Tradeoffs between pasture production and plant diversity and soil health attributes of pasture systems of central Queensland, Australia

Sangha, Kamaljit K.; Midmore, David J.; Rolfe, John; Jalota, Rajesh K.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2005.05.007

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Others have quantified only the change in forage yields after land conversion. For example, in Australia Kaur et al (2006) and Sangha et al (2005) reported that converting acacia and eucalypt woodlands to buffelgrass pastures resulted in an initial increase in forage yields that tended to decline as pastures aged.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of Buffelgrass Pasture Development for Primary Productivity, Perennial Plant Richness, and Vegetation Structure in the Drylands of Sonora, Mexico

Franklin

Molina‐Freaner

2010

Conservation Biology

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In large parts of northern Mexico native plant communities are being converted to non-native buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) pastures, and this conversion could fundamentally alter primary productivity and species richness. In Sonora, Mexico land conversion is occurring at a regional scale along a rainfall-driven gradient of primary productivity, across which native plant communities transition from desert scrub to thorn scrub. We used a paired sampling design to compare a satellite-derived index of primary productivity, richness of perennial plant species, and canopy-height profiles of native plant communities with buffelgrass pastures. We sampled species richness across a gradient of primary productivity in desert scrub and thorn scrub vegetation to examine the influence of site productivity on the outcomes of land conversion. We also examined the influence of pasture age on species richness of perennial plants. Index values of primary productivity were lower in buffelgrass pastures than in native vegetation, which suggests a reduction in primary productivity. Land conversion reduced species richness by approximately 50% at local and regional scales, reduced tree and shrub cover by 78%, and reduced canopy height. Land conversion disproportionately reduced shrub species richness, which reflects the common practice among Sonoran ranchers of conserving certain tree and cactus species. Site productivity did not affect the outcomes of land conversion. The age of a buffelgrass pasture was unrelated to species richness within the pasture, which suggests that passive recovery of species richness to preconversion levels is unlikely. Our findings demonstrate that land conversion can result in large losses of plant species richness at local and regional scales and in substantial changes to primary productivity and vegetation structure, which casts doubt on the feasibility of restoring native plant communities without active intervention on the part of land managers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of Buffelgrass Pasture Development for Primary Productivity, Perennial Plant Richness, and Vegetation Structure in the Drylands of Sonora, Mexico

Franklin

Molina‐Freaner

2010

Conservation Biology

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“…Changes in environmental conditions after the establishment of fast-growing tree plantations were generally considered as key factors affecting understory plant diversity 9 13 14 . After tree plantations are established, canopy stratification leads to a light gradient in the habitat, that is, niche separation of different species according to light requirement 15 , which might be the main reason for the higher species richness in areas with tree plantations compared to those with herbaceous species 10 16 . Studies have shown that poplar plantations can result in a higher number of shade plants and a lower number of heliophyte species compared to those found in adjacent arable fields 2 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of young poplar plantations on understory plant diversity in the Dongting Lake wetlands, China

Chen

Xie

et al. 2014

Sci Rep

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This study evaluated the effects of young poplar plantations on understory plant diversity in the Dongting Lake wetlands, China. Poplar plantations resulted in a higher species number and Shannon's diversity. Species compositions were different between areas with poplar and reed populations: a lower ratio of hygrophytes but a higher ratio of mesophytes, and a higher ratio of heliophytes but a lower ratio of neutrophilous or shade plants in poplar areas compared to reed areas. Poplar plantations supported a higher ratio of ligneous plants in the entire Dongting Lake area, but there was no difference in the monitored plots. Unlike reedy areas, poplar plantations had higher light availability but lower soil water content during the growing seasons. These data suggest that young poplar plantations generally increased species richness and plant diversity, but significantly changed species composition due to the reduced soil water and increased light availability.

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“…However, there are also many cases where there is a direct, positive relationship between environmental condition and production outcomes. For example, Sangha et al (2005) demonstrate that there are many positive relationships between pasture health and beef cattle production in a rangelands ecosystem in the Fitzroy Basin.…”

Section: Rangelands and Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 97%

Exploring the efficiencies of using competitive tenders over fixed price grants to protect biodiversity in Australian rangelands

Windle

Rolfe

2008

Land Use Policy

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Tradeoffs between pasture production and plant diversity and soil health attributes of pasture systems of central Queensland, Australia

Cited by 15 publications

References 10 publications

Consequences of Buffelgrass Pasture Development for Primary Productivity, Perennial Plant Richness, and Vegetation Structure in the Drylands of Sonora, Mexico

Consequences of Buffelgrass Pasture Development for Primary Productivity, Perennial Plant Richness, and Vegetation Structure in the Drylands of Sonora, Mexico

Effects of young poplar plantations on understory plant diversity in the Dongting Lake wetlands, China

Exploring the efficiencies of using competitive tenders over fixed price grants to protect biodiversity in Australian rangelands

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