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Agronomy
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Impact of Grazing on Sustainability of Rangelands under Changing Climate
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Impact of Grazing on Sustainability of Rangelands under Changing Climate

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Grassland and Pasture Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2022) | Viewed by 13548

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zalmen Henkin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Newe Ya'ar Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization of Israel, Bet Dagan, Israel
Interests: range management; plant ecology
Dr. Eli Zaady

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Natural Resources, Institute of Plant Sciences Agriculture Research Organization, Ministry of Agriculture, Gilat Research Center, Mobile Post Negev 8531100, Israel
Interests: open spaces; AgroEcologist; soil ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rangelands represent a dominant anthropogenic land use worldwide, making up ~25% of the uncultivated terrestrial land. The central goal of managing rangelands is to maximize the utilization of the forage resource for animal production. Now, however, ecological considerations also play an important role. As open landscapes around the world are subject to heavy grazing, questions are raised about animals’ impacts on the sustainability of the land. These include topics such as soil properties, soil microorganisms, vegetation composition, richness and diversity, wild animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and invertebrate groups.

Different grazing management systems are based on the livestock species, stocking rate, infrastructure, land tenure, and socioeconomic context. Increasing grazing intensity can reduce ecosystem resistance, and has a great effect on the ability of the system to recover, and as such large parts of the grazed landscapes have been degraded.

Current climate change models predict a rise in temperatures, a reduction in the number of rainy days, and a higher incidence of extreme events. The multiple effects of grazing and climate change on the sustainability of rangelands can take a negative direction. However, proper grazing management that takes into account all factors can lead to the sustainability of the ecosystems.

This Special Issue will deal with these topics. We welcome novel research articles, reviews, and opinion pieces covering all related issues.

Dr. Zalmen Henkin
Dr. Eli Zaady
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • range management
  • grassland and pasture science
  • climate change
  • pasture carrying capacity
  • plant–animal interface
  • production efficiency of rangeland
  • soil and plant nutrition
  • farming sustainability
  • forage yield and nutritive value

