Species diversity and functional composition of pastures that vary in landscape position and grazing management
Citation
C Lee BURRAS, Kenneth J MOORE, John A GURETZKY, and E.Charles BRUMMER, Species diversity and functional composition of pastures that vary in landscape position and grazing management: .
Summary
The productivity of grasslands depends in part on their diversity of species and functional composition. Our objective was to examine the effects of three landscape positions (summit, backslope, and toeslope) and three stocking systems (continuous, rotational, and nongrazed) on species diversity and percentage of cover of grass, legume, and weed species functional types in southeastern Iowa pastures. Data were collected in 0.2-m2 plots randomly distributed throughout each of four replicate pastures in spring and summer 2000 and 2001. Backslope landscape positions within pastures managed with either continuous or rotational stocking contained the greatest overall diversity of species. Across years, overall species richness under grazing [...]
Summary
The productivity of grasslands depends in part on their diversity of
species and functional composition. Our objective was to examine the
effects of three landscape positions (summit, backslope, and toeslope)
and three stocking systems (continuous, rotational, and nongrazed) on
species diversity and percentage of cover of grass, legume, and weed
species functional types in southeastern Iowa pastures. Data were
collected in 0.2-m2 plots randomly distributed throughout each of four
replicate pastures in spring and summer 2000 and 2001. Backslope
landscape positions within pastures managed with either continuous or
rotational stocking contained the greatest overall diversity of species.
Across years, overall species richness under grazing averaged 4.8 on
backslopes, 3.5 on summits, and 2.9 on toeslopes. Legume cover was
greatest within the rotational stocking system, averaging 21% on
backslopes, 10% on summits, and 3% on toeslopes across years.
Cool-season grasses dominated summits and toeslopes, consisting of 88 to
94% of the cover. Weed species diversity and cover were greatest on
backslopes within the continuous stocking system. Our results showed
that rotational stocking had more desirable effects through greater
legume cover and less weed cover on backslopes than continuous stocking.
This research suggested that spatial components of pastures should be
considered to optimize the production and quality of forage for grazing
livestock. Published in Crop science, volume 45, issue 1, on pages 282 - 289.
