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The start of the growing season (SOS) in grasslands is a critical factor that significantly affects grassland dynamics, production and quality. In the context of grassland fodder production, the exact detection of the start of the growing season allows farmers and land managers to precisely plan harvest schedules for hay production or silage making. However, the NDVI time-series based detection of the SOS for grassland poses challenges due to the gradual onset of greenness and the wide variety of environmental conditions. These challenges emphasize the need for novel approaches to improve satellite-based SOS detection accuracy. This study establishes a new methodology for identifying the SOS specifically tailored to grassland regions in Austria. To accomplish this, a synergistic approach combining remote sensing (MODIS NDVI at 250 m) and weather data analysis was adopted. Results indicate that the integrated approach outperforms alternative methods in estimating SOS. The study demonstrated a more robust and accurate estimates of SOS that were generally consistent with the phenological observations of a reference species (Forsythia suspensa) and in agreement with the observed SOS dates based on visual interpretation of 10 m resolution Sentinel-2 images. For future studies, the integration of additional validation techniques is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In alpine meadows, microorganisms are essential to sustain the stability of terrestrial geochemical processes and vegetation–soil–microbial systems. The present study in order investigate how various management measures impact the microbial communities' composition and functionality, we utilize metagenomic sequencing techniques to examinate the composition and function of soil microbial communities in the southern Qilian Mountains of the Qinghai‐Xizang Plateau in response to the management practices of fencing enclose (FE), winter grazing (WG), transition zone between natural and artificial grasslands (TZ), and artificial unicast oats (AU). Vegetation diversity and soil physicochemical characteristics were dramatically altered by the management measures. The prokaryotic community structure was considerably similar in FE and WG, as well as in TZ and AU. Near‐natural (FE) and artificial establishment (AU) disturbances changed the fungal community structure. Enzymes related to carbon metabolism did not respond significantly to the management measures, whereas those related to nitrogen metabolism did not respond significantly in TZ and AU. The relative abundance of enzymes participating in nitrogen metabolism was higher under TZ and AU than under FE and WG. We concluded that grassland management measures altered the structure of aboveground graminoid and leguminous vegetation communities and belowground biomass allocation, resulting in changes in K uptake, causing striking changes in the structure of fungal communities and nitrogen‐metabolizing enzymes; moderate disturbance (WG) was beneficial for maintaining the stability of microbial communities in alpine grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Plant functional traits are effective indicators and predictors of environmental change, revealing plants' ecological countermeasures and adaptability through phenotypic plasticity. We conducted a 6-year grazing experiment on typical temperate grassland to assess the impact of different grazing periods on the plasticity and variability of the functional traits of Leymus chinensis and the relationship between traits and individual plant biomass. Our study included four treatments: CK (enclosure), T1 (grazing in May and July), T2 (grazing in June and August), and T3 (grazing in July and September). The results for 13 functional traits indicated that the T3 treatment showed the smallest reduction in individual plant biomass, plant height, leaf area, stem length, and leaf length, making it the most effective type of grassland management and optimal for the maintenance and restoration of L. chinensis traits. Under T1, T2, and T3, the plasticity of stem weight, total leaf weight, total leaf area, and stem length was higher and crucial for regulating individual plant biomass. The results underscore that the changes and plasticity of dominant species under grazing treatments are key to understanding the relationship between ecosystem function and grassland management. This study provides a theoretical basis and data support for the adaptive utilization and restoration management of typical grassland resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We investigated farming practices and grassland plant diversity patterns in the historical regions of Maramureș and Bukovina, located in the central Eastern Carpathians of Romania and Ukraine. We explored the influence of social and historical factors on recent grassland plant diversity, including changes and modifications in land use and grassland management practices. We used stratified random sampling to select 48 grassland parcels in eight villages on the Ukrainian‐Romanian borderlands. We identified the factors that affect the composition and diversity of grassland vascular plants and bryophytes at multiple spatial scales and compared the frequency and timing of historical and recent grassland management practices to distinguish between preserved and modified agricultural traditions. In most of the grassland parcels studied (83% in Romania and 78% in Ukraine), traditional land use persisted. Local plant species richness was primarily influenced by management practices, outweighing the impact of topography and soil factors. Regular mowing at appropriate intensity increased the richness of vascular plants, while grazing promoted the richness of bryophyte species. Modifications to farming systems, observed in all studied villages, were mainly due to declining population and livestock numbers. Although the timing of spring and autumn grazing in hay meadows still adhered to tradition, mowing schedules shifted earlier, especially for the first cut of two‐cut hay meadows. Traditional corralling, fertilization and hayseed application have become rare or discontinued in certain villages, while controlled burning has increased. Past use of mineral fertilizers in Ukrainian villages during the Soviet era influenced the recent diversity and composition of vascular plant species, favouring nutrient‐demanding species. Social factors and agricultural policies indirectly affect biodiversity in semi‐natural grasslands, leaving a tangible footprint even in the most remote areas of the Carpathian Mountains. We provide basic recommendations to preserve the remarkable biodiversity of the region. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The focus of our study was the changes in the composition of semi-natural dry grasslands in Hungary. Maintaining the favorable condition of grasslands is not only important from a theoretical nature conservation point of view, but it also has important economic implications. Since these valuable habitats were created with the help of humans, their preservation also requires active treatment. Our current experiment was aimed at investigating the suppression of tall grass, Calamagrostis epigejos L. Roth. In Hungary, in the Cserhát Mountains, eight permanent plots were mown twice a year. We surveyed the vegetation twice a year between 2001 and 2011. The effects of treatment were studied with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). After 10 years, the C. epigejos cover of the mown plots decreased significantly, from the initial average of 62.38 to 7.50%. Surprisingly, we noticed a decrease in the control plots as well. While percentage cover of C. epigejos decreased in all plots, the decrease was significantly stronger in the mown plots. Regular treatment caused an increase in the number of species and diversity. Species richness increased continuously in both treatment types, which indicates the combined effect of vegetation succession and treatment. The biomass growth of other Poaceae and Fabaceae species, which are important from a grassland management perspective, was also facilitated by mowing. Our results allow us to conclude that long-term regular mowing is recommended for preservation from the perspective of the richness and variety of grassland management functional groups and the functioning of the ecosystem in semi-arid regenerating grasslands.

