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Background and Aim: The productivity of sheep in humid tropical plantation areas relies on their ability to adapt. Oil palm plantations serve as potential grazing lands for livestock. This study aimed to identify Garut sheep adaptations in oil palm and rubber plantations of the Garut district, West Java, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: The total number of sheep used was 103 as the object of this study. Each individual of sheep was used for several different observations, including: Physiological assessment using 24 sheep of various ages, molecular analysis of heat stress using 31 sheep, worm egg count using 59 sheep, and for morphological assessment using 98 sheep. A general linear model was employed to analyze rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, number of eggs in each gram of sample feces, body weight (BW), body condition score, and morphometric measurements according to age and sex. Forage was compared between oil palm and rubber plantations during the vegetation analysis. Results: RT, HR, and panting frequency were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the age and sex of the sheep. The mutation was found in the coding region of the HSP70 gene, which is approximately 232 bp long. Fecal eggs were found in 99% of the fecal samples, consisting of 100% Strongyle eggs and 1.75% Moniezia eggs. BW, body condition score, shoulder height, body length, pelvic height, chest circumference, and number of eggs were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by the age and sex of the sheep. The average fresh matter of vegetation under the plantation was 248.69 ± 120.94 g/m2 and 718.15 ± 249.93 g/m2 for oil palm and rubber plantations, respectively. Conclusion: Garut sheep were adapted to oil palm and rubber plantations in the humid tropical region. Plantations are potential sources of sheep grazing and roughage. Further research is needed regarding the consumption of forages in oil palm and rubber plantations.

In this study, the effect of NPK fertilization with different nitrogen rates on the dry matter yield and botanical composition of a Festucetum pratense natural grassland was analysed in a 10-year field trial. The experiment was conducted in the period 2011–2020 in central Serbia, 1000 m above sea level. The fertiliser treatments included: control without fertilisers, N60:P40:K40, N100:P40:K40, and N140:P40:K40 kg/ha per year. The mineral fertilisation treatments had a significant effect on the dry matter yield and botanical composition of the grassland, especially in the first cut, resulting in a lower total number of plant species in the grassland. The effect of fertilization on dry matter yield and botanical composition was largely dependent on weather conditions. In the last years of the trial, the dry matter yield gradually decreased under the fertiliser treatments, which is a consequence of the decrease in diversity. Satisfactory results on this grassland can be achieved with low nitrogen fertiliser applications combined with the maintenance of plant diversity as a basis for sustainable grassland management in temperate latitudes.

Livestock farming feed in the northern highlands of Peru is based on the association of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) ecotype cajamarquino–white clover (Trifolium repens L.) Ladino variety, which constantly varies in its agronomic characteristics and nutritional value due to management considerations and its association with the soil and the animal. The objective of this study was to evaluate yield, plant height, growth rate, tillering, tiller number, spikelets, basal diameter in ryegrass, elongation rate, internode length and decline points in clover over one year. Nutritive value was represented by crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM) and metabolisable energy (ME) at three cutting frequencies (30, 45 and 60 days). Better yield (5588 kg DM ha) and plant height (47.1 cm) were shown by the 60-day cutting frequency; however, there was no difference (p > 0.05) between the three cutting frequencies in annual yield. There were no differences between the number of tillers and basal diameter. Clover height, elongation rate and internode length were higher at 60 days. The highest CP concentration and the lowest NDF value (p < 0.05) were achieved by clover at 30 and 45 days. Producers should consider the results when deciding when to use this association in dairy cattle feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The productivity of sheep in humid tropical plantation areas relies on their ability to adapt. Oil palm plantations serve as potential grazing lands for livestock. This study aimed to identify Garut sheep adaptations in oil palm and rubber plantations of the Garut district, West Java, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: The total number of sheep used was 103 as the object of this study. Each individual of sheep was used for several different observations, including: Physiological assessment using 24 sheep of various ages, molecular analysis of heat stress using 31 sheep, worm egg count using 59 sheep, and for morphological assessment using 98 sheep. A general linear model was employed to analyze rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, number of eggs in each gram of sample feces, body weight (BW), body condition score, and morphometric measurements according to age and sex. Forage was compared between oil palm and rubber plantations during the vegetation analysis. Results: RT, HR, and panting frequency were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the age and sex of the sheep. The mutation was found in the coding region of the HSP70 gene, which is approximately 232 bp long. Fecal eggs were found in 99% of the fecal samples, consisting of 100% Strongyle eggs and 1.75% Moniezia eggs. BW, body condition score, shoulder height, body length, pelvic height, chest circumference, and number of eggs were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by the age and sex of the sheep. The average fresh matter of vegetation under the plantation was 248.69 ± 120.94 g/m² and 718.15 ± 249.93 g/m² for oil palm and rubber plantations, respectively. Conclusion: Garut sheep were adapted to oil palm and rubber plantations in the humid tropical region. Plantations are potential sources of sheep grazing and roughage. Further research is needed regarding the consumption of forages in oil palm and rubber plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grass swards in silvopastoral systems have a lower herbage production near trees than open grassland. This is related to a lower nitrogen (N) uptake in an area close to the tree lines. The N use efficiency for the whole field can then be improved when N input is spatially adjusted and the overall amount reduced. We performed a 2-year field experiment to gain insights into this idea for making savings on N inputs by studying the response of the grass sward to fertilizer N input in relation to the distance from trees. We hypothesized an interaction between N input rate and position to the tree line on grassland herbage production and N uptake and, accordingly, N use efficiency. The field trial was carried out in a silvopastoral system in Germany consisting of the factors year (2019 and 2020), position (2.5, 6.5 and 24.5 m distances to tree line), annual N application rate (0, 15 and 30 g N m−2) and harvest date (four harvests per year). We found significant interactions between position × N rate for all target variables, and usually also in interactions with the harvest date or year. The N application close to trees at a distance < 6.5 m had in most cases no significant influence on herbage production but significantly increased herbage production by up to 35% at positions further away. Omitting the N fertilization in a corridor of 6.5 m near the trees would contribute directly to the saving of fertilizer N without a negative trade-off in herbage production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk production and milk fatty acid (FA) composition were followed in three Danish commercial organic dairy farms where grass clover silage was substituted with a forb-rich silage. Farms A, B, and C included a total of 50, 189, and 235 lactating dairy cows, and 20 cows in each herd were selected to record the productive performance and milk composition. In all farms, 70% of diets were grass clover silage, and during the experiment, forb-rich silage gradually replaced grass clover silage during the 2–4 weeks, where after cows were fed the forb-rich silage diets for additional 2 weeks. The data were separately analyzed in each farm. Milk production at farms A and B was not affected by diet change, but milk production at farm C decreased by 1.7 kg energy corrected milk (ECM)/cow in cows fed the forb-rich silage. Regardless of farm, the proportion of C18:3n-3, C18:2n-6, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers in milk from cows receiving the forb-rich silage increased compared to cows fed grass clover silage based diets. The results indicate the possibility for further increase in the content of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in organic milk by substituting grass clover silage with forb-rich silage.