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 4670 KiB  
Article
Grazing Effects on Seedling Emergence in Contrasting Wet and Dry Year in a Semiarid Grassland
by Yuhui He and Xinping Liu
Agronomy 2022, 12(9), 2131; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092131 - 08 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1044
Abstract
Seedlings are a crucial part of the plant community and the basis of vegetation restoration and regeneration. Grazing and climate change are two main factors contributing to vegetation changes in semiarid grasslands. However, the effects of grazing on seedling emergence with rainfall variation [...] Read more.
Seedlings are a crucial part of the plant community and the basis of vegetation restoration and regeneration. Grazing and climate change are two main factors contributing to vegetation changes in semiarid grasslands. However, the effects of grazing on seedling emergence with rainfall variation are not clearly understood. This study aimed to address how seedling abundance and the emergence dynamics of annuals respond to grazing with rainfall changes in different years. We conducted a seedling investigation experiment in a grassland along a grazing intensity gradient (light grazing—LG; moderate grazing—MG; heavy grazing—HG) in contrasting wet and dry years. The results showed that MG increased the seedling richness of grasses and forbs in the wet year, but increasing grazing resulted in a decline in forb richness in the dry year. Seedling abundance of grasses was enhanced under MG, while seedling abundance of forbs was higher under HG. The monthly emergence dynamics were generally in a single peak pattern, but the peak time of seedling emergence for forbs advanced under HG. Seedling abundance of whole annuals increased with grazing in the wet year but was much higher under MG in the dry year. Our results suggest that more judicious grazing management based on rainfall variation and functional composition of the plant community should be undertaken to facilitate grassland restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Grazing on Sustainability of Rangelands under Changing Climate)
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22 pages, 7163 KiB  
Article
Decision Support System (DSS) for Managing a Beef Herd and Its Grazing Habitat’s Sustainability: Biological/Agricultural Basis of the Technology and Its Validation
by Aviv Asher and Arieh Brosh
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020288 - 24 Jan 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2439
Abstract
Grazing pasture quality and availability, and grazing animal performance, depend on ecological and weather conditions and grazing management. The latter can be improved by remote monitoring of animals and grazed forage. The aim of this study was to test the ability of a [...] Read more.
Grazing pasture quality and availability, and grazing animal performance, depend on ecological and weather conditions and grazing management. The latter can be improved by remote monitoring of animals and grazed forage. The aim of this study was to test the ability of a new remote-monitoring system to improve cow and pasture performance. The study used 20 collars for a herd of 40 cows, precision technology to monitor each collared cow’s location and activities 24 h per day, and herd-management system (HMS) software to optimize grazing-land and animal performance. The study covered 4 consecutive years of reproductive cycles and seasonal feed supplements. The selected forage’s metabolizable energy (ME) calculated by the HMS was significantly correlated with the ME calculated by fecal near-infrared spectroscopy analysis (rp = 0.91, p < 0.001). Cows’ daily activities (walking, grazing, resting, and average daily meal duration), energy balance, and forage quality changed with the seasons, mainly affected by the timing, duration, and volume of precipitation. The HMS well identified sickness events, forage quality and availability, cows’ retained energy, and grazing-land stocking rate (2.9 ha/cow). A significant increase in weaning rate along the 5 years of the study (rp = 0.921, p < 0.01) was found. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Grazing on Sustainability of Rangelands under Changing Climate)
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16 pages, 6968 KiB  
Article
Resting Subtropical Grasslands from Grazing in the Wet Season Boosts Biocrust Hotspots to Improve Soil Health
by Wendy J. Williams, Susanne Schmidt, Eli Zaady, Bruce Alchin, Than Myint Swe, Stephen Williams, Madeline Dooley, Grace Penfold, Peter O’Reagain, John Bushell, Robyn Cowley, Colin Driscoll and Nicole Robinson
Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010062 - 28 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2258
Abstract
Effective grazing management in Australia’s semi-arid rangelands requires monitoring landscape conditions and identifying sustainable and productive practice through understanding the interactions of environmental factors and management of soil health. Challenges include extreme rainfall variability, intensifying drought, and inherently nutrient-poor soils. We investigated the [...] Read more.
Effective grazing management in Australia’s semi-arid rangelands requires monitoring landscape conditions and identifying sustainable and productive practice through understanding the interactions of environmental factors and management of soil health. Challenges include extreme rainfall variability, intensifying drought, and inherently nutrient-poor soils. We investigated the impacts of grazing strategies on landscape function—specifically soil health—as the foundation for productive pastures, integrating the heterogenous nature of grass tussocks and the interspaces that naturally exist in between them. At Wambiana—a long-term research site in north-eastern Australia—we studied two soil types, two stocking rates (high, moderate), and resting land from grazing during wet seasons (rotational spelling). Rotational spelling had the highest biocrust (living soil cover), in interspaces and under grass tussocks. Biocrusts were dominated by cyanobacteria that binds soil particles, reduces erosion, sequesters carbon, fixes nitrogen, and improves soil fertility. Rotational spelling with a moderate stocking rate emerged as best practice at these sites, with adjustment of stocking rates in line with rainfall and soil type recommended. In drought-prone environments, monitoring the presence and integrity of biocrusts connects landscape function and soil health. Biocrusts that protect and enrich the soil will support long-term ecosystem integrity and economic profitability of cattle production in rangelands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Grazing on Sustainability of Rangelands under Changing Climate)
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12 pages, 2137 KiB  
Article
Effects of Climate Change on the Distribution of Key Native Dung Beetles in South American Grasslands
