Effect of 15-year sward management on vertical distribution of plant functional groups in a semi-natural perennial grassland of central Europe

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60076658%3A12310%2F21%3A43903422" target="_blank" >RIV/60076658:12310/21:43903422 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00027006:_____/21:10174577 RIV/60460709:41330/21:85494 RIV/60077344:_____/21:00559274

Result on the web

<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/avsc.12568" target="_blank" >https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/avsc.12568</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12568" target="_blank" >10.1111/avsc.12568</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Effect of 15-year sward management on vertical distribution of plant functional groups in a semi-natural perennial grassland of central Europe

Original language description

Aims The nutrient concentration in herbage and biomass productivity analyses are dependent on the vertical distribution of different sward layers where the sampling is done. Notably, a majority of studies indicate clipping biomass to the ground level without any consideration of the vertical distribution. This study examined the effect of cutting and grazing intensities on the vertical distribution of plant functional groups. Location Oldrichov Grazing Experiment, northern Czechia. Methods During a 15-year experiment: (a) intensive and (b) extensive grazing without cutting; (c) cutting in June followed by intensive and (d) extensive grazing; and (e) undefoliated treatment were applied throughout the vegetation season. Biomass data were collected at two layers in the sward (below and above 3 cm) and separated into five functional groups. Biomass data were analysed to examine the succession and effects of treatments on vertical distribution of functional groups. Results Treatment effects were differentiated after 2-3 years from the introduction of management, but the composition of functional groups fluctuated over time. Treatments significantly affected total biomass of all functional groups and the vertical distribution within swards of most groups. Particularly intensive grazing significantly decreased the total biomass of graminoids, forbs, and dead biomass in favour of legumes (which increased). This led to a shift in the relative biomass distribution from the upper sward layer to the lower layer for most functional groups except for legumes and mosses. Conclusion The high proportion of dead biomass in the lower sward layer suggests the need for a methodological approach that considers clipping of biomass only above 3 cm when sampling for productivity and forage quality analysis. This approach would avoid including biomass from below 3 cm or the lower layer, which would be ungrazed by cattle. Many previous studies may have reported a distorted or inflated value in herbage productivity or forage quality results.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10618 - Ecology

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2021

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Applied Vegetation Science

ISSN

1402-2001

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

24

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

12

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

000636291500023

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85103300445