Harvested forage is the main raw feed for ruminant animals in Sweden, and is commonly cultivated in mixed stands of legume and grass species. The fraction of legume on a dry matter basis, known as botanical composition (BC) is a very important indicator of forage quality. In this study, hyperspectral imaging and near-infrared spectrometer (NIRS) based methods were used to estimate BC, to overcome the shortcomings of hand separation, which is time and resource consuming. Timothy and red clover mix samples were collected from different harvests in 2017–2019 from multiple sites in Northern Sweden and hand separated. The samples were synthetically mixed to 11 different BC levels, i.e., 0–100 % clover content. Two different instruments (Specim shortwave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imaging system and Foss 6500 spectrometer) were used to collect spectral data of samples milled to two levels of coarseness. Three different regression analyses: partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector regression (SVR) and random forest regression (RFR), were used to build BC estimation models. The effects of the milling particle sizes and the different instruments on the performances of the models were compared. The data from second harvest in 2019 were used for independent validation as evaluation, and the rest of data were randomly split for model calibration (75 %) and validation (25 %). The models were iteratively run 1000 times with different splits, to check the effect from the splitting of calibration and validation datasets. Among different regression analyses, PLSR performed best, with mean Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) for model evaluation from 0.76 to 0.87, varying for different instruments and milling sizes. Finer milling made the model accuracies slightly higher. This study developed quick and robust methods to determine the BC of timothy grass and red clover mixtures, which can provide useful information for farmers or researchers.

During the period 2020-2022, the following types of meadow legume crops were tested on light gray pseudopodzolic soil on the territory of the experimental field of Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture-Troyan: Lotus corniculatus L., Trifolium hibridum L., Medicago sativa L., Trifolium pretense L., Trifolium repens L. The matter yield, the biodiversity of the species in the grass stand and the impact of the factors, such as conditions of the year and the type of grass stands were studied to determine the acclimatization of meadow legume crops under mountain conditions. It was established that the tested legume forage species realized a high yield of dry matter under mountain conditions, which varied from 836.68 to 971.13 kg/da, which determined their good adaptability for cultivation under the conditions of light gray pseudopodzolic soils. The low values of their variation coefficients by year and average yield of 909.35 kg/da of all species show that they are suitable for inclusion in the structure of farms in mountain conditions. Alfalfa proved to be the most rational for cultivation, followed by red clover. The botanical composition of the grass stands depends on the rate of growth and development of the herbaceous species. The high productivity of alfalfa corresponds to its high presence in the grass stand, which also indicates its high productivity. Natural factors determine the productivity of the grass stands of the various legume species, and subsequently the economic efficiency in the production of fodder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The use of grazing management strategies can influence canopy structure and the permanence of legumes. The objective of this work was to evaluate the determination of forage canopy heights as a grazing management strategy regarding herbage mass composition and tiller population dynamics in multispecies pastures comprising Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana and the legumes Macrotyloma axillare, Calopogonium mucunoides and Stylosanthes spp. Four treatments, defined by canopy heights of 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm, were evaluated in a randomised block design with four replications. The evaluations were performed under continuous stocking with sheep. Taller pastures (45 and 60 cm) contained greater (P

Aim. Develop a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) in livestock farms with rotational management of the pasture according to botanical composition. Materials and methods: Dairy farms from Cotopaxi, at 2800-3590 meters above sea level, were compared. Farm 1: load of 1 and 1.2 AU/ha, with 50% Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), 50% White Clover (Trifolium repens). Farm 2: Load of 1 and 1.2 AU/ha, 85% Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)-15% White clover (Trifolium repens). Farm 3: Load of 1 and 2.1 AU/ha, 33% Ryegrass-33% Plantain-34% White Clover. Fertilization, balancing and crossbred, New Zealand and North American type Holstein animals and grass rest were used. Results: There were differences in land use, coinciding in farms 1 and 3, in family labor. On Farm 1, rest was 15 to 28 days and NDF from 47.38 to 28.03 and 1.96 to 2.45 Mcal of energy and in 3, Metabolizable Energy values from 1.99 to 40 days and 2 .11 to 35 days, less milk/cow than 3 and higher than 1. In milk production/ha, farms 1 and 3 higher with 24 kg vs 19 kg. This was positive for ACV on those farms. There was potential to convert more of the system's energy into products. Conclusion: In the LCA, a coincidence was found with indicators of specialized systems in milk production, nitrogen balances, energy and their relationships with the environment and emissions, although efficiency can be recovered with improvements in management and without extra inputs to the farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the botanical composition and quality of fodder from perennial forage grasses (Festuca rubra L., Lolium perenne L., Dactylis glomerata L., Phleum pretense L.) grown in monoculture and in two-component mixtures with Trifolium pratense L. (50:50%) under mountain conditions. It was established that the studied grass species showed good adaptability and resistance to the specific soil and climate conditions of the experimental area. The relative share of grass species in monoculture meadows varied between 92.3% and 98.8%. The highest CP content in dry matter was recorded in Dactylis glomerata L. (101.4 g kg-1) and Phleum pratense L. (97.9 g kg-1). CP values exceeded the average by 6.1% and 2.4%, respectively. For the conditions of the Central Balkan Mountains, the mixtures of Festuca rubra L. and Phleum pretense L. with Trifolium pratense L. had the most balanced botanical composition (the ratio of grasses and legumes in the forage mass was 39.7:44.8% and 37.8:41.2%) and with the highest CP content. The indicator exceeded the average value by 37.8%, respectively 36.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy in the form of biogas can be produced by anaerobic digestion (AD) of animal manure. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on the long-term effects of AD-treated manure on soil characteristics and crop productivity, compared with untreated manure. A field experiment was established in a perennial grass-clover ley in 2011 to study the effects on important soil and crop characteristics when the slurry from a herd of organically managed dairy cows is anaerobically digested. While the rate of manure application affected soil concentrations of extractable nutrients and pH, these variables were unaffected by AD. Soil organic matter (SOM) concentrations decreased in all plots and faster on the plots with high intrinsic SOM. The decrease was similar with application of untreated (non-digested) slurry (US) and anaerobically digested slurry (ADS), and it was not affected by application rates. The general decline may be explained by the initial high SOM content, the long-term effect of drainage, and higher temperatures with climatic change. US and ADS gave similar yields of grass-clover ley (2 cuts/year) and green fodder, on average 0.79 and 0.40 kg DM m−2, respectively. Clover yield was similar in manured treatments and the non-fertilized control. With respect to crop yields and chemical soil characteristics, long-term (10 years) effects of AD in an organic dairy cow farming system seem to be minor. The benefits of extracting energy from the slurry did not compromise grassland productivity or soil quality in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deterioration of ecological situation, increase of mineral fertilizer prices and their foreseen increase in recent years force us to look for the ways to reduce the rates of their application and alternative means of maintaining high productivity of sown fodder lands. Fertilization was and remains one of the decisive ways of increasing haymaking productivity, as well as increasing their economic efficiency. The productivity of leguminous grasses based on the study of agrotechnological measures of cultivation in the conditions of the Carpathian region is currently relevant. The studied species of perennial grasses, during the three-year cultivation, showed that the largest number of shoots was formed on the variant with horned sedge and was 1185–1201 pieces/m2. Medicago sativa had the smallest number of shoots (470 pics/m2, control (without fertilizers)). Trifolium pratense and Lotus corniculatus provided the highest productivity in relation to other species from 20 to 31%. Analysis of single–species crops productivity of perennial bean grasses by cuttings showed that the peculiarities obtained on average for all slopes, were also similar in each of two slopes. During the three–year use of the herbage on the yield from 1 ha of dry mass in both slopes, the herbage factor had the greatest influence, the share of which was 61–62%, while the share of the influence of fertilizer was 38–39%.

