Comparative impacts of grazing and mowing on the floristics of grasslands in the buffer zone of Polesie National Park, eastern Poland

Rysiak, Anna; Chabuz, Witold; Sawicka-Zugaj, Wioletta; Zdulski, Jan; Grzywaczewski, Grzegorz; Kulik, Mariusz

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01612

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…It is noteworthy that in our study the competitiveness of Trifolium repens, an extremely photophilic species typically found in pastures [73], against grasses was reduced by the relatively low sward mowing frequency (three times a season), which promoted tall species [74]. Similarly, the competitiveness of the short Lolium perenne against the tall Dactylis glomerata was also reduced [75].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Effect of Forage Plant Mixture and Biostimulants Application on the Yield, Changes of Botanical Composition, and Microbiological Soil Activity

et al. 2021

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Recently, an increasing interest in such fertilizers and fertilization methods which not only directly supply nutrients to plants, but also stimulate soil bioactivity is noted. Their effect on both soil microbiota and forage plants has not been fully recognized. The aim of the study was to investigate the combined effect of forage plant mixture type and mineral fertilizers (NPK) with biostimulants based on a marine algae extracts on the botanical composition, yield, the structure of selected taxonomic and trophic groups of soil microorganisms, and the soil enzymatic activity. During the years 2018–2019 a field experiment established in split-plot design with two different forage plant mixtures, as a first factor, and different fertilization basing on mineral fertilizers amended with biostimulants, as a second factor was conducted. Two types of forage mixtures of sown species were used: grass mixture (GM) and legume-grass mixture (LGM). Every year the following biostimulants were applied: N-14, PinKstart, Physiostart, Physioactive and they were compared with standard NPK fertilisation and no fertilisation as a control. The reaction of forage plant mixtures on applied fertilisation was different. The intensive development of grass species, mainly Lolium perenne, at the expense of Trifolium repens share in LGM was observed. In GM sward dominated Dactylis glomerata. A beneficial effects of biostimulants’ application on the biomass yields of both grass mixtures was observed. The systematic soil acidification and a decrease of soil enzymatic activity in result of applied fertilization, except NPK + Physioactive treatment (calcium fertilizer containing 76% calcium carbonate), was noted. Soil reaction to applied fertilisation was dependent on the botanical composition of the sward. The counts of microorganisms in the soil under LGM were almost two times higher than in the soil under GM. The most effective, in reducing the negative effect of nitrogen mineral fertilization on the pH of soil, was fertilization with NPK + Physioactiv.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Effect of Forage Plant Mixture and Biostimulants Application on the Yield, Changes of Botanical Composition, and Microbiological Soil Activity

et al. 2021

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“…Many studies have stressed the importance of management. For example, Rysiak et al [ 53 ] noted a 60% decrease in species richness in abandoned plots compared to mown or grazed plots. Studies on calcareous pastures have shown the importance of continuous management, in this case grazing, for retaining a diverse and herb-rich vegetation [ 54 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Tälle et al [ 69 ] in their meta-analysis found that the positive effects of grazing or mowing, respectively, depended on continent, grassland type and altitude, but when analysing the effects on plant species richness alone the effect of mowing and grazing did not differ. A combination of grazing and mowing may be best [ 53 ]. In the study by Gilhaus et al [ 67 ], grazing was found to be beneficial for a high species richness; however, in their study the grasslands with a mowing regimen were more fertile, and in some cases even fertilised, a factor detrimental for species richness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial heterogeneity ensures long-term stability in vegetation and Fritillaria meleagris flowering in Uppsala Kungsäng, a semi-natural meadow

Hytteborn

Carlsson²,

Svensson³

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Semi-natural grasslands are becoming increasingly rare, and their vegetation may be affected by environmental changes and altered management. At Kungsängen Nature Reserve, a wet to mesic semi-natural meadow near Uppsala, Sweden, we analysed long-term changes in the vegetation using data from 1940, 1982, 1995 and 2016. We also analysed the spatial and temporal dynamics in the Fritillaria meleagris population based on countings of flowering individuals in 1938, 1981–1988 and 2016–2021. Between 1940 and 1982 the wet part of the meadow became wetter, which led to an increased cover of Carex acuta and pushed the main area of flowering of F. meleagris up towards the mesic part. Annual variation in the flowering propensity of F. meleagris (in May) was affected by temperature and precipitation in the phenological phases of growth and bud initiation (June in the previous year), shoot development (September in the previous year) and initiation of flowering (March–April). However, the response to weather was in opposite directions in the wet and mesic parts of the meadow, and the flowering population showed large year-to-year variation but no long-term trend. Variation in management (poorly documented) led to changes in different parts of the meadow, but the overall composition of the vegetation, species richness and diversity changed little after 1982. Species richness and species composition of the meadow vegetation, and the long-term stability of the F. meleagris population are maintained by the variation in wetness, highlighting the importance of spatial heterogeneity as an insurance against biodiversity loss in semi-natural grasslands and nature reserves generally.

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“…Alternatively, indirect impacts of livestock grazing can sometimes result in the increase in the number of palatable individuals and juvenile plants [27,28], or benefit the survival or recovery of plant species by controlling alien plants, reducing thatch, maintaining hydrologic functions, creating some bare ground, and increasing plant diversity [27]. The complex interaction among all these factors suggests the necessity for a specific grazing management strategy as a tool to protect environmentally valuable habitats [27,29,30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Horse Grazing on Floristic Diversity in Mediterranean Small Standing-Water Ecosystems (SWEs)

Fenu

Melis

Pinna

et al. 2022

Plants

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Small standing-Water Ecosystems (SWEs), despite their pivotal ecological role due to their participation in hydrogeological processes and their richness in biodiversity, seem to be often overlooked by the scientific community. In this study, the vascular plant diversity in some representative SWEs, that host a peculiar assemblage of plant and animal species, was investigated in relation to the disturbance effects of a wild horse population. A total of 50 plots, equally distributed in small and large SWEs, were surveyed and a level of disturbance was attributed to each plot. We found greater species richness in small and undisturbed SWEs, which suggests the negative impact of horse grazing on the richness of plant species in this type of habitat. Significant differences in plant assemblage were found according to the disturbance level, whereas, contrary to what was observed for species richness, no differences were detected based on their size. The diversity indices, used to evaluate the richness and diversity in these areas, recorded the highest values for small and undisturbed areas. This result highlights that the disturbance of the horse grazing plays a pivotal role in affecting the diversity and richness of species in the SWEs. These findings suggest that SWE systems should be analyzed considering these areas as unique in order to allow the conservation of the plant richness and biodiversity of the SWE systems in conjunction with the protection of horses.

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Comparative impacts of grazing and mowing on the floristics of grasslands in the buffer zone of Polesie National Park, eastern Poland

Cited by 18 publications

References 44 publications

Effect of Forage Plant Mixture and Biostimulants Application on the Yield, Changes of Botanical Composition, and Microbiological Soil Activity

Effect of Forage Plant Mixture and Biostimulants Application on the Yield, Changes of Botanical Composition, and Microbiological Soil Activity

Spatial heterogeneity ensures long-term stability in vegetation and Fritillaria meleagris flowering in Uppsala Kungsäng, a semi-natural meadow

Impact of Horse Grazing on Floristic Diversity in Mediterranean Small Standing-Water Ecosystems (SWEs)

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