Recent losses in the abundance and diversity of arthropods have been documented in many regions and ecosystems. In grasslands, such insect declines are largely attributed to land use, including modern machinery and mowing regimes. However, the effects of different mowing techniques on arthropods remain poorly understood. Using 11 years of data from 111 agricultural grassland plots across Germany, we analyzed the influence of various grassland management variables on the abundance and abundance‐accounted species richness of four arthropod orders: Araneae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Orthoptera. The analysis focused on detailed mowing information, for example, days after mowing and mower type, and compared their effect with other aspects of grassland management, that is, rolling, leveling, fertilization, and grazing. We found strong negative effects of mowing on all four arthropod orders, with arthropod abundance being lowest directly after mowing and steadily increasing to three to seven times the abundance after 100 days post‐mowing. Likewise, Hemiptera and Coleoptera species richness was 30% higher 100 days after mowing. Mower width showed a positive effect on Orthoptera abundance, but not on the other arthropods. Arthropod abundance and Coleoptera species richness were lowest when a mulcher was used compared to rotary or bar mowers. In addition to mowing, intensive grazing negatively affected Orthoptera abundance but not the other orders. Mowing represents a highly disturbing and iterative stressor with negative effects on arthropod abundance and diversity, likely contributed by mowing‐induced mortality and habitat alteration. While modifications of mowing techniques such as mower type or mowing height and width may help to reduce the negative impact of mowing on arthropods, our results show that mowing itself has the most substantial negative effect. Based on our results, we suggest that reduced mowing frequency, omission of mowing in parts of the grassland (refuges), or extensive grazing instead of mowing have the greatest potential to promote arthropod populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of our study was the changes in the composition of semi-natural dry grasslands in Hungary. Maintaining the favorable condition of grasslands is not only important from a theoretical nature conservation point of view, but it also has important economic implications. Since these valuable habitats were created with the help of humans, their preservation also requires active treatment. Our current experiment was aimed at investigating the suppression of tall grass, Calamagrostis epigejos L. Roth. In Hungary, in the Cserhát Mountains, eight permanent plots were mown twice a year. We surveyed the vegetation twice a year between 2001 and 2011. The effects of treatment were studied with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). After 10 years, the C. epigejos cover of the mown plots decreased significantly, from the initial average of 62.38 to 7.50%. Surprisingly, we noticed a decrease in the control plots as well. While percentage cover of C. epigejos decreased in all plots, the decrease was significantly stronger in the mown plots. Regular treatment caused an increase in the number of species and diversity. Species richness increased continuously in both treatment types, which indicates the combined effect of vegetation succession and treatment. The biomass growth of other Poaceae and Fabaceae species, which are important from a grassland management perspective, was also facilitated by mowing. Our results allow us to conclude that long-term regular mowing is recommended for preservation from the perspective of the richness and variety of grassland management functional groups and the functioning of the ecosystem in semi-arid regenerating grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the fate of different nitrogen (N) species in different pools of terrestrial ecosystems is a prerequisite for a comprehensive understanding of the influence of human activities on the N cycle. Grazing has always been an important way of grassland management for centuries in the temperate grasslands of North China. However, how grazing regimes affect the N fate of urea derived from the livestock in the plant–soil systems of grazed grasslands remains poorly understood. Therefore, an in situ three‐factor (grazing regime, soil depth, and sampling time) 15N‐labeling experiment in a temperate steppe was conducted to answer this question. After 48 days of 15N labeling, the 15N recovered in shoots under no grazing (7.3% ± 1.8%) was approximately 2.3 times of that under rotational (3.2% ± 0.4%) and 2.5 times of that under continuous overgrazing (2.9% ± 0.5%). More 15N was recovered in roots under rotational than continuous overgrazing (19.8% ± 2.4% vs. 10.4% ± 0.5%, respectively), indicating that rotational overgrazing could promote more N retention in the roots. However, the 15N recovered in the soil was lower under continuous (23.7% ± 2.0%) than that of no grazing (42.0% ± 5.6%). Additionally, overgrazing reduced the magnitude of the soil active N pool in microbial biomass N and soluble N relative to no grazing. The grazing regimes would have significantly influenced both the soil and plants. That is to say, grazing regimes have directly impacted plant growth, and subsequently indirectly affected soil properties. Overgrazing often led to excessive vegetation consumption, resulting in decreased soil water content (SWC) and reduced soil organic carbon (SOC), ultimately caused alterations in plant species composition. The retention of 15N within the plant–soil system under continuous overgrazing was notably lower compared to that of no grazing. Continuous overgrazing has led to a shift in the dominant plant species from Leymus chinensis to Stipa grandis, by decreasing the proportion of perennial grasses by 10%, and increasing the annual and biennial plants by 8%. The fate of 15N was also altered in response to the variations in grazing regimes. Consequently, the recovery of 15N within the plant–soil system under continuous overgrazing was significantly lower compared to that of no grazing. In conclusion, overgrazing reduces the recovery of 15N within the plant–soil system in the temperate steppe, and rotational grazing is more preferable over continuous grazing as it could promote higher N retention in grassland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial body of empirical evidence suggests that anthropogenic disturbance can affect the structure and function of grassland ecosystems. Despite this, few studies have elucidated the mechanisms through which grazing and mowing, the two most widespread land management practices, affect the stability of natural grassland communities. In this study, we draw upon 9 years of field data from natural grasslands in northern China to investigate the effects of gazing and mowing on community stability, specifically focusing on community aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and dominance, which are two major biodiversity mechanisms known to characterize community fluctuations. We found that both grazing and mowing reduced ANPP in comparison to areas enclosed by fencing. Grazing reduced community stability by increasing the likelihood of single‐species dominance and decreasing the relative proportion of nondominant species. In contrast, mowing reduced the productivity of the dominant species but increased the productivity of nondominant species. As a consequence, mowing improved the overall community stability by increasing the stability of nondominant species. Our study provides novel insight into understanding of the relationship between community species fluctuation‐stability, with implications for ecological research and ecosystem management in natural grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The start of the growing season (SOS) in grasslands is a critical factor that significantly affects grassland dynamics, production and quality. In the context of grassland fodder production, the exact detection of the start of the growing season allows farmers and land managers to precisely plan harvest schedules for hay production or silage making. However, the NDVI time-series based detection of the SOS for grassland poses challenges due to the gradual onset of greenness and the wide variety of environmental conditions. These challenges emphasize the need for novel approaches to improve satellite-based SOS detection accuracy. This study establishes a new methodology for identifying the SOS specifically tailored to grassland regions in Austria. To accomplish this, a synergistic approach combining remote sensing (MODIS NDVI at 250 m) and weather data analysis was adopted. Results indicate that the integrated approach outperforms alternative methods in estimating SOS. The study demonstrated a more robust and accurate estimates of SOS that were generally consistent with the phenological observations of a reference species (Forsythia suspensa) and in agreement with the observed SOS dates based on visual interpretation of 10 m resolution Sentinel-2 images. For future studies, the integration of additional validation techniques is crucial.

