Search Results (42)

In this study, we compare two contrasting years within the 2020–2025 period—one characterized by extreme heat and drought, and another by unusually high precipitation. We used five years of climatic data provided by the Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ), along with vegetation activity indices (NDVI—Normalized Difference Vegetation Index; NDWI—Normalized Difference Water Index) derived from Sentinel-2A satellite imagery. In parallel, during three years of the study period (2020, 2022, and 2025), we collected five phytosociological relevés in each of the five vegetation types subjected to different management regimes. For data analysis, we applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA), and the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model. Vegetation index patterns were compared with the relative water requirements of the constituent plant species. In the ungrazed dry sandy site, climatic fluctuations did not significantly affect vegetation composition and the habitat remained a stable open sandy grassland. Among the four grazed sites, grazing intensity remained unchanged during the study in three cases (N1, N2, and SZ). Thus, vegetation changes observed in these areas can be attributed to climatic factors. Vegetation composition shifted in N1 and N2, whereas no significant change was detected in the drier SZ site. This indicates higher resistance to grazing in SZ, which can therefore be sustainably used as pasture, while the N1–N2 sites responded sensitively to precipitation variability under identical grazing pressure and are better suited for use as meadows. The most pronounced changes occurred at the P site, which had previously functioned as an animal resting area and began regenerating after abandonment in 2022. Vegetation composition shifted markedly within two years, demonstrating that land-use practices exert a stronger influence on sandy grassland vegetation than climatic fluctuations. Overall, the drier habitats were more resilient to both grazing pressure and climatic variability and are suitable for grazing, whereas the moister vegetation types were more sensitive and should preferably be managed as hay meadows. Full article

Temperate grasslands rank among the most diverse ecosystems in the world at small spatial scales. Maintaining species-rich grasslands is therefore essential for biodiversity conservation in Europe. Several EU countries have implemented Agri-Environmental Schemes (AES) designed to preserve grassland biodiversity and support farmers in developing their operations in a sustainable manner. While the prohibition of fertilization helps maintain oligotrophic, species-rich grasslands, it remains a stringent requirement that may discourage farmers from enrolling in these schemes. Because hay meadows are mesotrophic habitats, low levels of fertilization could potentially allow the maintenance of satisfactory biodiversity. We compared two AES measures implemented in Luxembourg: P4B (mowing after 15 June, no fertilization) and P3B (mowing after 15 June, fertilization permitted up to 50 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), the latter aiming to increase forage yield while maintaining acceptable biodiversity levels. Nineteen grassland sites were selected across Luxembourg. Within each site, adjacent delimited experimental plots were managed under P3B (350 kg ha⁻¹ of mineral fertilizer, N14–P9–K24) and P4B (no fertilization). Floristic composition and biomass yield were recorded annually over four years. Fertilization had a negative effect on hay meadow biodiversity and conservation status, resulting in fewer typical species, a reduced dicot-to-grass ratio, and greater cover of nitrophilous species. Nevertheless, most fertilized plots still met the criteria for hay meadows of good to medium conservation status according to Luxembourg’s evaluation framework. Fertilization increased biomass yield by approximately 40% compared with unfertilized plots. We conclude that P4B remains the optimal management option for hay meadows and should be prioritized in areas hosting sensitive species and in the most biodiverse sites. However, P3B represents a pragmatic compromise, maintaining an acceptable level of biodiversity while being more attractive to farmers. Full article

The fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) is a rare and endangered species that originated in forested habitats, but due to landscape changes, turned into a wet meadow plant. Currently, larger populations can be found in meadows than in forests. Nowadays, as hay production has become unnecessary, wet meadows are being slowly reforested. Little comparative evidence exists on the performance of populations in the two contrasting habitats. We examined Fritillaria meleagris populations in meadows and forests to investigate the impact of current land use changes on the demographic characteristics of this species. The study was carried out over three years in two geographical regions in Hungary, comparatively in two habitat types (forest and meadow). We used permanent quadrats to record the demographic status and morphometric traits of at least 100 fritillary plants in every population. Although some characteristics were different in each population, the results suggested that each population has a special demographic structure. There were larger variations between the different populations and only minor variations among populations across years in demographic composition. Trait variation across geographical regions exceeded the variation observed between habitat types as well. We conclude that regional differences override the role of habitat type in determining the demography and vulnerability of fritillaries. Full article