The silvopastoral system presents benefits in comparison to the pastoral system, being considered an alternative for livestock production. However, little is known about the occurrence of spontaneous plants in these systems, which can be either weeds or plants desirable for grazing. This study monitored, for eight years (2014–2021), the dynamics of forage and weed species in two different treatments, pastoral and silvopastoral systems. The experiment took place at the Center for Technological Innovation in Agriculture. Treatments were divided into three blocks. Over the years, the species and their percentages of cover were identified. Data were analyzed by generalized linear models with random and fixed factors. The results showed that the silvopastoral system had a higher and more stable percentage of cover by forage plants than the pastoral system, obtaining a variation twice smaller than that of the pastoral system over the years. Only the silvopastoral system showed a linear reduction of weeds over the years, about 2% reduction in weed cover per year, and also presented a weed/forage ratio twice lower than the pastoral one. The silvopastoral system alters the dynamics of weeds, proving to be efficient in suppressing weeds and maintaining forage species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: We studied the sediments of landslide-formed small mountain lakes (elevation 565 and 750 m a.s.l.) on the slopes of an ancient volcano. The lakes are located in the territory of the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve, with unique ecosystems that combine warm- and cold-climate vegetation and where rare animals live. These lakes are natural archives, allowing the reconstruction of the natural environment of this unique area with a temporal resolution of up to 30 years. Nizhnee Lake, which developed over a period of 2640 years, is the most sensitive to climate change. Ten stages of the lake's evolution, with periods of watering and swamping, were identified and controlled by precipitation. Our study demonstrates how the communities of swamp plants and diatom microflora responded to temperature fluctuations associated with solar activity and regional manifestations of global climatic events. The regional drivers were the intensity of summer and winter monsoons, and the change in the positions of the atmosphere action and cyclonic activity centers. The natural environment was especially unstable during the Little Ice Age (14th–19th centuries), which was wet with short-term dry episodes. There is little information about moisture changes in different altitudinal belts in mountainous regions of the southern Russian Far East. We present ecological and taxonomic compositions of the diatom flora and identify the botanical composition of peat in small mountain lake/mire complexes located in the Central Sikhote-Alin Mountains, within large landslides on the paleovolcanic slopes. Frequent changes in diatom assemblages and peat-forming plants indicate unstable hydroclimatic conditions with varying degrees of wet and dry conditions up to the overgrowth of the lakes. Frequent change in sphagnum mosses with different trophic preferences was identified. The chronology is based on 11 radiocarbon dates. Accumulation rates reached 1.7–1.9 mm/year, and the temporal resolution for the reconstructions was up to 30–40 yr. The tendencies of lake evolution depended on different scale hydroclimatic changes over the last 4400 yr. The most detailed data for the last 2600 yr were obtained from the Nizhnee Lake sequence, which is more sensitive to climatic changes. The main reason for the change in the hydrological regime of the lakes was variations in precipitation during short-term climatic changes. The sediment record of moisture fluctuations is relatively well correlated with regional patterns reflecting summer monsoon intensity and cyclogenesis activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted at the Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Troyan (Bulgaria) with the aim of establishing the impact of the fertilizers Nano Sulfur and Panamin Agro on the height, productivity and composition of sown grass stand from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The perennial ryegrass plants have proven to form the highest grass stand with the application of Panamin Agro biofertilizer (250 g/da). The harvested biomass registered 4.05 cm (at P <0.05) higher values of the trait compared to the control (67.18 cm). The highest average yield of fresh matter was registered in the grass stand of Lolium perenne L. treated with Panamin Agro - 250 g/da. The values of the trait significantly exceeded the unfertilized control by 16.87% (P <0.05). No significant difference was proven in the amount of dry matter was found between the fertilized variants and the untreated control of perennial ryegrass. Lolium perenne L. occupied the highest relative share in the variants treated with Nano Sulfur (200 ml/da) and Panamin Agro (250 g/da). The percentage share of the grass crop was respectively 89.94% and 88.71% (in the control variant - 79.95%). The specified variants had the lowest degree of weed infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deterioration of ecological situation, increase of mineral fertilizer prices and their foreseen increase in recent years force us to look for the ways to reduce the rates of their application and alternative means of maintaining high productivity of sown fodder lands. Fertilization was and remains one of the decisive ways of increasing haymaking productivity, as well as increasing their economic efficiency. The productivity of leguminous grasses based on the study of agrotechnological measures of cultivation in the conditions of the Carpathian region is currently relevant. The studied species of perennial grasses, during the three-year cultivation, showed that the largest number of shoots was formed on the variant with horned sedge and was 1185-1201 pieces/m². Medicago sativa had the smallest number of shoots (470 pics/m2, control (without fertilizers)). Trifolium pratense and Lotus corniculatus provided the highest productivity in relation to other species from 20 to 31%. Analysis of single--species crops productivity of perennial bean grasses by cuttings showed that the peculiarities obtained on average for all slopes, were also similar in each of two slopes. During the three--year use of the herbage on the yield from 1 ha of dry mass in both slopes, the herbage factor had the greatest influence, the share of which was 61-62%, while the share of the influence of fertilizer was 38-39%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Recently, there has been increasing interest in the use of multispecies (MS) swards in dairy grazing systems. Methods A plot grazing study was established to investigate the potential contribution of different sward species (perennial ryegrass, legumes and herbs) sown in grazing pastures. Ten sward mixtures were sown, ranging in complexity from a perennial ryegrass (PRG) monoculture to binary mixtures including either forage legumes or herbs to a five‐species mixture; four different nitrogen (N) application rates of 0, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha−1 were applied to each sward. Results Species abundance for all sward species components was associated with the interaction of time point and sward mixture; species abundance for all sward components, except PRG, was associated with the interaction of N application and sward mixture. The interactions of time point and sward mixture, and time point and N application rate, were associated with all analysed sward chemical components, except for sward digestibility. Conclusions Increased N application rates reduced the level of clover in all sward mixtures. Increased levels of white clover led to increased sward crude protein levels; the inclusion of ribwort plantain led to some seasonal variation in the nutritive value of swards.

