbs and shrubs is ubiquitous (Wagner et al, 2021).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of litter placement, soil moisture and temperature on soil carbon dioxide emissions in a sandy grassland soil

et al. 2023

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“…On this land, Nebraska ranchers often used a four-pasture rotational grazing system. This had the added benefit of increasing beneficial dung beetles [ 47 ]. The plant diversity index was worse in the no grazing and continuously grazed pastures, compared to pastures that were rotated [ 47 ].…”

Section: High-plains United States Livestock Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grazing Cattle, Sheep, and Goats Are Important Parts of a Sustainable Agricultural Future

Grandin

2022

Animals

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Many people believe that animal agriculture should be phased out and replaced with vegetarian substitutes. The livestock industry has also been attacked because it uses vast amounts of land. People forget that grazing cattle or sheep can be raised on land that is either too arid or too rough for raising crops. At least 20% of the habitable land on Earth is not suitable for crops. Rotational grazing systems can be used to improve both soil health and vegetation diversity on arid land. Grazing livestock are also being successfully used to graze cover crops on prime farmland. Soil health is improved when grazing on a cover crop is rotated with conventional cash crops, such as corn or soybeans. It also reduces the need for buying fertilizer. Grazing animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, or bison, should be used as part of a sustainable system that will improve the land, help sequester carbon, and reduce animal welfare issues.

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“…On the other hand, in conditions where herbage growth is slow or dormant, as in summer in Mediterranean climates or winter in temperate climates, these periods can be extended [ 32 ]. To obtain short occupation times, it is necessary to use high stocking densities, which results in concentrated manure deposits [ 10 ], promoting large flows of readily available organic matter to activate soil biocenosis [ 33 ] that will provide the required nutrients to ultimately guarantee a fast growth rate of herbage after defoliation and during the growing season [ 12 ].…”

Section: Voisin Rational Grazing and Its Four Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Voisin Rational Grazing as a Sustainable Alternative for Livestock Production

Filho

Seó

Daros

et al. 2021

Animals

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Current livestock practices do not meet current real-world social and environmental requirements, pushing farmers away from rural areas and only sustaining high productivity through the overuse of fossil fuels, causing numerous environmental side effects. In this narrative review, we explore how the Voisin Rational Grazing (VRG) system responds to this problem. VRG is an agroecological system based on four principles that maximise pasture growth and ruminant intake, while, at the same time, maintaining system sustainability. It applies a wide range of regenerative agricultural practices, such as the use of multispecies swards combined with agroforestry. Planning allows grazing to take place when pastures reach their optimal resting period, thus promoting vigorous pasture regrowth. Moreover, paddocks are designed in a way that allow animals to have free access to water and shade, improving overall animal welfare. In combination, these practices result in increased soil C uptake and soil health, boost water retention, and protect water quality. VRG may be used to provide ecosystem services that mitigate some of the current global challenges and create opportunities for farmers to apply greener practices and become more resilient. It can be said that VRG practitioners are part of the initiatives that are rethinking modern livestock agriculture. Its main challenges, however, arise from social constraints. More specifically, local incentives and initiatives that encourage farmers to take an interest in the ecological processes involved in livestock farming are still lacking. Little research has been conducted to validate the empirical evidence of VRG benefits on animal performance or to overcome VRG limitations.

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Abundance and Diversity of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) as Affected by Grazing Management in the Nebraska Sandhills Ecosystem

Cited by 14 publications

References 53 publications

Effects of litter placement, soil moisture and temperature on soil carbon dioxide emissions in a sandy grassland soil

Effects of litter placement, soil moisture and temperature on soil carbon dioxide emissions in a sandy grassland soil

Grazing Cattle, Sheep, and Goats Are Important Parts of a Sustainable Agricultural Future

Voisin Rational Grazing as a Sustainable Alternative for Livestock Production

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