This study aims to quantify total VOC emissions and evaluate how torrefaction alters the heat of combustion of three agricultural residues. The work examines the amount of VOC emissions during the torrefaction process at various temperatures and investigates the changes in the heat of combustion of agri-biomass resulting from the torrefaction process. The process was carried out at the following temperatures: 225, 250, 275, and 300 °C. Total VOC emission factors were determined. The reaction kinetics analysis revealed that meadow hay exhibited the most stable thermal behavior with the lowest activation energy. At the same time, rye straw demonstrated higher thermal resistance and complex multi-step degradation characteristics. The authors analyze three types of agricultural biomass: meadow hay, rye straw, and oat straw. The research was divided into five stages: determination of moisture content in the sample, determination of ash content, thermogravimetric analysis, measurement of total VOC emissions from the biomass torrefaction process, and determination of the heat of combustion of the obtained torrefied biomass. Based on the research, it was found that torrefaction of biomass causes the emission of torgas containing VOC in the amount of 2–10 mg/g of torrefied biomass, which can be used energetically, e.g., to support the torrefaction process, and the torrefied biomass shows a higher value of the heat of combustion. Unlike prior studies focused on single feedstocks or limited temperature ranges, this work systematically compares three major crop residues across four torrefaction temperatures and directly couples VOC quantifications. Full article

We quantified the bioactive compounds of Ethiopian coffee (ETH), spent coffee grounds SCGs from ETH (SCG-ETH), and mixed SCGs (SCG-MIX) prepared by filtration methods and investigated the effect of SCG-ETH on ruminal fermentation as well as the anthelmintic activity of ETH. Three substrates, meadow hay (MH)-barley grain (MH-BG), MH-SCG-ETH, and BG-SCG-ETH (1:1 w/w), were fermented using an in vitro gas production technique. The bioactive compounds were quantitatively analyzed using ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry. We performed an in vitro larval development test to determine the anthelmintic effect of an aqueous extract of ETH against the gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) Haemonchus contortus. The total content of bioactive compounds was highest in SCG-ETH, followed by SCG-MIX and ETH (35.2, 31.2, and 20.9 mg/g dry matter, respectively). Total gas and methane production (p < 0.001) were decreased by both MH-SCG-ETH and BG-SCG-ETH. The in vitro digestibility of dry matter was higher for MH-SCG-ETH and BG-SCG-ETH than for MH-BG. The aqueous ETH extract exhibited a strong larvicidal effect, with a mean lethal dose of 13.2 mg/mL for 50% mortality and 31.9 mg/L for 99% mortality. SCG substrates have the potential to modulate ruminal fermentation and serve as a source of anthelmintic bioactive compounds against GINs in ruminants. Full article