The aim of this study was to determine the ecological characteristics of natural rangelands. For this purpose, four different natural pastures were studied in Nebioğlu region in Zonguldak province. When the studies on the subject were examined, it was determined that, while studies were carried out on pastures in almost every region of our country; such a study has not been conducted in the Nebioğlu region before. This situation increases the original value of the research. Vegetation cover in the study areas were identified and the botanical composition was checked at the family level, including Fabaceae, Poaceae and other genus. Soil sampling was done in pasture areas. A total of 40 soil samples, compiled from 10 randomly taken samples from each study area, were subjected to some physical, chemical and biological analyses. In the collected soil samples, soil texture class, actual pH (H2O), lime content, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, organic carbon, available phosphorus and available potassium contents were analyzed. According to the results of the study, one way-Anova analysis of variance was performed in the SPSS program in order to understand if the Fabaceae, Poaceae, other genus ratios and soil properties are different among the research areas. Duncan test was applied to determine different groups. According to the results of the study, the canopy coverage of vegetation was calculated as 100% in all pasture areas. The highest rate of legumes was in Hallaç rangeland with 48.7%, grasses rate was in Gölyanı range with 39.8%, other genus rate was 30.8% in Alçak and Hallaç pastures; The lowest rate of legumes was found in Alçak pasture with 38.3%, the rate of grasses in Hallaç with 20.5%, and the rate of other families in Gölyanı range with 20.1%. According to the results of the soil analysis, it was determined that the soils in all pasture areas were in the clayey soil class, slightly alkaline and had low electrical conductivity.

The tree composition in cocoa agroforestry systems (CAFS) in Guatemala is valued for providing a number of ecosystem services. Despite the importance of the trees in these systems, little is known about the tree species richness and its contribution to the conservation of diversity. We studied the botanical composition of CAFS of different ages in the Alta Verapaz department of Guatemala. In total, 70 survey plots with a size of 2500 m² were established. An inventory was carried out in each sampling unit, recording the tree species present and measuring the diameter at breast height (DBH 1.30 m) and the height of each tree. The Importance Value Index (IVI) was calculated and species richness and the similarity between sites were evaluated. A total of 2519 trees, belonging to 59 species and 34 families were identified. The species with the highest IVI was Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth. The CAFSs with the highest and lowest species richness were those of 9-12 and 27 years old, respectively (H´=1.99, H´=0.34). This behavior can be explained by the fact that growers work to enrich the agroforestry systems with a broad diversity of species in the first years which they then begin to harvest at around 16 years of age. A discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and the Jaccard Similarity Index were used to show that several AFS were similar in terms of composition and botanical diversity. Given the tree diversity within the CAFS, these can be acknowledged as areas with good potential for the conservation of overall biodiversity. We recommend education programs for local growers about the benefits of shade management during the production cycle of cocoa to preserve the botanical composition and structural complexity of the AFS. Keywords: agroforest systems; species diversity; species richness; botanical composition; conservation of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The free-range system improves chicken's welfare and enriches their diet. There is little information about influence of chickens on the sward quality. The aim of the study was to identify differences in the chemical and botanical composition of the pasture sward used by chickens and to assess if frequency of chicken exits outdoors is associated with the botanical composition of the ranging areas. One hundred twenty non-beak trimmed mixed sex birds of Green-legged Partridge (GP) and Sasso line C44 (S) were used. Each pen had direct access to an individual outdoor range providing 10.5 m2 per chicken, video-recorded continuously. Vegetation coverage regarding botanical composition was determined based on botanical-weight analysis from three control plots, while range use was calculated from the video material. The data were analysed by ANOVA model in SAS software (v 9.4). Regarding chemical composition, fiber content was higher in dry matter from the control pastures. Significantly more Dactylis glomerata (L.) and Alopecurus pratensis (L.) were observed on ranges used by Sasso. The higher share (%) of weeds and grasses was at the ranges used by chickens (weeds: S:8.66 (1.42) and GP:7.61 (0.59) and grasses: S:10.36 (0.96) and GP:12.10 (0.65)) as compared to control plots (1.45 (1.34)) and 3.86 (2.97), respectively) in contrast to legumes ((S:0.01 (0.01) and GP:0.32(0.26)) and sedges (S:0.64 (0.48) and GP: 0.09 (0.06)) most present in the control plots (10.88 (1.55)). Positive association between range use frequency and proportion of Heracleum sphondylium (L.), Rumex acetosa (L.), Festuca rubra (L.), and Lolium perenne (L.) was observed for Sasso, while foe Green-legged Partridges with proportion of Armoracia rusticana (L.), Stellaria media (L.), Ranunculus repens (L.), Cirsium arvense (L.) and Rumex crispus (L.). Concluding, the sward quality of the ranging areas was affected by the presence of the chickens and it differed between genotypes. Unknown remain if birds used the pasture more frequently depending on its botanical composition or if the pasture composition depended on the frequency of its uses by the birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural rangelands play a key role in grazing in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Unfortunately, unqualified rangelands need improvement, and also the improvement costs should be low in terms of sustainability and efficiency. It is thought that gyttja applications in the rangelands will increase this because it is a low-cost and completely organic fertilizer. The present study was carried out on some characteristics of rangeland plants in a randomized complete block design of 7 treatments and three replications between 2016 and 2018 in the Türkoğlu district of Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. Results showed that hay yield, crude protein yield, grazing capacity, relative feed value, and digestible dry matter yield were increased by using gyttja. However, gyttja applications decreased neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber ratio compared to those of control. Hay yield, crude protein yield, relative feed value, and digestible dry matter yield were found to be 56%, 56%, 65%, and 48% higher, respectively, when S40 gyttja application was compared to control. In addition, while the ratio of grass and legumes increased in terms of hay yield in all gyttja applications, the ratio of plants belonging to other families decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permanent grasslands represent the main terrestrial ecosystem and serve as an important global reservoir of biodiversity, providing a wide range of benefits to humans and ecosystems. The effects of environment on permanent meadows (in our survey, they were centuries-old meadows that had not been plowed, mowed, or fertilized with manure) production have been adequately investigated in literature. However, plant species composition impact on potential feed value of first cut has still to be understood, in particular regarding different agronomic management. Our field trial was carried out in five farms, in a territory involved in the value chain of the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO (Val d'Enza, Northern Italy), over a two-year period (2017–2018). Differences in botanical composition, biomass, and Pastoral Value index (PV), which synthesizes grassland yield and nutritional parameters, were investigated in depth. The herbage dry matter (DM) yield was affected by year, farm, and their interaction factors. Its highest value across the two years was recorded in farm 5 (11.7 tons of DM ha−1), which applied the highest rate of nitrogen fertilization. The botanical composition of the first cut has favored the presence of both Poaceae and 'other species' (each one around 40 plants per transect) compared to Fabaceae (seven plants per transect). However, higher numbers of Fabaceae plants (13 and 10) plausibly determined increases in PV in farms 3 and 5 (56.4 and 58.7, respectively). Although differences were observed among the most important nutritional parameters of grassland (crude protein, digestible and undigested neutral detergent fiber contents), suitable net energy for lactation (NEL) values for feeding lactating cows were always recorded during the two years of survey. The present study provides a contribution of knowledge on how the botanical composition of permanent meadows may affect their potential nutritive value as fresh herbage for feeding dairy cows. Considering these results, the agronomic management should seek a level of plant biodiversity that at the same time might guarantee satisfactory yield and feed value, also in a context of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tree composition in cocoa agroforestry systems (CAFS) in Guatemala is valued for providing a number of ecosystem services. Despite the importance of the trees in these systems, little is known about the tree species richness and its contribution to the conservation of diversity. We studied the botanical composition of CAFS of different ages in the Alta Verapaz department of Guatemala. In total, 70 survey plots with a size of 2500 m2 were established. An inventory was carried out in each sampling unit, recording the tree species present and measuring the diameter at breast height (DBH 1.30 m) and the height of each tree. The Importance Value Index (IVI) was calculated and species richness and the similarity between sites were evaluated. A total of 2519 trees, belonging to 59 species and 34 families were identified. The species with the highest IVI was Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth. The CAFSs with the highest and lowest species richness were those of 9-12 and 27 years old, respectively (H´=1.99, H´=0.34). This behavior can be explained by the fact that growers work to enrich the agroforestry systems with a broad diversity of species in the first years which they then begin to harvest at around 16 years of age. A discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and the Jaccard Similarity Index were used to show that several AFS were similar in terms of composition and botanical diversity. Given the tree diversity within the CAFS, these can be acknowledged as areas with good potential for the conservation of overall biodiversity. We recommend education programs for local growers about the benefits of shade management during the production cycle of cocoa to preserve the botanical composition and structural complexity of the AFS.

