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Grassland Management Impact on Soil Degradation and Herbage Nutritional Value in a Temperate Humid Environment

Author

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  • Igor Bogunovic

    (Department of General Agronomy, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Kristina Kljak

    (Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Ivan Dugan

    (Department of General Agronomy, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Darko Grbeša

    (Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Leon Josip Telak

    (Department of General Agronomy, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Marija Duvnjak

    (Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Ivica Kisic

    (Department of General Agronomy, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Marijana Kapović Solomun

    (Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka, Stepe Stepanovića 75A, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

  • Paulo Pereira

    (Environmental Management Laboratory, Mykolas Romeris University, LT-08303 Vilnius, Lithuania)

Abstract

Understanding the importance of grassland management is crucial for predicting the effects on forage production, pasture and ecosystem stability. Studies about the impact of grassland management in temperate humid environments on soil, erosion and aboveground biomass properties are lacking. This study investigates the effect of different grassland managements—no grazing, moderate grazing and heavy grazing—on soil properties, hydrological responses and herbage quality in an organic farm located in Croatia. The results showed that heavy grazing significantly increased soil compaction, structural deterioration, erosion and nutrient transport compared with no grazing. Heavily grazed plots had significantly higher soil organic matter and nutrient concentrations compared with no-grazing plots. Moderately grazed plots had the highest biomass production and the herbage with higher quality compared with other treatments. Significantly higher ash contents on heavily and moderately grazed plots were due to cow trampling. Cow grazing behaviour was a more important factor for plant regrowth and herbage quality than soil properties. Moderate grazing did not induce serious soil erosion problems or reduce soil productivity. Soil conservation measures should focus only on the heavily grazed areas and include the introduction of rotational grazing in combination with various strategies: excluding grazing, reseeding and increasing the diversity of resting areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Igor Bogunovic & Kristina Kljak & Ivan Dugan & Darko Grbeša & Leon Josip Telak & Marija Duvnjak & Ivica Kisic & Marijana Kapović Solomun & Paulo Pereira, 2022. "Grassland Management Impact on Soil Degradation and Herbage Nutritional Value in a Temperate Humid Environment," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:7:p:921-:d:847212
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adimassu, Zenebe & Tamene, L. & Degefie, D. T., 2020. "The influence of grazing and cultivation on runoff, soil erosion, and soil nutrient export in the central highlands of Ethiopia," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-9:23..
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    Cited by:

    1. Gopal Lal Meena & Bira Kishore Sethy & Hem Raj Meena & Shakir Ali & Ashok Kumar & Rajive Kumar Singh & Raghuvir Singh Meena & Ram Bhawan Meena & Gulshan Kumar Sharma & Bansi Lal Mina & Kuldeep Kumar, 2023. "Quantification of Impact of Land Use Systems on Runoff and Soil Loss from Ravine Ecosystem of Western India," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Teodor Kitczak & Heidi Jänicke & Marek Bury & Grzegorz Jarnuszewski, 2023. "Intensive Meadows on Organic Soils of Temperate Climate–Useful Value of Grass Mixtures after the Regeneration," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-13, May.
    3. Mostafa A. Abdellatif & Farag O. Hassan & Heba S. A. Rashed & Ahmed A. El Baroudy & Elsayed Said Mohamed & Dmitry E. Kucher & Sameh Kotb Abd-Elmabod & Mohamed S. Shokr & Ahmed S. Abuzaid, 2023. "Assessing Soil Organic Carbon Pool for Potential Climate-Change Mitigation in Agricultural Soils—A Case Study Fayoum Depression, Egypt," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, September.

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