Grazing management of oversown tussock country

Allan, B.E.; O'Connor, K. F.; White, J. G. H.

doi:10.1080/00288233.1992.10417697

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Understanding the ecology of the species present is critical to predicting the effects of management on systems. This is true whether those systems are mediterranean‐type rangelands threatened with the replacement of productive perennial grasses by annual grasses (Kemp, Dowling & Michalk 1996), or tussock grasslands with a balance to be maintained between productive intertussock grasses and tussock grasses (Allan, O’Connor & White 1992), or arid systems where dwarf shrubs expand at the expense of perennial grasses at high grazing intensities (Bisigato & Bertiller 1997). As in all systems, stocking rate (as set by sward height in this case) is the most important variable in grazing management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of controlled sheep grazing on the dynamics of upland Agrostis–Festuca grassland

Hulme¹,

Pakeman²,

Torvell³

et al. 1999

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary1. Agrostis capillaris±Festuca ovina-dominated communities are widespread in the uplands of Great Britain. They are agriculturally productive but little is known about how to manage this community for speci®c goals. Vegetation trajectories were examined in this plant community under dierent sheep grazing management regimes at two sites in Scotland. One site had a substantial presence of moorland species, the other was characterized by a more productive vegetation. Management consisted of maintaining sward heights of 3, 4´5 or 6 cm during the growing season, or complete exclusion of grazing stock. 2. Changes in species composition were small over the 7 years of the experiment. Few species invaded or were lost during the course of the study. The observed changes were largely as a result of shifts in abundance of the dominant species. 3. Maintenance of sward height at low levels (3 or 4´5 cm) during the growing season resulted in the spread of Nardus stricta where present. Where N. stricta was absent, the sward developed a higher content of mosses, speci®cally Hypnum jutlandicum and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus. 4. Removal of grazing resulted in an increase of cover of grazing-intolerant species, such as Deschampsia¯exuosa and Molinia caerulea, and in the cover of dwarf shrub species where present. 5. The two sites diered in the treatment that resulted in the smallest change in species composition. At the more productive site, maintenance of the sward at 4´5 cm resulted in the smallest overall change in species composition. At the less productive site, grazing the sward to 6 cm resulted in the smallest shift in vegetation composition. Grazing at this height appeared to prevent the spread of both M. caerulea and N. stricta. 6. The study demonstrates that sustainable grazing regimes for upland Agrostis± Festuca grasslands need to take into account both the initial composition of the vegetation, speci®cally the presence of species capable of replacing A. capillaris and F. ovina and of achieving dominance, and the overall productivity of the site.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of controlled sheep grazing on the dynamics of upland Agrostis–Festuca grassland

Hulme¹,

Pakeman²,

Torvell³

et al. 1999

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…With pasture development, in a tussock grassland environment, soil C levels have in most tr eatments at least been maintained or possibly increased. In the 2003 soil sampling higher soil C levels were found in the stock camp zones at the upper part of each paddock of all treatments, but an altitudinal trend had not been observed for soil C in 1984 (Allan 1985). In 2003, the lower stocking rate resulted in significantly higher soil C concentr ations (Ta ble 2), primarily because of high soil C levels in laxly grazed areas in the lowest altitudinal strata of some low stocking rate treatments.…”

Section: Tara Hills High Country Grazing Management Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Over all altitudes the stocking rate effect was most pronounced in the continuous grazing management treatment, with the highest soil C levels found in the low stocking rate continuous grazing treatment, and the lowest soil C levels in the overgrazed high stocking rate continuous treatment. Although an effect of stocking rate was apparent in an initial pre-treatment sampling of the continuous treatment plots in 1979, and in the 1984 results (Allan 1985) the magnitude of the effect has increased with time. Similar trends were observed in two samplings in 1997, particularly in the surface 10 cm, although the effect did not reach statistical significance (Stewart & Metherell 2001; Table 3).…”

Section: Tara Hills High Country Grazing Management Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Direct evidence of a stocking rate effect on SOM is seen on a long-term experiment on a steep, overso wn tussock site at Tara Hills High Country Research Station in the semi-arid ( approx. 500 mm precipitation/yr) high country (910 m above sea level) of the South Island, New Zealand (Allan et al 1992). The site is steep (27 o ) and contains indigenous short tussock species as well as improved legumes and grasses from oversowing.…”

Section: Tara Hills High Country Grazing Management Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For statistical purposes the stocking rate by grazing management interaction is used as the error term, which gives a conservative assessment of statistical significance. For the 1984 and 2003 results a stocking rate by grazing management interaction term was estimated from the interaction of two orthogonal contrasts, with the remaining interaction terms used as the error term (Allan 1985).…”

Section: Tara Hills High Country Grazing Management Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Management effects on soil carbon storage in New Zealand pastures

Metherell¹

2003

ProNZG

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The amount of soil carbon is the net effect of carbon inputs and decomposition and is influenced by many factors including the level of herbage utilisation, root production, litter quality, soil fertility and soil moisture status. Long term experiments at Winchmore, in mid- Canterbury, show soil carbon levels increased after initial development, but after 50 years fertiliser input has had no net effect on soil carbon, while increasing the frequency of irrigation has actually resulted in lower soil carbon levels. Pasture development at Ballantrae , in the southern Hawke's Bay, has been associated with a decline in soil C levels, with the high fertility treatment having only slightly higher soil C than the treatment receiving a lower rate of fertiliser. At Tara Hills, in South Island semi-arid high country, increased stocking rate is associated with a decrease in soil C. Contrary to common perceptions increases in pasture and farm productivity do not necessarily result in increased soil carbon storage. Keywords: carbon, fer tiliser, grazing management, irrigation, soil organic matter

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Stewart

Metherell

1999

Plant and Soil

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Grazing management of oversown tussock country

Cited by 9 publications

References 9 publications

The effects of controlled sheep grazing on the dynamics of upland Agrostis–Festuca grassland

The effects of controlled sheep grazing on the dynamics of upland Agrostis–Festuca grassland

Management effects on soil carbon storage in New Zealand pastures

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