Objective: To evaluate the floristic composition and nutritional quality of a meadow used for grazing of hair sheep under the agroecological conditions of the dry Colombian Caribbean. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at the Motilonia Research Center, of the Colombian Corporation of Agricultural Research AGROSAVIA. Curves of species accumulation and abundance range were made for the data analysis through the statistical program Qeco, as well as the Student’s t-test for independent samples with Infostat. Results: Thirteen plant species were recorded in the meadow, 12 were identified at species level and one at genus level. The representation, in terms of family was given by Poaceae (30,8 %), Fabaceae (30,8 %), Cyperaceae (7,7 %), Boraginacea (7,7 %), Portulacaceae (7,7 %), Apocynaceae (7,7 %), and Amaranthaceae (7,7 %). The floristic composition in the entire meadow (control transect) was different, in terms of number of species with regards to the feeding sites of the flock (p = 0,0249). This proves that the animal made a preliminary selection of the forage. Conclusions: Thirteen plant species were recorded in the meadow and 12 were identified at species level. In this study, the applied methodology for the determination of the floristic composition of the meadow, with the use of the transects and the cross, was accurate for the identification of the dominant species in the enclosed pastures versus those that were most visited by the animals.

Abstract Silvopastoral systems have great potential for forming multifunctional landscapes that provide a range of economic and environmental benefits to pastoral land. However, pasture production–diversity relationships in silvopastures require further exploration. This study measures how pasture functional group production, pasture species diversity and pasture functional diversity (FD) are impacted by trees in a novel native silvopastoral system in New Zealand hill country with kānuka (Kunzea spp.). Silvopastoral trees facilitated the growth of fast‐growing competitor functional groups (Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata and high fertility annuals: Bromus hordeaceus and Critesion murinum), because of positive impacts on soil fertility, organic matter and porosity. Shannon diversity, species richness and species evenness were significantly less in the more productive pastoral environment under the trees, but functional richness, functional evenness and functional dispersion were similar between kānuka pasture and open pasture. These results show that silvopastures can increase pasture production by promoting the growth of competitive pasture functional groups, and that reduced species diversity under silvopastoral trees does not necessarily impact FD in the context of production. Moreover, species indices overestimated diversity reductions under the trees compared to functional indices. Thus, considering FD in silvopastoral systems is integral for not misinterpreting diversity outcomes.