Seasonal climate variability and agronomic management profoundly influence both the productivity and nutritive value of temperate hay meadows. We analyzed five years of data (2019, 2020, 2022–2024) from 15 meadows in the central Spanish Pyrenees to quantify how environmental variables (January–June minimum temperatures, rainfall), management variables (fertilization rates (N, P, K), livestock load, cutting date), and vegetation (plant biodiversity (Shannon index)) drive total biomass yield (kg ha⁻¹), protein content (%), and Relative Feed Value (RFV). Using Random Forest regression with rigorous cross-validation, our yield model achieved an R² of 0.802 (RMSE = 983.8 kg ha⁻¹), the protein model an R² of 0.786 (RMSE = 1.71%), and the RFV model an R² of 0.718 (RMSE = 13.86). Variable importance analyses revealed that March rainfall was the dominant predictor of yield (importance = 0.430), reflecting the critical role of early-spring moisture in tiller establishment and canopy development. In contrast, cutting date exerted the greatest influence on protein (importance = 0.366) and RFV (importance = 0.344), underscoring the sensitivity of forage quality to harvest timing. Lower minimum temperatures—particularly in March and May—and moderate livestock densities (up to 1 LU) were also positively associated with enhanced protein and RFV, whereas higher biodiversity (Shannon ≥ 3) produced modest gains in feed quality without substantial yield penalties. These findings suggest that adaptive management—prioritizing soil moisture conservation in early spring, timely harvesting, balanced grazing intensity, and maintenance of plant diversity—can optimize both the quantity and quality of hay meadow biomass under variable climatic conditions. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the southern part of the Danube–Tisza interfluve in the Carpathian Basin from the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene, addressing the region’s response to global climate forcings and local environmental factors based on multi-proxy analyses of two key protected areas: the Katymár brickyard and the hay meadows and loess banks of Hajós. By integrating radiocarbon-dated malacological, macrobotanical, pollen, phytolith, geochemical, and sedimentological analyses, it was possible to provide a picture of past climate–ecosystem interactions. The Katymár North sequence provides an extended chronology from Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS3, ca. 36,000 cal BP) through the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and into the Early Holocene, while the Hajós sequence offers high-resolution data for the LGM–Holocene transition. By the late Ice Age, humidity and surface moisture superseded temperature as primary palaeoecological limiting factors, promoting ecotone-like forest–steppe environments during cooling periods. Full article

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of humic acid (HA) supplementation on the rumen fermentation and protozoal community in the rumen. For this purpose, four ruminally cannulated Simmental cows were randomly assigned in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment to study the effect of HA dietary supplementation on feed utilization, rumen fermentation, and protozoal community for 84 days. The basal diet (BD) was composed of meadow hay (68.2% of dry matter [DM]), maize silage (17% of DM), and granulated feed mixture (14.9% of DM). There were four treatments, including the BD without additives (control diet, H0), the BD supplemented with 50 g HA/cow/day (H50 treatment), the BD supplemented with 100 g HA/cow/day (H100 treatment), and the BD supplemented with 200 g HA/cow/day (H200 treatment). HA supplementation did not affect the total or individual volatile fatty acid concentrations, the total protozoa, or the ruminal pH. However, HA at the dosage of 50 g/cow/day increased the NH₃-N concentration and fecal nitrogen compared to the control (p < 0.001). HA supplementation also significantly impacted the abundance of individual protozoal genera in the rumen. The results of this study suggest that HA has potential in ruminants as a natural feed additive and may play a role in nitrogen metabolism and stabilizing the protozoal community without adverse effects on rumen fermentation. Full article

Because of the numerous ecosystem services provided by soil, such as elemental cycling, food production, and water filtration and storage, this resource requires special protection to maintain total efficiency of these services. However, standard agricultural practices can have a degrading effect, not only on the physical and chemical properties of soil, but may also threaten soil invertebrate communities. Soil macrofauna, and earthworms in particular, play a critical role in soil ecosystems because their activities affect the availability of nutrients for plants, shape soil structure, and significantly impact organic matter dynamics. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of two systems used in plant cultivation (no-dig and conventional digging). Both used vermicompost as an organic fertilizer and looked at selected characteristics of Lumbricidae groupings and the dynamics of selected soil physicochemical properties. This study was conducted over three years in the same area to ensure that the soil characteristics were the same. The NDG (no-dig) and DG (conventional digging) sites were prepared as appropriate with a perennial hay meadow (MW) used as a control site. An electrical extraction (octet) method was used to collect earthworms. The same six species of earthworm were found at each site: Dendrodrilus rubidus (Sav.), Lumbricus rubellus (Hoff.), Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.), Aporrectodea rosea (Sav.), Octolasion lacteum (Örley), and Lumbricus terrestris (L.). Earthworm abundance and biomass were found to be significantly higher at the NDG site compared to DG (NDG > DG; abundance by 24% (p < 0.05), biomass by 22% (p < 0.05)). No significant differences between NDG and MW were shown. Moisture, temperature, and soil organic carbon content likely influenced the abundance and biomass of Lumbricidae. The NDG site showed significantly higher organic carbon and moisture content and significantly lower temperatures than the DG site. The average number of earthworms damaged by digging was 0.85 ind. m⁻², but did not significantly affect the other results. Overall, NDG is preferable to DG for enhancing the earthworm and physicochemical parameters of soil. Full article