Background: Soil structure is a key indicator of the functioning of soil processes in grasslands, which is influenced by site conditions and management. Methods: In this study, we investigated soil structure and its relationship with root growth in 31 Leptosols under different grassland management intensities using X‐ray microcomputed tomography. A close relationship between land use intensity, soil structure, and root growth was observed. Results: Our results show that land use type affects root development and soil structure. Pastures had more developed roots and more structured soils than meadows and mown pastures. However, all pastures were unfertilized, while meadows and mown pastures had both fertilized and unfertilized plots. Although no significant differences were found in the unfertilized plots, sample size was limited. In particular, fertilization negatively affected root growth and soil structure, resulting in significant differences between fertilized and unfertilized grasslands. Mowing frequency also had an effect on soil physics, but to a much lesser extent than fertilization. Conclusions: Increased land use intensity, characterized by increased fertilization and more frequent mowing, reduces root growth and adversely affects soil structure. Therefore, X‐ray microcomputed tomography is a suitable method to investigate the relationship between soil structure and roots in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The time‐series data of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a crucial indicator for global and regional vegetation monitoring. However, the current assessment of global and regional long‐term vegetation changes is subject to large uncertainties due to the lack of spatiotemporally continuous time‐series data sets. Methods: In this study, a long time‐series monthly NDVI data set with a spatial resolution of 250 m from 1982 to 2020 was developed by combining Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and AVHRR (Advanced Very High‐Resolution Radiometer) time‐series NDVI products using the Random Forest (RF) downscaling model. Results: Compared to the MODIS NDVI product, the fused product shows RMSE and mean absolute error ranging from 0 to 0.075 and from 0 to 0.05, respectively, with R2 values mostly above 0.7. Conclusions: The long time‐series NDVI products generated in this study are reliable in terms of accuracy and have great potential for long‐term dynamic monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upland Sandpipers (Bartramia longicauda) are a grassland obligate shorebird that nests in dense vegetation structure near recently disturbed areas and could benefit from management practices that promote heterogenous vegetation structure. Upland Sandpipers primary breeding range is generally managed for livestock production using traditional practices that lack patchy disturbances to facilitate higher levels of structural heterogeneity. Patch-burn grazing (PBG) could be an alternative management practice for Upland Sandpiper conservation for its use to create areas of dense vegetation structure near recently disturbed areas. However, limited information is available regarding nest production of Upland Sandpipers within a PBG framework. To assess the compatibility of PBG with Upland Sandpiper conservation, we estimated nest site selection and survival of Upland Sandpiper nests on private lands managed with PBG in the unglaciated plains region of North Dakota. We located 59 nests from 2017 to 2020. Upland Sandpipers avoided 1 year since fire (YSF) patches and selected for 2 and 3 YSF patches for nest sites. Additionally, nest site selection decreased with increased bare ground and at intermediate distances to the nearest Upland Sandpiper nest. Upland Sandpipers experienced high overall nest survival during the study with 51 of 59 nests successfully hatching, which limited our ability to make inferences between daily survival rates and variables of interest. Our findings suggest that PBG can provide suitable nesting cover for Upland Sandpipers in later YSF patches despite annual prescribed fire and livestock grazing during the nesting season. PBG seems a suitable grassland management strategy that should be included in conservation planning within Upland Sandpiper's breeding distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of mowing on vegetation parameters have been well studied. However, less is known about mowing effects on soil fauna and if soil properties alter this. We investigated earthworm communities in a long-term experiment 14 years after its establishment in 5 dry, fresh and moist grassland plots located in the Natura 2000 site Lainzer Tiergarten near Vienna, Austria (238–402 m a.s.l., 48°10′ N, 16°12′ E). The grasslands were either mowed once a year or every second year, or not mowed since being established. Earthworms were assessed using the non-destructive octet electro-shocking method. Additionally, vegetation composition, soil conductivity, temperature and moisture were assessed. We found 13 earthworm species across all treatments, although their abundance was generally low with 6.1 ± 4.7 worms m−2. The total earthworm abundance and species diversity was higher in dry compared to fresh and moist grasslands but was not affected by mowing frequency. Endogeic earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa, Aporrectodea rosea) and epigeics (Lumbricus rubellus) were more tolerant to mowing than anecics (Lumbricus terrestris, Allolobophora longa). Since plant species richness was highest in annually mown grasslands and earthworm species richness was positively related to plant species numbers, we recommend regular, low-input management to promote above- and belowground biodiversity in these grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Grasslands provide important provisioning services worldwide and their management has consequences for these services. Management intensification is a widespread land‐use change and has accelerated across North America to meet rising demands on productivity, yet its impact on the relationship between plant diversity and productivity is still unclear. Here, we investigated the relationship between plant diversity and grassland productivity across nine ecoclimatic domains of the continental United States. We also tested the effect of management intensification on diversity and productivity in four case studies. Methods: We acquired remotely sensed gross primary productivity data (GPP, 1986–2018) and plant diversity data measured at different spatial scales (1, 10, 100, 400 m2), as well as climate variables including the Palmer drought index from two ecological networks. We used general linear mixed models to relate GPP to plant diversity across sites. For the case study analysis, we used linear mixed models to relate plant diversity to management intensity, and tested if the management intensity influenced the relationship between GPP (mean and temporal variation) and drought. Results: Across all sites, we observed positive relationships among species richness, productivity, and the temporal stability of mean annual biomass production. These relationships were not affected by the scale at which species richness was observed. In three out of the four case studies, we observed that management effects on species richness were only significant at broader scales (i.e., ≥10 m2) with no clear effect found at the commonly used 1‐m2 quadrat scale. In one case study, species‐poor, intensively managed pastures presented the highest productivity but were more sensitive to dry conditions than less intensified pastures. However, in other case studies, we did not observe significant effects of management intensity on the magnitude or stability of productivity. Conclusions: Generalization across studies may be difficult and require the development of intensification indices general enough to be applied across diverse management strategies in grazilands. Understanding how management intensification affects grassland productivity will inform the development of sustainable intensification strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the commitments of African countries that would support improved soil security and soil health. Measures for agroforestry, erosion control, grassland management, soil organic carbon (SOC), and wetlands were assessed within the frameworks of the Rio Conventions. By analyzing national commitments in Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets, and biodiversity (Aichi) targets, and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), submitted until January 31, 2024, the research identifies the extent and quantification of these commitments. Results reveal a varying emphasis on these measures across different national targets, with significant focus on agroforestry, grassland, SOC, and wetland conservation in LDN targets and NDCs. Where quantified commitments for a single measure have been set across LDN, NDC, and biodiversity targets, the necessity of national coordination in setting, planning, and monitoring sustainable soil management commitments is highlighted. The study concludes that implementing sustainable soil management practices remain pivotal for achieving agricultural and environmental goals in Africa, thereby calling for a unified approach to leverage existing commitments towards setting future priorities in soil health and soil condition, drawing attention to the critical need for integrated national processes to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of these commitments.

Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek Parker, 1870) populations have declined precipitously in the past few decades, and their global range is now restricted to two isolated regions, one of which is the managed Manitoba tall grass prairie in Canada. In this paper, we used a decade of survey data from 2010 to 2019 to understand how habitat features, management practices, and extreme weather impact Poweshiek skipperling abundance in Manitoba. The strongest predictor of abundance was the density of black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta L.), a primary nectar plant for adults. Poweshiek skipperling abundance also had a negative relationship with both the number of years since a burn occurred and the number of years since grazing occurred. Cumulative precipitation during their active period (May–June) had a negative relationship with skipperling abundance, whereas warm early springs and cool temperatures during the active period had positive relationships. These results suggest that management actions that maintain tall grass prairie habitat in an early successional stage (burning and grazing) and maintain important nectar sources benefit this population. In contrast, extreme weather events had varying effects on Poweshiek skipperling abundance. Results from this study inform ongoing management practices in the Manitoba tall grass prairie to support this endangered population.

Plant functional traits are effective indicators and predictors of environmental change, revealing plants’ ecological countermeasures and adaptability through phenotypic plasticity. We conducted a 6-year grazing experiment on typical temperate grassland to assess the impact of different grazing periods on the plasticity and variability of the functional traits of Leymus chinensis and the relationship between traits and individual plant biomass. Our study included four treatments: CK (enclosure), T1 (grazing in May and July), T2 (grazing in June and August), and T3 (grazing in July and September). The results for 13 functional traits indicated that the T3 treatment showed the smallest reduction in individual plant biomass, plant height, leaf area, stem length, and leaf length, making it the most effective type of grassland management and optimal for the maintenance and restoration of L. chinensis traits. Under T1, T2, and T3, the plasticity of stem weight, total leaf weight, total leaf area, and stem length was higher and crucial for regulating individual plant biomass. The results underscore that the changes and plasticity of dominant species under grazing treatments are key to understanding the relationship between ecosystem function and grassland management. This study provides a theoretical basis and data support for the adaptive utilization and restoration management of typical grassland resources.