Extensive management is one of the methods used in the conservation of fen meadows. The aim of the study was to characterize grassland communities grazed by Konik horses in the Biebrza National Park and to assess the influence of short-term grazing on the sward. During a 3-year period, phytosociological studies, measurements of the sward cover and height, as well as an assessment of the botanical composition of meadows were conducted in places grazed and excluded from grazing. The grasslands were mowed once a year at the turn of July and August, with the exception of mid-forest meadows. The area studied was dominated by communities of the Molinion alliance. Horses kept at a very low stocking rate reduced the height and cover of the sward. In the short-term, weather conditions, especially the duration of floods, had an even greater impact on the species composition of communities than grazing. Therefore, in order to protect the Molinia meadows, apart from extensive mowing, it is necessary to maintain appropriate habitat conditions, especially in terms of controlling the moisture, and conduct its regular monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the period 2016-2019, at the Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Troyan (Bulgaria), a field experiment was conducted to establish the impact of annual mineral fertilization on the bioproductive indicators of a degraded grassland with a predominant participation of grasses in mountain conditions. The data analysis shows a significant excess in dry mass yield in the variants with annual application of the combination N12P12 (4.03 t/ha) followed by the annual application of combined fertilization by N8P8 (3.41 t/ha). The values of the indicator exceeded the control by 156.77% and 124.71% (P < 0.001), respectively. The grasslands with combined application of N10P10 (3.34 t/ha) and with alternative alternation of nitrogen and phosphorus (N7/I P7/II P7/III/N7/IV - 3.31 t/ha) had a slight difference in the values of the studied trait, but with high provability compared to the control 120.10% and 118.47%, respectively (P < 0.001). The lowest productivity (2.91 t/ha) (but with a proven excess compared to the control) were the treated grasslands from the second alternative variant (P6/I N6/II P6/III/N6/IV). The excess over the control was 92.06% (P < 0.001). The applied fertilization rates contributed to the desired changes in the individual groups and species of the botanical composition of the degraded grassland. The dominant legume species were: Trifolium hybridum L., Vicia sativa L., Lotus corniculatus L. and Medicago lupulina L., and of grasses - Festuca arundinaceae Scherb., Festuca rubra L. and Agrostis capillaris L. The highest share of motley grasses were registered in the grasslands treated annually with N8P8 (by 39.3% compared to the control) and the lowest in the grasslands treated annually with N12P12 (by 18.4% compared to the control). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of grazing management strategies can influence canopy structure and the permanence of legumes. The objective of this work was to evaluate the determination of forage canopy heights as a grazing management strategy regarding herbage mass composition and tiller population dynamics in multispecies pastures comprising Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana and the legumes Macrotyloma axillare, Calopogonium mucunoides and Stylosanthes spp. Four treatments, defined by canopy heights of 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm, were evaluated in a randomised block design with four replications. The evaluations were performed under continuous stocking with sheep. Taller pastures (45 and 60 cm) contained greater (P < 0.05) total herbage mass of Aruana leaves and stems and also higher mass of legumes than smaller pastures (15 and 30 cm). The grass tiller population density was different between heights (P < 0.05) of 2.71, 2.02, 1.97 and 1.47 tillers/m2 for heights of 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm, respectively. The tiller appearance rate was highest in tall pastures (P < 0.05) and the lowest rate and stability index were found in 15 cm pastures. Aruana guineagrass and forage legumes can be managed in the height range of 30–60 cm under continuous stocking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to assess a growth analysis of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and determine the optimal harvest time per season. The experiment was carried out at the Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Texcoco, Mexico. Twenty-four 3.7 X 1.7 m plots were used, distributed in a completely randomized design, with eight treatments and three replicates per station. The treatments consisted of successive weekly cuts, during a regrowth cycle of 8 wk, in each season of the year. At the beginning of the study, a uniform cut was made and the residual forage was determined. The evaluated variables were: accumulation of dry matter, botanical and morphological composition, and leaf area index of white clover. The highest forage accumulation (P<0.05) occurred in the eighth week in spring (2,688 kg DM ha-1). Leaf production was higher (P<0.05) in spring, autumn and winter. The highest leaf area index was reached in the eighth week in spring (3.0; F<0.05). It is recommend exploiting the white clover meadow in the sixth week of the springsummer period and in the seventh week of autumn-winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest rangelands are an important component of extensive goat production in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this study was to survey the floristic composition, lifespan, life forms, phytogeographic relationships, palatability degree, and forage availability of forest rangelands in Northern Morocco. To achieve this goal, a plant species inventory was carried out, and a digital herbarium was constructed. Forage availability was estimated using the quadrat method. According to the results, 358 taxa were recorded with 228 genera and 66 families. The flora is mainly dominated by Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Lamiaceae families. Six principal life forms of plants were recognized with the predominance of therophytes (48.3%). The Mediterranean floristic category was the most dominant in the flora (73.7%) with 264 species. The palatability degree was studied for 95 taxa, known by herders. The palatable plant group was highly represented with 32 species. Of these identified taxa, 93% were evaluated as potential sources of forage for grazing animals. The forage availability depended considerably on the season and the existing plant species (p < 0.01). The spring recorded the higher value with 3143 kg DM/ha. In conclusion, forest rangelands have a high biodiversity, which they need for rigorous protection to preserve their floristic composition and diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last time was applied a deficient management on the grassland, from Romania. This aspect has affected the yield and forages quality on the grassland. Different measures of grassland improvement were studied, for to do away with these negative effects. The researches were carried out of 2006-2008, at Grassland Research Institute Brasov, on districambosol tipic soil, pHH2O 5.6, with a low content of mineral nutrients An organic system of fertilisation was studied on a Agrostis capillaris and Festuca rubra tipe of grassland. 20,40,60 t.ha-1 manure levels where applied in different period (autumn, spring). The effect of organic fertiliser level, the time of organic fertiliser apply and methods of grassland using (hay or frequent cutting) on botanical composition, DM yield and soil fertility were studied. The organic fertilization has causes an economical pastures using, 70-135 % DM increasing, with a stable productivity, increase the fertility and vegetal cover density and the landscape improvement. The proportion between species was changes, due to the more cutting and fertilization. To maintain a landscape and a high biodiversity is necessary only one cutting.

This study evaluated the productivity of mixed canopies of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu palisadegrass and Stylosanthes spp cv. Campo Grande at different shading levels during the dry season in the Cerrado biome of Midwest Brazil. The trial was carried out at the Experimental Farm of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in Terenos, Mato Grosso do Sul. The experimental design used was completely randomized blocks. Plots of 30 m2 (5 x 6 m) were established. The shading conditions (0, 30 and 50%) were obtained using shades arranged over the experimental plots. The light interception (LI) and leaf area index (LAI) of the canopies were measured with an AccuPAR LP-80 canopy analyzer. Pasture production was estimated through the total forage mass (TFM), and botanical composition was determined through grass forage mass (GM) and legume forage mass (LM). Morphological composition was also estimated through grass and legume leaf mass (gLM and lLM, respectively), grass stem mass (gSM), legume stalk mass (lSM), grass dead material mass (gDM and lDM, respectively), grass and legume green mass (gGM and lGM, respectively), and leaf stem or stalk ratio (L:S) of legume and grass. These evaluations were performed by collecting samples using frames (0.25m2) and cutting the forage close to the ground. Samples were weighed and separated for botanical and morphological composition, later weighed and placed in an oven at 55 °C for 72 hours to obtain dry matter. The 50% shade provided greater LI (P0.05). There was no effect of canopy height between shading levels (p>0.05), showing an average height of 47.1 cm between treatments. The 50% shade resulted in higher TFM and GM (P0.05). The gDM was highest at 30% (P0.05). The greater shading promoted higher LI, TFM, and GM without impacting the legume population in the dry season in the Cerrado biome.

Mining extraction has a substantial impact on soil and vegetation cover. However, little is known about its effect on the flora and microorganisms associated with these environments. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) form associations with plants, improving their development in environments contaminated with heavy metals, among other benefits. Native plants and AMF found in the soil degraded by mining play an essential role in establishing programs dealing with recovering areas influenced by these activities. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize vegetation and AMF abundance and diversity in an area affected by gold mining in Colombia. Vegetation was evaluated in two areas, one adjacent to mining deposits with native vegetation (SI-N) and the other in an intermediate area with mining waste and initial natural plant successions (SI-SV). AMF was assessed in the SI-N and the mining waste area (SI-M). Vegetation was quantified using the RAP method, and AMF was assessed using wet sieving from direct soil samples and trap crops. Vegetation evaluations identified 605 individuals belonging to 29 families, 46 genera, and 54 species, and AMF assessment identified 11 species and five genera. Diversity was established using Hill numbers, finding that SI-N was more diverse for vegetation (Q1: 11.94) and SI-M for AMF (Q1: 3.07). Heavy metals and vegetation decreased the diversity and abundance of AMF in the SI-M. Plant species of the genera Baccharis, Agrostis, Miconia, and the AMF Glomus microcarpum were the most frequent species with potential for recovery in degraded areas.

