Targeted grazing for the restoration of sub-alpine shrub-encroached grasslands
The decline of agro-pastoral activities has led to a widespread tree and shrub-encroachment of former semi-natural meso-eutrophic grasslands in many European mountain regions. Temporary night camp areas (TNCA) and mineral mix supplements for targeted cattle were arranged over shrub-encroached areas...
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doaj-042b74b800fa449fa839ecc94a47b2932020-11-24T21:04:48ZengPAGEPress PublicationsItalian Journal of Agronomy1125-47182039-68052016-12-0111410.4081/ija.2016.775568Targeted grazing for the restoration of sub-alpine shrub-encroached grasslandsMassimiliano Probo0Marco Pittarello1Michele Lonati2Giampiero Lombardi3Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO)Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO)Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO)Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO)The decline of agro-pastoral activities has led to a widespread tree and shrub-encroachment of former semi-natural meso-eutrophic grasslands in many European mountain regions. Temporary night camp areas (TNCA) and mineral mix supplements for targeted cattle were arranged over shrub-encroached areas to restore grassland vegetation within the Val Troncea Natural Park (Italy). From 2011 to 2015, their effects on vegetation structure and pastoral value of forage were assessed along permanent transects. Four years after treatments, both practices were effective in reducing the shrub cover and increasing the cover and average height of the herbaceous layer, but changes were more remarkable within TNCA. Moreover, the arrangement of TNCA decreased the cover of nanophanerophytes and increased the cover of graminoids and high quality species, as well as the overall forage pastoral value. In conclusion, TNCA were the most effective pastoral practice to contrast shrub-encroachment and increase herbage mass and forage quality of sub-alpine grasslands.https://www.agronomy.it/index.php/agro/article/view/775Cattlechamaephytesnanophanerophytespastoral practicespastoral value. |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Massimiliano Probo Marco Pittarello Michele Lonati Giampiero Lombardi |
spellingShingle |
Massimiliano Probo Marco Pittarello Michele Lonati Giampiero Lombardi Targeted grazing for the restoration of sub-alpine shrub-encroached grasslands Italian Journal of Agronomy Cattle chamaephytes nanophanerophytes pastoral practices pastoral value. |
author_facet |
Massimiliano Probo Marco Pittarello Michele Lonati Giampiero Lombardi |
author_sort |
Massimiliano Probo |
title |
Targeted grazing for the restoration of sub-alpine shrub-encroached grasslands |
title_short |
Targeted grazing for the restoration of sub-alpine shrub-encroached grasslands |
title_full |
Targeted grazing for the restoration of sub-alpine shrub-encroached grasslands |
title_fullStr |
Targeted grazing for the restoration of sub-alpine shrub-encroached grasslands |
title_full_unstemmed |
Targeted grazing for the restoration of sub-alpine shrub-encroached grasslands |
title_sort |
targeted grazing for the restoration of sub-alpine shrub-encroached grasslands |
publisher |
PAGEPress Publications |
series |
Italian Journal of Agronomy |
issn |
1125-4718 2039-6805 |
publishDate |
2016-12-01 |
description |
The decline of agro-pastoral activities has led to a widespread tree and shrub-encroachment of former semi-natural meso-eutrophic grasslands in many European mountain regions. Temporary night camp areas (TNCA) and mineral mix supplements for targeted cattle were arranged over shrub-encroached areas to restore grassland vegetation within the Val Troncea Natural Park (Italy). From 2011 to 2015, their effects on vegetation structure and pastoral value of forage were assessed along permanent transects. Four years after treatments, both practices were effective in reducing the shrub cover and increasing the cover and average height of the herbaceous layer, but changes were more remarkable within TNCA. Moreover, the arrangement of TNCA decreased the cover of nanophanerophytes and increased the cover of graminoids and high quality species, as well as the overall forage pastoral value. In conclusion, TNCA were the most effective pastoral practice to contrast shrub-encroachment and increase herbage mass and forage quality of sub-alpine grasslands. |
topic |
Cattle chamaephytes nanophanerophytes pastoral practices pastoral value. |
url |
https://www.agronomy.it/index.php/agro/article/view/775 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT massimilianoprobo targetedgrazingfortherestorationofsubalpineshrubencroachedgrasslands AT marcopittarello targetedgrazingfortherestorationofsubalpineshrubencroachedgrasslands AT michelelonati targetedgrazingfortherestorationofsubalpineshrubencroachedgrasslands AT giampierolombardi targetedgrazingfortherestorationofsubalpineshrubencroachedgrasslands |
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