The grassland ecological compensation mechanism is a basic guarantee for promoting the sustainable utilization of grassland resources, and the reasonable determination of the compensation subject is the basic premise for the effective operation of the grassland ecological compensation mechanism. At present, grassland ecological compensation is mainly based on government compensation, and the compensation method generally adopted is financial transfer payment with a single source of compensation funds. Therefore, establishing diversified compensation entities is of great significance in expanding the sources of compensation funds. As important users of grassland resources, herders should become the main representatives of grassland ecological compensation according to the principle of "whoever uses, pays". In this study, based on survey data with respect to pastoral areas in Inner Mongolia, we used a multivariate ordered logistic regression model to empirically analyze the factors influencing the establishment of a voluntary compensation entity for herders. The results of this study showed that (1) the resource endowment factors of the respondents, including livestock inventory, grazing area, and cutting grassland area, have a significant positive impact on the willingness of herdsmen to voluntarily serve as the main representatives of grassland ecological compensation. When each influencing factor increased by one unit, the probability of voluntarily becoming a compensation subject increased by 3.5%, 1.91%, and 1.41%, respectively. (2) The factor of prohibited pasture area in the endowment of herders had a significant negative effect on their willingness to become compensation subjects, which indicates that the larger the prohibited pasture area owned by herders, the lower their grassland utilization rate and the lower their willingness to voluntarily become compensation subjects. (3) Among the cognitive factors of the respondents, "whether they will continue to support the implementation of the grassland compensation policy" had a positive promoting effect on herdsmen voluntarily becoming compensation subjects, showing that the higher the support of herdsmen for the ecological compensation system, the more willing they were to become compensation subjects. This article is based on the perspective of the sustainable utilization of grassland resources and empirically analyzes the influencing factors of herders' willingness to reduce their number of livestock. Through the voluntary reduction of livestock by herders, a voluntary compensation entity for herders is constructed. Based on the research conclusions, relevant countermeasures and suggestions are proposed, providing a reference for improving grassland ecological compensation policies and promoting the sustainable utilization of grassland resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grasslands are the primary source of forage for ruminants. Legal restrictions on nitrogen fertilization force farmers to optimize nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of grassland and protein quality in grass silage. Methods: The present study included grassland data from 10 dairy farms in Flanders. For each grassland field, the presence of clover was determined based on the seed mixture composition. Soil and manure were sampled before the first application and analyzed to determine plant available N content. The annual NUE was calculated for each field possible (n = 28). Prewilted grass samples were taken just before ensiling (n = 65) and grass silage samples (n = 41) were collected from the same fields. Results: Clover fields demonstrated improved NUE due to a lower nitrogen input from fertilizers compared to pure grassland fields (75 vs. 265 kg ha−1). The protein quality of the grass silage was positively correlated with the organic matter digestibility, sugar content, and dry matter content of the prewilted grass. Conversely, crude ash content had a negative effect. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance and potential of clover and the practical feasibility of optimizing grassland management to improve both NUE in grasslands and protein quality of the silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root hemiparasites infiltrate the vascular tissue of host roots to acquire water and nutrients, which often reduces host growth. Hemiparasites are postulated to be keystone species in grassland communities if they suppress dominant species and increase plant community biodiversity, and ecosystem engineers if they increase nutrient accessibility for surrounding species. We examined keystone effects by evaluating species richness and evenness in 1 m2 plots in a recent prairie restoration where Castilleja sessiliflora was naturally present or absent, and in a longer-established prairie restoration with or without Pedicularis canadensis. We examined ecosystem engineer effects by determining nitrate and phosphate concentrations under, 25 cm from, and 50 cm from hemiparasites, and in the center of hemiparasite-free plots. On the C. sessiliflora site, plots with the hemiparasites had higher species richness due to more forbs and higher floristic quality, consistent with the keystone species hypothesis. Soil phosphate levels were also greater in plots with C. sessiliflora present, consistent with the hypothesis of ecosystem engineering by this hemiparasite. In contrast, plots with/without P. canadensis showed no associations of any community metrics with the hemiparasite, and no correspondence between the presence of hemiparasites and soil nutrients. Although hemiparasites can increase grassland community heterogeneity, the effect is not universal, and the direction and strength of effects likely depends on local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchard meadows are biodiversity hotspots, as the understory often consists of species-rich lowland hay meadows. Due to the low energy density of the grass, it is not suitable as feed, but the energetic utilisation of cuttings from orchard meadows for biogas production could facilitate the protection of these semi-natural grasslands. Here, lowland hay meadows and extensively used orchards were investigated to assess their potential for anaerobic digestion in biogas plants. Aboveground biomass was harvested weekly from three lowland hay meadows differing in conservation statuses and analysed for cell wall components (aNDF, ADF, and ADL), nutritional values (XF, XL, XP), and methane formation potential by anaerobic digestion. Further, orchard meadows were harvested twice during summer and analysed in the same way. Specific methane yield decreased linearly with cutting dates from 0.325 m3 kg−1(oDM) to 0.237 m3 kg−1(oDM). The cumulated area-related methane yields of the orchards ranged from 818 m3 ha−1 to 1036 m3 ha−1. Specific methane yields were linearly correlated with XL, aNDF, ADF, and ADL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassland ecosystems, managed by various grassland managements strategies, are the world's most important land use. However, insect's sex-specific responses within the context of grassland management have never been considered before. Therefore, our aim was to expand the understanding to the dynamics of grassland managements that drive sex-specific responses by using syrphids as a model insect group. We hypothesize that (1) male and female syrphids exhibit differential habitat preferences in grassland managements, (2) abundance and activity of male and female syrphid levels are influenced by vegetation structure in grassland habitats. Extensive and intensive grassland exhibited significantly different male and female syrphid abundance compared to abandoned grassland. Surprisingly, grassland management had a significant impact on male syrphids richness only, not on female. Flower cover significantly increased male and female syrphid abundance and richness. However, plant height significantly increased female syrphid abundance and richness only. Interestingly, abandoned grassland supports a higher amount of unique female syrphids than male syrphids. The dynamics of grassland management are not unidirectional, but they are multifaceted and multidirectional. Considering the importance of sex-specific responses by insects can provide a more comprehensive understanding of dynamics of grassland managements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity serves as the fundamental underpinning for ecosystem functions and services. As a result of human‐induced global change, there is a growing awareness of the substantial alterations in terrestrial above‐ground biodiversity, particularly within alpine regions. However, it remains uncertain whether below‐ground biodiversity will exhibit similar responses, both in terms of magnitude and manner, to anthropogenic global changes as above‐ground biodiversity.Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis to assess the impacts of warming, nutrient addition and grazing on plant and soil microbial biodiversity in alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, which are known to be climate‐sensitive and vulnerable. The analysis included 819 experimental observations from 152 studies, focussing on species richness, Shannon diversity and Pielou's evenness.We found that plant biodiversity exhibited greater sensitivity to climate warming and anthropogenic activities compared with soil microbial biodiversity. Specifically, plant richness and Shannon diversity were reduced by warming and nutrient addition, while plant evenness was increased by grazing. However, only microbial richness was increased by grazing and microbial evenness was increased by warming slightly.The responses of biodiversity to climate warming and anthropogenic activities were modulated by multiple factors. Specifically, the negative effects of warming on plant biodiversity were more pronounced in long‐term experiments under warmer or drier environmental conditions. The negative effects of nitrogen addition on biodiversity were enhanced by the intensity and duration of nitrogen treatment. Appropriate intensity and frequency of grazing were beneficial to sustaining plant biodiversity. Soil microbial biodiversity was weakly regulated, where bacterial Shannon diversity was more sensitive to nutrient addition, while fungal species richness was sensitive to grazing.Synthesis. Our findings reveal a mismatch between above‐ground plant and below‐ground microbial biodiversity in response to climate warming and anthropogenic activities in alpine grasslands, with plant biodiversity being more sensitive. In the context of future global change, plant biodiversity may be at greater risk than soil microbial biodiversity. In addition, biodiversity responses of different experimental and environmental conditions should be distinguished, and more attention is needed on biodiversity conservation in alpine steppe, or areas with warmer and drier environmental conditions, high‐intensity fertilization or heavy grazing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence that land‐use management practices such as livestock grazing can strongly impact the local diversity, functioning, and stability of grassland communities. However, whether these impacts depend on environmental condition and propagate to larger spatial scales remains unclear. Using an 8‐year grassland exclosure experiment conducted at nine sites in the Tibetan Plateau covering a large precipitation gradient, we found that herbivore exclusion increased the temporal stability of alpine grassland biomass production at both the local and larger (site) spatial scales. Higher local community stability was attributed to greater stability of dominant species, whereas higher stability at the larger scale was linked to higher spatial asynchrony of productivity among local communities. Additionally, sites with higher mean annual precipitation had lower dominant species stability and lower grassland stability at both the spatial scales considered. Our study provides novel evidence that livestock grazing can impair grassland stability across spatial scales and climatic gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the drastic change in using the nature like grassland association (one-sided overgrazing - one mowing per a year), by the third year of the experiment in every area, where overgrazing stopped, independently on second sowing and nutrient resupply, Borhidi degradation degree decreased. In the areas where overgrazing with large animal density (sheep) continued, degradation degree was 3.4-5.0 by the third year of the experiment, and Hordeum murinum, which causes animal healthy problems, appeared massively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Long Database Report describes the historical background and current contents of the Nordic-Baltic Grassland Vegetation Database (NBGVD) (GIVD -code EU-00-002). NBGVD is the EDGG -associated collaborative vegetation-plot database that collects vegetation-plot data of grasslands and other open habitats (except segetal and deep aquatic vegetation) from the Nordic-Baltic region excluding Germany, namely Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, N Poland, NW Russia, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, and Sweden. Target vegetation types are lowland grasslands and heathlands, arctic-alpine communities, coastal communities, non-forested mires and other wetlands, rocky, tall-herb and ruderal communities. As of March 2024, it included 12,694 relevés recorded between 1910 and 2023. These were mainly digitised from literature sources (84%), while the remainder comes from individual unpublished sources (16%). The data quality is high, with bryophytes and lichens being treated in more than 80% of all plots and measured environmental variables such as topography and soil characteristics often available in standardised form. A peculiarity of the Nordic-Baltic region are the relatively small plot sizes compared to other regions (median: 4 m2). The available data stem from 35 vegetation classes, with Koelerio-Corynephoretea, Festuco-Brometea, Sedo-Scleranthetea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and Scheuchzerio-Caricetea being most frequent. We conclude that NBGVD provides valuable data, allowing interesting analyses at the regional scale and fills gaps in continental to global analyses. Still, since there are many more data around, we ask interested readers to contribute their own data or help find and digitise old data from the literature. Taxonomic reference : TURBOVEG species list "Europe". Syntaxonomic reference : Mucina et al. (2016). Abbreviations : EDGG = Eurasian Dry Grassland Group, EVA = European Vegetation Archive, GIVD = Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases, NBGVD = Nordic-Baltic Grassland Vegetation Database [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim : To provide the first syntaxonomic, plot-based classification of the dry grasslands and thorn-cushion communities in Armenia. Study area : Armenia. Methods : We sampled 111 vegetation plots (10 m2) and recorded environmental and structural parameters. We collected additional 487 relevés from surrounding countries for a broad-scale comparison. We used modified TWINSPAN to derive a syntaxonomic classification system, whose units were then compared among each other regarding species composition, structure, site conditions and distribution. Results : The classification of Armenian vegetation plots resulted in a 12-cluster solution. Unsupervised classification of the broad-scale dataset yielded five main groups, which were used for the high-level syntaxonomic assignments of the Armenian data. We assigned about half of the plots of the Armenian dataset to the Festuco-Brometea, while the remaining represented a potential new class, preliminarily called "Ziziphora tenuior-Stipa arabica grasslands". Most of the syntaxa below class level are new to science, therefore we provide formal descriptions of three orders (Plantagini atratae-Bromopsietalia variegatae, Onobrychido transcaucasicae-Stipetalia pulcherrimae, Cousinio brachypterae-Stipetalia arabicae), four alliances (Acantholimono caryophyllacei-Stipion holosericeae, Artemision fragrantis, Onobrychido michauxii-Stipion capillatae, Onobrychido transcaucasicae-Stipion pulcherrimae) and six associations. We found significant differences in the topographic, climatic and soil characteristics, and structural parameters, species life forms and distribution range types between the grassland types at different syntaxonomic levels. The mean species richness was 47.3 (vascular plants: 46.8, bryophytes: 0.4, lichens: 0.1). Conclusions : We found remarkable differences of the Armenian dry grasslands from the previously known units and described most of the higher syntaxa and all the associations as new to science. Our study provides arguments for a potential new class of Ziziphora tenuior-Stipa arabica grasslands separate both from the Euro-Siberian Festuco-Brometea and the Anatolian Astragalo-Brometea. Finally, we found plot scale richness of vascular plants clearly above the Palaearctic average of dry grasslands and that of non-vascular plants clearly below, which calls for further biodiversity analyses. Taxonomic reference : Euro+Med (2023) for vascular plants, Hodgetts et al. (2020) for bryophytes, Nimis et al. (2018) for lichens except for Xanthoparmelia camtschadalis (Ach.) Hale. Abbreviations : EDGG = Eurasian Dry Grassland Group; DCA = detrended correspondence analysis; ICPN = International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Theurillat et al. 2021); TWINSPAN = two-way indicator species analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ring‐necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) demographic response is sensitive to chick survival and nest success. The establishment and management of grasslands within agricultural landscapes, often through cropland conversion programs (e.g., Conservation Reserve Program [CRP]), have positive impacts on survival and nest success. Newly established CRP and early successional habitat can provide vegetative structure selected by pheasant chicks. Ideal brood habitat provides an abundance of arthropods, an open understory promoting efficient chick movement, and a protective canopy cover. However, the natural succession of grasslands changes desired vegetative structure and challenges managers with providing adequate habitat for pheasant chicks. We investigated the efficacy of different methods of CRP management, including haying, burning, herbicide application, interseeding, and grazing, to provide adequate brood rearing habitat in cool‐ and warm‐season grasslands. We assessed chick body mass change using human‐imprinted ring‐necked pheasant chicks and investigated changes in vegetation composition and structure in relation to various habitat treatments in north‐central and north‐eastern South Dakota during mid‐June and mid‐July of 2013, 2014, and 2015. Generally, treatments that incorporated interseeding, herbicide application, or their combination had the greatest chick mass gain, reduced litter cover and depth, and increased bare ground and forb cover. Effective management for brood habitat may require more aggressive techniques than simple haying or prescribed fire techniques.