Simple Summary: This study was carried out to control the plant Sarcopoterium spinosum in Çanakkale, Turkey. As a result of grazing, the number of grasses and legumes decreased and the number of shrubs increased. The number of species increased due to shrub control measures but decreased remarkably with grazing. (1) Background: The effects of prickly burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum) control measures (pulling out, burning and cutting) and grazing on the botanical composition, grazeable dry matter (GDM) yield and nutritional values of rangeland were investigated on Imbros Island (Turkey) in 2010–2013. (2) Methods: The rangeland was grazed by Imbros sheep during the last year of the experiment. About 0.15 ha of rangeland was allocated to each sheep and five sheep were placed in each plot. Grazing was continuous throughout the year. (3) Results: Shrub levels decreased by 50–60% due to pulling out, burning and cutting in the first year and herbaceous species increased. Forbs increased more in the pulled and burnt plots and grasses increased more in the cut plots. In the third year, the shrub level increased to 60–65% and herbaceous species decreased. The decrease in herbaceous species was observed mostly in forbs. Plant cover was mostly (58%) composed of annual species. Development decreased plant cover ratios, but this decrease ceased in the burnt plot in the third year. Grazing also reduced plant cover. Crude protein (CP), NDF, ADF and digestible dry matter (DDM) content did not vary significantly over the experimental period. CP and DDM increased, NDF decreased and ADF did not change in the development plots. Overall, significant differences were not observed in GDM yield and nutritional values due to development efforts (pulling out, burning and cutting). (4) Conclusions: However, cutting is difficult over stony and rough terrain and pulling out creates erosion on sloping surfaces. Therefore, burning is recommended over the entire rangeland and burning or pulling out is recommended over smooth terrain for the temporary control of S. spinosum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Montado is a characteristic ecosystem of the Mediterranean region, where agricultural activities, animal production and forestry coexist alongside tourism, hunting and leisure activities. Animal grazing is fundamental for the conservation of the Montado, and it is imperative to clearly understand its interactions with the pasture floristic composition (PFC) of the Montado. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sheep grazing, stocking rates and dolomitic limestone application on the floristic composition of permanent dryland pastures, in the Montado agroforestry system of Southern Portugal. The type of grazing influences the PFC, which may be positively or negatively impacted, depending on the adopted system. Deferred grazing seems to benefit the disappearance of undesirable plants and the appearance of desired plants. The results of this study allow for more informed management decisions and a potential increase in animal production but also improve the knowledge of conservation strategies in the Montado. The Montado is a complex agroforestry–pastoral ecosystem due to the interactions between soil–pasture–trees–animals and climate. The typical Montado soil has an acidic pH and manganese toxicity, which affect the pasture's productivity and pasture floristic composition (PFC). The PFC, on the other hand, can also be influenced by the type and intensity of grazing, which can lead to significant decreases in the amount of biomass produced and the biodiversity of species in the pasture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of grazing type, by sheep, and different stocking rates on the PFC throughout the vegetative pasture cycle in areas with and without dolomitic limestone application. Thus, four treatments (P1UC to P4TC) were constituted: P1UC—without limestone application (U) and continuous grazing (CG); P2UD—U and deferred grazing (DG); P3TD—with the application of limestone (T) and DG; P4TC—T and CG. In DG plots, the placement and removal of the animals were carried out as a function of the average height of the pasture (placement—10 cm; removal—3 to 5 cm). The PFC was characterized in winter, at the peak of spring and in late spring. The PFC data were subjected to a multilevel pattern analysis (ISA). The combination of rainfall and temperature influenced the pasture growth rates and consequently the height of the pasture at different times of the year. Therefore, with the different growth rates of the pasture throughout the year, the sheep remain for different periods of time in the deferred grazing treatments. In the four treatments, 103 plant species were identified. The most representative botanical families in the four treatments were Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae. ISA identified 14 bioindicator species: eight for the winter period, three for the late spring vegetative period and three for the TC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oak forests in Colombia are dominated by the species Quercus humboldtii Bonpl. which is in the vulnerable category due to deforestation to generate crops, livestock areas and plantations of exotic species, causing the formation of edges due to the deterioration of the ecosystem. These forests establish symbiotic associations with species of ectomycorrhizal fungi, allowing the exchange of nutrients and water between fungal hyphae and plant roots. This study analyzes the edge effect in the interior (BNI-C) and at the edge of an undisturbed oak forest (BNI-B), in addition to two forest edges with anthropogenic intervention, one in contact with a plantation of Eucalyptus sp. (BE) and another with cattle ranching (BG). The forest edge was established by measuring environmental variables (ambient temperature, luminosity, temperature, and soil humidity). Oak roots were collected from seven trees at the interior and edge of each forest and the quantification of colonization and morphological characterization of ectomycorrhizae was made. The edge effect was evidenced in the degree of ectomycorrhizal colonization in the roots of Q. humboldtii with percentages of 18 to 30 % in BNI, 15 % in BE and 47 % in BG. The ectomycorrhizal genera Cenococcum sp. and Lactarius sp. showed the highest abundance in the three forests, varying considerably near the edges in BG and BE. Changes in the percentage of colonization and morphotype diversity of ectomycorrhizae were evidenced at the forest edge in contact with the two disturbed areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The stages of development of small Solontsovskie (Shanduyskie) Lakes located in the middle mountains of the Central Sikhote-Alin within large landslides, formed on the slopes of the paleovolcano, are identified on the basis of complex study of the sediment section of the Nizhnee Lake. The ecological-taxonomic composition of the diatom flora, the botanical composition of peat have been analyzed, and the tendencies of lacustrine sedimentation depending on the different scale of hydroclimatic changes in the Late Holocene have been established. The age model is based on 6 radiocarbon dates. The temporary resolution for the reconstructions is 30–60 years. A comparison of the development of Nizhnee and Izyubrinye Solontsi Lakes was carried out, the stages of watering and shallowing of lakes were identified on the basis of their dynamics, which made it possible to restore the change in moisture in the middle mountains. Organogenic deposits in lacustrine basins accumulated at high rates (up to 1.7–1.9 mm/ year). The most detailed data were obtained for the last 2.6 thousand cal. yr BP based on the study of the sediment section of the Nizhnee Lake, which responded more sensitively to changing climatic conditions. Frequent changes in diatom assemblages and peat-forming plants indicate unstable hydroclimatic conditions with varying degrees of watering and drainage up to complete overgrowth of water bodies. According to the data of diatom analysis, a successive change in the trophicity of the lake was traced. A frequent change of sphagnum mosses of different sections with different trophic preferences was established. The main reason for the change in the hydrological regime of the lakes was variations in precipitation during the short-term climatic changes. The correlation of the identified paleoclimatic events with global data has been carried out. Cooling periods, as a rule, were accompanied by a decrease in moisture, but the Little Ice Age was wet due to an increase in precipitation.

