Impact of Renewed Cattle Grazing on Floristic Composition in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains

• Main Authors: Marie Mrázková-Štýbnarová, Josef Holec, Radek Štencl, Michaela Kolářová, Luděk Tyšer, Oldřich Látal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mendel University Press 2020-01-01
• Series: Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis
• Subjects: suckler cows; renewed grazing; species diversity; nature conservation
• Online Access: https://acta.mendelu.cz/asap/actaun_2020068020335/

The aim of the study was to estimate changes in the floristic composition near Švýcárna lodge (1304 m a.s.l.), where cattle grazing after a long-term management cessation was introduced on a pasture area of 3.6 ha in 2012. The pasture was divided into two grazing sub-localities: P1 (Nar) with dominance of Nardus stricta and Avenella flexuosa and P2 (Des) with dominance of Deschampsia cespitosa. For grazing, Highland Cattle was used with a stocking rate up to 1 livestock unit per ha and year. The floristic composition was evaluated and statistically analyzed. After six years of restored grazing the overall species richness enhanced and a higher dominance of rare and endangered species was found. The dominance of some common species like Vaccinium myrtillus, and Calamagrostis villosa tended to decrease within a grazing period in favor of new species colonisation.