Invertebrates inhabiting grasslands benefit from uncut grass refuges, yet effects on the plant community have not been properly quantified. We experimentally investigated the effects on the vegetation of two different types of refuges. While both consisted in not mowing 10–20% of a meadow area, they differed in their rotation frequency: (1) in within-year rotational refuges (WYRR), the location of the refuge within a meadow was changed at each mowing operation, usually twice a year; (2) in between-years rotational refuges (BYRR), the refuge changed location only between years. A third mowing regime without any refuge was included as control (C) for comparison. The study was conducted in thirty extensively managed meadows across the Swiss lowlands. The vegetation was sampled at two 1-m2 plots within each of the four strata defined by a stratified random design that accounted for the spatial location of the uncut refuge over the years. There were no overall significant negative effects of WYRR on plant species richness and composition at the meadow scale, although a small negative effect was detected locally (i.e. at the refuge scale) where a WYRR had been implemented more than once in the preceding three years. Leaving BYRR negatively impacted plant species richness (-11%), even reducing the number of indicator plant species by 22% (from 4.5 to 3.5 per 2 m2), regardless of when and where refuges were left uncut. A beta-diversity analysis revealed no difference at community level between the two refuge types and control meadows. Previous studies had evidenced positive effects of uncut refuges on herbivore and pollinator communities, while this study shows that the plant community is not affected as long as the location of the refuge is changed at each mowing operation. We thus recommend this measure for promoting biodiversity in extensively managed grasslands.

Mountainous grassland soils are considered one of the most unique biological hotspots, rich in organic carbon (OC). At the same time, they are exposed to great threats, as climate warming is more pronounced in mountainous regions than in lowland areas. In this study, we assessed the effect of simulated warming (+1K, +2K, and + 3 K) on OC stocks and soil structure in grassland soils of the Northern Limestone Alps in Germany by translocating plant-soil mesocosms from high- (1260 m a.s.l., Rendzic Phaeozem) and mid- (860 m a. s. l., Haplic Cambisol) to low-elevation (600 m a.s.l). Plant-soil mesocosms were exposed to both extensive and intensive grassland management practices. Four years after translocation, we observed a rapid decrease of topsoil SOC stocks under intensive (−1.0 t C ha yr−1) and extensive management (-2.2 t C ha yr−1), under the highest temperature increase. Intensive management with about 1 t C ha−1 yr−1 higher manure C return than extensive management (1.6 vs. 0.8 t C ha−1 yr−1 intensive and extensive, respectively) may explain the difference in SOC losses between different management treatments. Under both management practices, the loss of SOC was mainly associated with a decrease of large macroaggregates, at both management practices. In addition, different aggregate specific OC loss rates resulted in an altered distribution of OC among the aggregate size classes. Our study provides evidence that simulated climate change induced a rapid and substantial decline of SOC in mountainous, OC-rich grassland soils, which may be attributed to decreased physical OC protection within large macroaggregates. Optimized grassland management in form of increased application of organic fertilizers could only partially offset the SOC loss by improved formation of small macroaggregates.

Covering 15% of the Earth's land surface and home to 14% of the global population, semi-arid pastoral regions are characterized by high climatic variability and ecological vulnerability. Inner Mongolia, especially, is one of the regions that are most affected by climate change. In this study, we develop an integrated GIS and agent-based model of semi-arid pastoral social-ecological system (SAPSES) to simulate system responses to various policy and climate situations, using the traditional pastoral areas in Inner Mongolia, China, as a demonstration. Three herdsmen's adaptation strategy experiments and three adaptation policy experiments are designed, each of which is stress-tested under three climate scenarios SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP3-7.0 to simulate the policy-climate interactive effects on SAPSES. The results show that, under SSP1-2.6 scenario, it is more conducive to sustainable livelihood of pastoral households, improving economic benefits and reducing ecological risks. While under SSP2-4.5 and SSP3-7.0 scenarios, purchasing forage is not an effective way for herdsmen to adapt to climate disasters, which causes grassland degradation, increase ecological risk and reduce economic benefits of SAPSES. For assessing the adaptation policies, herdsman suffers the severest ecological loss and the highest bankruptcy rate under policy experiment a. Privatization, undergoes the medium ecological loss and medium bankruptcy rate under policy experiment b. Privatization with carrying capacity control and subsidy, and experiences the smallest loss and the lowest bankruptcy rate under policy experiment c. Common property management with carrying capacity control and subsidy. The results help inform more robust policy for building climate resilience in semi-arid grassland regions.

Precise land use land cover (LULC) data are essential for understanding the landscape structure and spatial pattern of land use/cover in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) to regulate scientific and rational territorial spatial planning and support sustainable development. However, differences in the multiple sets of LULC products in portraying the land composition of the YRB limit our understanding of the land cover composition in this region. To address this issue, this study chose five sets of open and high spatiotemporal LULC data in 2020, namely, CLCD, LSV10, ESRI10, CLC_FCS30, and Globeland30, to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of classification in the YRB. Our results show that: (1) The LULC composition of the YRB in 2020 was mapped consistently by the five datasets. Grasslands, croplands, and woodlands constitute the major LULC types, accounting for 96% of the total area of the study area. (2) The correlation coefficients of the LULC types of any two of the five datasets ranged from 0.926 to 0.998, showing high land compositional consistency. However, among the five datasets, there were considerable differences in the areas of a single LULC type. (3) The classification consistencies of croplands, woodlands, grasslands, and water bodies were higher than 60% in any two datasets. The spatial consistencies of grasslands, croplands, and woodlands were higher than those of other LULC types. An area with better consistency can reach more than 50% of the average area of the corresponding land types, but grasslands were mixed with other LULC types in ESRI10 and GLC_FCS30. (4) According to the accuracy assessments, LSV10 data have the highest overall classification accuracy, 79.32%, and the classification accuracy of major land types is also higher than 70%; GLC_FCS30 data have the lowest overall accuracy, 70.14%. Based on these results, LSV10 can more accurately demonstrate LULC than the other four datasets. This study can be used as a reference for selecting land cover data, and it also highlights that the necessary assessments of consistency and accuracy are essential when conducting land use/cover change studies in a specific region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More frequent and severe drought events due to climate change pose a major challenge for sustainable forage production in managed grasslands. This study investigated whether multispecies grassland communities can provide greater resistance to and/or recovery from drought compared to monoculture communities. Methods: Mesocosms of Lolium perenne L., Cichorium intybus L., Trifolium repens L. and Trifolium pratense L. were established as monocultures, and a four‐species mixture. A drought gradient with five levels of water supply ranging from a mild to a severe treatment was applied for 10 weeks, in each of 2 years. Shoot biomass was harvested to assess drought resistance, drought recovery and annual yields. Root mass density and specific root length were measured in Year 2. Results: Across the drought gradient, four‐species communities had significantly larger annual yields than each of the four monocultures, indicating transgressive overyielding. This was despite