by Maria Eduarda Maldaner, Thadeu Sobral-Souza, Victor Mateus Prasniewski and Fernando Z. Vaz-de-Mello
Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 2033; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11102033 - 10 Oct 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3247
Abstract
Climate change is a serious threat, and it is necessary to prepare for the future climate conditions of grazing areas. Dung beetle species can help mitigate global warming by contributing to intense nutrient cycling and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by cattle [...] Read more.
Climate change is a serious threat, and it is necessary to prepare for the future climate conditions of grazing areas. Dung beetle species can help mitigate global warming by contributing to intense nutrient cycling and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by cattle farming. Additionally, dung beetles increase soil quality through bioturbation and reduce nematodes and hematophagous flies’ abundance in grasslands areas. There are several dung beetle species inhabiting South American pastures, however, the effects of climate change on their spatial distribution are still unknown. Here, we aimed to predict the potential effects of future climate change on the geographical spatial distribution of the four most important (“key”) pastureland dung beetle species that are native to South America. We used niche-based models and future climate simulations to predict species distribution through time. Our findings show radical reduction in the spatial range of dung beetle species, especially in recently opened areas, e.g., the Amazon region. We suggest that the consequences of these species’ spatial retraction will be correlated with ecosystem services depletion under future climate conditions, urgently necessitating pasture restoration and parasite control, as the introduction of new alien species is not encouraged. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Grazing on Sustainability of Rangelands under Changing Climate)
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12 pages, 4207 KiB  
Article
Small Ruminants Grazing as a Rehabilitative Land Management Tool in the Negev Highland; Soil, Geomorphological and Topographical Perspectives
by Amir Mor-Mussery, Hiam Abu-Glion, Shimshon Shuker and Eli Zaady
Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1730; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091730 - 29 Aug 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1668
Abstract
The ‘wadis’ (ephemeral incised channels in arid regions) concern badlands with low agriculture utilisation that expands to neighbouring cultivated areas. They are noticeable and unique landforms characterised by vegetation patches and seasonal flood flows with scenic beauty that must be conserved. The wadi [...] Read more.
The ‘wadis’ (ephemeral incised channels in arid regions) concern badlands with low agriculture utilisation that expands to neighbouring cultivated areas. They are noticeable and unique landforms characterised by vegetation patches and seasonal flood flows with scenic beauty that must be conserved. The wadi characteristics have influenced the way of life of their indigenous residents from ancient times until now. The main one is grazing with small ruminants (SR). The authorities and public consider grazing in these areas as a destructive land management practice that should be reduced. To assess the viability of grazing in such regions, we hypothesised that fluvial and biological flows tightly correlate with the wadis’ landforms, channels and slopes. The site of study is located in the Yeroham mountains nearby the Rahma planned Bedouin village. Five different transects of channels and slopes were located over representative wadis, including those exposed to grazing. The finding indicates that a herbaceous vegetation expansion uphill was observed only in grazed transects, while the wadi slope patterns affect its patterns. It contains an increased soil water content (from a similar value of 5% until 13% change in the grazed transect), 1.5% higher soil organic matter, 0.08 mg Kg−1 higher Nitrite content and 1–2% higher clay content in the grazed transects, up to 4 m ahead from the channel. The novelty of this finding suggested that the SR influences the organic matter to reach the wadi channel and facilitate the adherence of aggregated clay and the formed colluvial layer that serves as a substrate to the expanded vegetation growth. Adequate implementation of these grazing patterns may rehabilitate degraded ‘wadis’ and increase their tourism eligibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Grazing on Sustainability of Rangelands under Changing Climate)
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11 pages, 587 KiB  
Article
Can Grazing Moderate Climatic Effects on Herbage Nutritional Quality?
by Guy Dovrat, Efrat Sheffer, Serge Yan Landau, Tova Deutch, Haim Gorelik and Zalmen Henkin
Agronomy 2021, 11(4), 700; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040700 - 07 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1676
Abstract
In Mediterranean grasslands, the composition of vegetation and its nutritional quality for animals are strongly affected by the climatic conditions prevailing during winter and spring. Therefore, these seasonal ecosystems provide an opportunity to examine how variability in climatic conditions affects the regeneration and [...] Read more.
In Mediterranean grasslands, the composition of vegetation and its nutritional quality for animals are strongly affected by the climatic conditions prevailing during winter and spring. Therefore, these seasonal ecosystems provide an opportunity to examine how variability in climatic conditions affects the regeneration and quality of pasture vegetation. The intensity of grazing in this seasonal system can moderate, or alternatively exacerbate, climatic effects on the nutritional quality of the vegetation. Herein, we analyzed the interactive effects of climate variables, grazing intensity, and grazing exclusion on herbage quality parameters using long-term vegetation and climate data collected during 2005–2018 from an extensive experiment in Galilee, Israel. We evaluated the contribution of different climate variables to the prediction of herbage quality parameters. Our results showed that climate variables have a dramatic effect on herbage quality and that this effect interacts with grazing intensity. Herbage quality improved in temperate rainy years compared to warm and dry years. High grazing intensity improved herbage quality under temperate climate conditions, but this effect was moderated or completely disappeared as winter conditions become warmer and drier. The results of the study foresee negative effects of warming and drying on the carrying capacity of natural pastures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Grazing on Sustainability of Rangelands under Changing Climate)
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