Effects of pasture management and fertilizer regimes on botanical changes in species-rich mountain calcareous grassland in Central Europe

0340344 - BÚ 2010 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Lanta, Vojtěch - Doležal, Jiří - Lantová, P. - Kelíšek, J. - Mudrák, Ondřej
Effects of pasture management and fertilizer regimes on botanical changes in species-rich mountain calcareous grassland in Central Europe.
Grass and Forage Science. Roč. 64, č. 4 (2009), s. 443-453. ISSN 0142-5242. E-ISSN 1365-2494
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA526/06/0723; GA ČR GA526/07/0808
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60050516
Keywords : abandonment * fertilization * grazing
Subject RIV: EF - Botanics
Impact factor: 1.316, year: 2009

A 3-year experiment was conducted in Central Europe to examine the effects of three managements, viz. continuous cattle grazing from April to September, mowing once in July and abandonment of grazing, and two levels of fertilizer application, no fertilizer and 400 kg/ha of a NPK fertilizer, on changes in plant species composition and summer biomass of dry matter (DM) in a calcareous mountain grassland containing many plant functional types. Different managements led to changes in species composition due to species specific responses. Low creeping and rosette species were associated with grazing, while grasses and tall forbs correlated with mowing and abandonment of grazing, probably because of their ability to outcompete rosette species. We conclude that continuation of cattle grazing is an acceptable form of grassland management at the study site and that species and functional group compositions can rapidly change with changing environmental conditions.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0183608