relatively low drought resistance for four‐species communities compared with L. perenne and C. intybus monocultures. Recovery of yields following drought was high for all communities. Conclusions: Multispecies swards with complementary traits can provide a viable adaptation option across a wide range of drought severities. Application of a stress gradient methodology allowed a more detailed understanding of stress responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wet grassland birds world-wide face mounting threats due to habitat destruction especially in the Indo-Gangetic floodplains, where in addition to intense human use, primarily for agriculture, there is a paucity of baseline information to inform conservation and management. We examined the response of two co-occurring floodplain grassland specialists, the globally threatened Bristled Grassbird Schoenicola striatus (VU) and widespread but little-studied Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris (LC), to habitat structure and human use in floodplain grassland at two sites, one on the lower Ganges River and one on the Brahmaputra River, Bangladesh through point counts combined with vegetation surveys. Responses from the breeding seasons of 2018 and 2019 were assessed by linear models and bird densities estimated using distance sampling. Results indicate that the occurrence of Bristled Grassbird increased with homogeneous tall Saccharum grass cover but decreased with increased crop cover, which may be the main driver of its decline. Striated Grassbird showed a more generalized pattern of positive association with tall grassland vegetation including taller crops and exotic plants, but was also positively associated with grass harvesting indicating its avoidance of homogeneous tall grassland. Although the density of Striated Grassbirds at the Brahmaputra site was 3–4 times greater than that of Bristled Grassbird, it was nearly absent from the Ganges site, revealing previously unappreciated micro-habitat preferences. Comparison with a more common species provided a clearer understanding of habitat and human influences on the more threatened grassbird. Long-term conservation of Bristled Grassbird requires careful management of grass harvesting and cattle grazing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Leaving 10% of the meadow uncut as a refuge is positive for the invertebrate community. • We experimentally investigated the effect on the vegetation. • Within-year rotational uncut refuges do not impact negatively the vegetationa s long as the refuges change location at each mowing event. • The refuge should not be placed at the same location for three consecutive years. Invertebrates inhabiting grasslands benefit from uncut grass refuges, yet effects on the plant community have not been properly quantified. We experimentally investigated the effects on the vegetation of two different types of refuges. While both consisted in not mowing 10–20% of a meadow area, they differed in their rotation frequency: (1) in within-year rotational refuges (WYRR), the location of the refuge within a meadow was changed at each mowing operation, usually twice a year; (2) in between-years rotational refuges (BYRR), the refuge changed location only between years. A third mowing regime without any refuge was included as control (C) for comparison. The study was conducted in thirty extensively managed meadows across the Swiss lowlands. The vegetation was sampled at two 1-m2 plots within each of the four strata defined by a stratified random design that accounted for the spatial location of the uncut refuge over the years. There were no overall significant negative effects of WYRR on plant species richness and composition at the meadow scale, although a small negative effect was detected locally (i.e. at the refuge scale) where a WYRR had been implemented more than once in the preceding three years. Leaving BYRR negatively impacted plant species richness (-11%), even reducing the number of indicator plant species by 22% (from 4.5 to 3.5 per 2 m2), regardless of when and where refuges were left uncut. A beta-diversity analysis revealed no difference at community level between the two refuge types and control meadows. Previous studies had evidenced positive effects of uncut refuges on herbivore and pollinator communities, while this study shows that the plant community is not affected as long as the location of the refuge is changed at each mowing operation. We thus recommend this measure for promoting biodiversity in extensively managed grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timely and accurate quantification of grassland biomass is a prerequisite for sustainable grazing management. With advances in artificial intelligence, the launch of new satellites, and perceived efficiency gains in the time and cost of the quantification of remote methods, there has been growing interest in using satellite imagery and machine learning to quantify pastures at the field scale. Here, we systematically reviewed 214 journal articles published between 1991 to 2021 to determine how vegetation indices derived from satellite imagery impacted the type and quantification of pasture indicators. We reveal that previous studies have been limited by highly spatiotemporal satellite imagery and prognostic analytics. While the number of studies on pasture classification, degradation, productivity, and management has increased exponentially over the last five years, the majority of vegetation parameters have been derived from satellite imagery using simple linear regression approaches, which, as a corollary, often result in site-specific parameterization that become spurious when extrapolated to new sites or production systems. Few studies have successfully invoked machine learning as retrievals to understand the relationship between image patterns and accurately quantify the biophysical variables, although many studies have purported to do so. Satellite imagery has contributed to the ability to quantify pasture indicators but has faced the barrier of monitoring at the paddock/field scale (20 hectares or less) due to (1) low sensor (coarse pixel) resolution, (2) infrequent satellite passes, with visibility in many locations often constrained by cloud cover, and (3) the prohibitive cost of accessing fine-resolution imagery. These issues are perhaps a reflection of historical efforts, which have been directed at the continental or global scales, rather than at the field level. Indeed, we found less than 20 studies that quantified pasture biomass at pixel resolutions of less than 50 hectares. As such, the use of remote sensing technologies by agricultural practitioners has been relatively low compared with the adoption of physical agronomic interventions (such as 'no-till' practices). We contend that (1) considerable opportunity for advancement may lie in fusing optical and radar imagery or hybrid imagery through the combination of optical sensors, (2) there is a greater accessibility of satellite imagery for research, teaching, and education, and (3) developers who understand the value proposition of satellite imagery to end users will collectively fast track the advancement and uptake of remote sensing applications in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of mowing on vegetation parameters have been well studied. However, less is known about mowing effects on soil fauna and if soil properties alter this. We investigated earthworm communities in a long-term experiment 14 years after its establishment in 5 dry, fresh and moist grassland plots located in the Natura 2000 site Lainzer Tiergarten near Vienna, Austria (238–402 m a.s.l., 48°10′ N, 16°12′ E). The grasslands were either mowed once a year or every second year, or not mowed since being established. Earthworms were assessed using the non-destructive octet electro-shocking method. Additionally, vegetation composition, soil conductivity, temperature and moisture were assessed. We found 13 earthworm species across all treatments, although their abundance was generally low with 6.1 ± 4.7 worms m−2. The total earthworm abundance and species diversity was higher in dry compared to fresh and moist grasslands but was not affected by mowing frequency. Endogeic earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa, Aporrectodea rosea) and epigeics (Lumbricus rubellus) were more tolerant to mowing than anecics (Lumbricus terrestris, Allolobophora longa). Since plant species richness was highest in annually mown grasslands and earthworm species richness was positively related to plant species numbers, we recommend regular, low-input management to promote above- and belowground biodiversity in these grasslands.