This research was carried out on a natural rangeland area with an average elevation of 1223 meters, located within the borders of Tokmacık village in Yalvaç district of Isparta province. In the study carried out in the vegetation period of 2019, the area covered with vegetation, botanical composition, plant species in the rangeland, above-ground and below-ground biomass, rangeland condition and grazing capacity of the rangeland were determined. Transect and quadrate methods were used to determine these parameters. 125 plant taxa belonging to 28 families, were determined in Tokmacık village rangeland. The amount of the area covered with vegetation of the rangeland was determined as 41.9%. In the botanical composition, it was determined that the Poaceae was 49.80%, the Fabaceae was 20.06% and the other family was 30.14%, and the Poaceae was dominant. Grazing capacity was 52.4 animal units, and rangeland condition was determined as medium. The amount of above-ground biomass was determined as 284.6 kg/da and the amount of below-ground biomass was determined as 442.2 kg/da in the study area. According to the results obtained from the study, it is possible to talk about the destruction of vegetation in the rangeland area caused by overgrazing. This situation reveals that grazing pressure should be reduced and quality vegetation should be increased with appropriate breeding studies.

This study was carried out to determine the botanical composition, pasture status and health of Elazığ province Karakoçan district Bulgurcuk village pasture. 39 plant species belonging to 15 families were identified in the pasture area, and the ratio of plant covered area was calculated as 91.7%. In the botanical composition, the rate of legumes was 15.6%, the rate of grasses was 61.6% and the rate of other family plants was determined as 22.8%. The dominant species in the pasture were Aegilops triuncialis (%35.80), Trifolium campestre (%14.56), Hordeum bulbosum (%9.49), Taeniatherum caput-medusae (%5.49) and Gundelia tournefortii (%4.65). Pasture status was determined as “weak”. The fact that most of the plants in the pasture are invasive (%84.7), the rate of decreaser (%5.8) and increaser (%9.5) plants in the botanical composition are low and the pasture situation is weak, has led to the conclusion that the pasture area needs improvement. It is recommended that the pasture be fertilized, alternating grazing system should be adopted in the pasture and the villagers who benefit from the pasture should be encouraged to produce forage crops in order to reduce the pressure on the pasture.

There is little information about moisture changes in different altitudinal belts in mountainous regions of the southern Russian Far East. We present ecological and taxonomic compositions of the diatom flora and identify the botanical composition of peat in small mountain lake/mire complexes located in the Central Sikhote-Alin Mountains, within large landslides on the paleovolcanic slopes. Frequent changes in diatom assemblages and peat-forming plants indicate unstable hydroclimatic conditions with varying degrees of wet and dry conditions up to the overgrowth of the lakes. Frequent change in sphagnum mosses with different trophic preferences was identified. The chronology is based on 11 radiocarbon dates. Accumulation rates reached 1.7–1.9 mm/year, and the temporal resolution for the reconstructions was up to 30–40 yr. The tendencies of lake evolution depended on different scale hydroclimatic changes over the last 4400 yr. The most detailed data for the last 2600 yr were obtained from the Nizhnee Lake sequence, which is more sensitive to climatic changes. The main reason for the change in the hydrological regime of the lakes was variations in precipitation during short-term climatic changes. The sediment record of moisture fluctuations is relatively well correlated with regional patterns reflecting summer monsoon intensity and cyclogenesis activity.

Questions: (i) How does a strategic deferment influence both shoot and root biomass in South American Campos natural grassland after a long time of contrasting livestock grazing intensities? (ii) How do functional strategies of plants to tolerate or avoid grazing affect patterns of aboveground and belowground biomass? Location: A natural Campos grassland in the Central Depression of Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil (latitude 30°05′27″ S, longitude 51°40′18″ W, and altitude 46 m). Methods: We studied the effects of deferments (spring or autumn) at moderate and severe livestock grazing intensities (maintained by adjusting contrasting forage allowances during 25 years) on the cover of dominant species, and aboveground and belowground biomass. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications of grazing exclusions, applied simultaneously at moderate and severe grazing intensities. Measurements of above‐ and belowground biomass and the coverage of the five dominant species were performed before and after grazing exclusion periods. Results: Under severe grazing intensity, erect‐growing grasses were replaced by prostrate species, which were able at least to maintain the belowground biomass found at moderate grazing intensity. In response to deferments, severe grazing intensity changed toward a significant increase in aboveground biomass and in the coverage of plants with erect growing habit. However, total belowground biomass remained unaffected by exclusions in both grazing intensities. The relation of root:shoot biomass was lower under moderate grazing intensity, and showed a negative response to deferment treatments at severe grazing intensity. Conclusion: Long‐term contrasting grazing intensities applied in South American Campos grasslands determine several changes in above‐ and belowground relationships. Prevalence of prostrate plants under severe grazing is associated with a high partitioning capacity of assimilates toward the subterranean biomass, higher than in the tall species predominant under moderate grazing. The fast recovery of aboveground biomass, the maintenance of the underground biomass and the increase of tall grasses in response to deferments reveals the high resilience capacity of this ecosystem after a long‐term period of overgrazing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to establish the influence of organic leaf fertilization on the productivity and botanical composition of natural grassland Agropyron repens type in the region of South-Central Bulgaria (305 m altitude). The experiment was carried out with leaf organic fertilizer Naturamin Plus, during the period 2018-2019. The trial was designed by the block method in 4 repetitions and 3 doses of fertilizer were tested: 1,500; 2,500 and 3,500 ml.ha-1. Results obtained for the yield were statistically processed by ANOVA. The use of the Naturamin Plus in natural grassland Agropyron repens type has been found to have a positive effect on productivity regardless of weather conditions over the years. Average for the period of investigation, more green and dry mass were obtained by treatment with a dose of 2,500 ml.ha-1 - respectively 31.6% and 30.7% more compared to the control. In grassland with predominant species Agropyron repens (L.) P. Beauv., the largest share is occupied by perennial cereal grasses, while legumes have a small share. Fertilization with liquid organic fertilizer Naturamin Plus increases the participation of perennial cereal and legume grasses and reduces that of weeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]