Abstract Trade‐offs exist between timing of grassland habitat management activities (e.g., weed and brush control) while also ensuring other conservation objectives (e.g., grassland bird reproductive success) are met. On land set aside for grassland conservation (e.g., lands enrolled in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program and some state and federal wildlife management areas), federal and state agencies set time frames for land management based on avoiding disturbance of grassland bird nests. However, recent calls for considering the needs of dependent fledglings in conservation plans imply a need to evaluate whether current time frames are adequate. We used initiation and end dates for 3,257 nests of 8 obligate grassland bird species in Illinois and Wisconsin and a simulation approach for fledgling survival to estimate the potential proportion of active nests at risk when management (e.g., mowing, fire) occurred on the 1st and 15th day of May, June, July, and August during the breeding season. Management during June had the potential to impact 24–61% of nests, depending on the species. Management during July had the potential to impact 4–52% of nests, depending on the species. If disturbance occurred during August, proportionately few active nests were at risk for any species (0–9% of nests on 1 August, 0–

ABSTRACT Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) foster synergistic relationships to increase nitrogen (N) cycling and soil organic carbon (SOC) accrual in agricultural setups. This study evaluated how the grazing intensity and N fertilization (rates and timing) affect both SOC and N fractions, and soil organic matter chemical composition in an ICLS managed under no-tillage in an Oxisol, six years after initiation. The ICLS was compared to a nearby pasture (PA) and a native forest (NF). The treatments consisted of two grazing intensities: Low Sward Height (LH) and High Sward Height (HH) were maintained with high and low stocking rates, respectively. The HH varied between 0.20 and 0.60 m, and LH between 0.10 and 0.30 m according to the plant forage species throughout the experiment. Fertilization using 200 kg ha-1 N-urea, not splitting up, was conducted at two timings, either at the winter pasture establishment (autumn), about 35 days after sowing or during the summer cash crop cycle (spring). Total N amount per year, including both phases, pasture and cash crop was the same for all treatments. The SOC and N contents were assessed in soil and particulate organic matter (POM), while carbon (C) and N stocks were specifically determined in the soil. Soil organic matter composition was characterized by FTIR. The combination of HH and N fertilization during the pasture phase increased the content of C from 36.1 to 39.9 ± 0.7 g C kg-1 and of N from 2.7 to 3.2 ± 0.1 g N kg-1. The SOC stocks varied from 37.3 to 41.1 ± 0.7 Mg C ha-1, and the N stocks from 2.1 to 3.3 ± 0.1 Mg N ha-1 at 0.0-0.10 m soil layer. The SOC content of the POM and the soil organic matter chemical composition determined by FTIR were mainly affected by the grazing intensity. The HH led to an increased in C content within the POM fraction, reaching values of 51.6 ± 1 and 49.2 g C kg-1, respectively to N crop fertilization and N pasture fertilization. Land-use changed how organic functional groups were stored in soil organic matter fractions. The NF had a greater abundance of aliphatic and phenol in the MAOM, while pasture and ICLS systems had greater aliphatic in the POM fraction. In ICLS, SOC accrual was positively associated with more recalcitrant organic functional groups of phenol, aromatic, and carbonyl C-O. The HH increases SOC accrual, while N-fertilization on pasture ensures adequate nutrition of plants and animals during the winter ICLS phase, at the same time as providing greater residual N for subsequent cash crops through enhanced catalyzed by ruminants. Therefore, grazing and fertilization management strategies should be considered to promote sustainable agriculture intensification with ICLS.

With ongoing industrialisation of farming practise, the area of species-rich temperate grasslands has strongly declined. Today, the remnants of these grasslands often suffer from habitat degradation due to unsuitable management. Here, we investigated the effects of the complete harvest process over the course of two harvest periods (mid-June and mid-August) on Orthoptera (hereinafter referred to as ‘grasshoppers’) in species-rich lowland hay meadows in southwestern Bavaria (Germany). We set up a randomised split-plot design including mown meadows (tractor-operated rotary-disc vs. double-bladed bar mower) and uncut refuges within grassland patches. Our study revealed that mower types did not differ in their effects on grasshopper mortality and that direct mortality through cutting was very low. By contrast, after mowing, on average 85–91 % of the individuals or biomass was lost by the end of the harvest process. However, in uncut refuges, grasshopper densities and biomass increased on average by 234–328 %. From the first to the second harvest period, an alignment in grasshopper densities and biomass between meadows and uncut refuges occurred. We explain the lack of direct cutting effects by the tall and dense vegetation of the hay meadows and, hence, the location of the grasshoppers far above the sphere of the mowers. Moreover, we assume that in particular emigration from the short and homogeneous meadows to uncut refuges or patch edges but also increased vertebrate predation were responsible for the severe grasshopper losses. Moreover, we hypothesise that grasshopper recolonization from the refuges to the meadows strongly contributed to the alignment in grasshopper densities from mid-June to mid-August. Hence, to protect abundant grasshopper populations in meadows in the long run, uncut refuges are of prime importance. Firstly, such refuges guarantee a continuity in (i) food resources, (ii) a balanced microclimate and (iii) shelter against predators and extreme weather events for the resident individuals. Consequently, they are not affected by any of the harvest-related losses. Secondly, they serve as an important refuge for the emigrants from the mown parts of the meadow.

Prescribed burning is a common management technique to reduce non‐native grass cover and seed availability in temperate forests and grasslands; however, its effectiveness in reducing non‐native forbs is unclear. Litter of invasive forbs like Oncosiphon pilulifer are not consumed by fire like invasive grass litter is, resulting in residual singed stands and high heterogeneity in the postburn landscape. We investigated the potential for this incomplete burning to alter postfire establishment of native and non‐native plant species by conducting a field experiment in a prescribed burn in Lake Perris State Park, CA. We investigated the role of microclimate and seed availability on establishment for 2 years following a prescribed burn in both singed stands and completely burned patches by adding or removing litter and adding native seed in a factorial design. Litter presence reduced soil temperatures and light availability, while singed stands had lower soil moisture and temperature. Litter present treatments had 5.6 ± 5.9% (mean ± SE) greater Oncosiphon cover yet doubled Oncosiphon viable seeds in the seedbank. Singed stands had 22.6 ± 4.9% greater Oncosiphon cover and more than doubled Oncosiphon viable seeds. Native seed addition did not influence native or Oncosiphon cover. These results suggest that residual singed stands within the prescribed burn landscape can create a favorable microclimate and allow Oncosiphon to retain seed, increasing reinvasion. Our experiment suggests that litter increased establishment of non‐native species as these species may better utilize postburn establishment opportunities impacting overall community recovery. Management of invasive forbs with prescribed burns may require secondary treatments to reduce reinvasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Agricultural yields have increased continuously over the last few decades. However, a focus solely on production can harm the environment. Diversification of agriculture has been suggested to increase production and sustainability. Biodiversity experiments showed positive effects on ecosystems and productivity. However, application of these results to intensively managed grasslands has been questioned due to differences in plant species and management regimes. Research on whether diversity can benefit multifunctionality, that is, an integrated index of multiple ecosystem functions, under intensive management, is still scarce. Methods: To address this, we manipulated plant species richness from one to six species spanning three functional groups (legumes, herbs, and grasses) in intensively managed multispecies grassland leys and examined seven ecosystem functions. Results: We found that multifunctionality increased with functional group and species richness. Legume+herb mixtures showed high multifunctionality, while grass monocultures and mixtures with high proportions of grasses had low multifunctionality. Different plant species and plant communities drove different ecosystem functions. Legumes and herbs improved productivity and water availability, while grasses enhanced invasion resistance. These results indicate that multifunctionality and individual ecosystem functions can be promoted through targeted combinations of plants with complementary ecological traits. Conclusions: Plant diversity can improve multifunctionality also under intensive management, potentially benefitting agroeconomics and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]