Climate change is significantly affecting mountain plant communities, causing dynamic alterations in species composition as well as spatial distribution. This raises the need for constant monitoring. The Tatra Mountains are the highest range of the Carpathians which are considered biodiversity hotspots in Central Europe. For this purpose, microwave Sentinel-1 and optical multi-temporal Sentinel-2 data, topographic derivatives, and iterative machine learning methods incorporating classifiers random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVMs), and XGBoost (XGB) were used for the identification of thirteen non-forest plant communities (various types of alpine grasslands, shrublands, herbaceous heaths, mountain hay meadows, rocks, and scree communities). Different scenarios were tested to identify the most important variables, retrieval periods, and spectral bands. The overall accuracy results for the individual algorithms reached RF (0.83–0.96), SVM (0.87–0.93), and lower results for XGBoost (0.69–0.82). The best combination, which included a fusion of Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and topographic data, achieved F1-scores for classes in the range of 0.73–0.97 (RF) and 0.66–0.95 (SVM). The inclusion of topographic variables resulted in an improvement in F1-scores for Sentinel-2 data by one–four percent points and Sentinel-1 data by 1%–9%. For spectral bands, the Sentinel-2 10 m resolution bands B4, B3, and B2 showed the highest mean decrease accuracy. The final result is the first comprehensive map of non-forest vegetation for the Tatra Mountains area. Full article

The aim of this study was to examine the nutrient composition and feed hygiene of alfalfa as well as investigate the feed intake, blood, urine and faecal parameters of horses fed alfalfa haylage (AS) compared with alfalfa hay (AH) and meadow hay (MH). A total of 11 geldings were fed ad libitum (2.1% dry matter (DM) of body weight (BW)) with alfalfa haylage, alfalfa hay and meadow hay (MH) in a Latin square design. On days 0 and 21 of the feeding period, blood samples were analysed for kidney and liver parameters. Faecal samples were analysed for pH, DM and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Spontaneous urine was collected during the feeding period to analyse selected parameters. Forage was analysed in terms of feed hygiene and crude nutrients. In several feed samples of AS, AH and MH, the microbial reference ranges were exceeded for product-typical and spoilage-indicating bacteria and fungi. Crude nutrient analyses revealed a median crude protein content of 139 (138/142) g/kg DM for AS, which was similar to that in AH (127–135 g/kg DM) and substantially higher than in MH (79.1–87.7 g/kg DM). The calcium level in AS (11.3 g/kg DM) was significantly higher than that in MH (4.00–4.95 g/kg DM) but not compared with that in AH (9.80–10.4 g/kg DM). All blood parameters were within the reference ranges. Fractional excretion (FE)_Ca for AS-fed horses ranged from 8.13 to 22.0%; the FE_Ca for AH-fed horses ranged from 6.48 to 24.8%; the FE_Ca for MH-fed horses ranged from 6.69 to 53.2%. No significant differences were found in faecal pH or SCFA content in AS-fed horses compared with AH-fed and MH-fed horses. We concluded that alfalfa haylage provides an alternative forage for equine nutrition. Full article

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. Full article

We investigated growth performance and ruminal fermentation associated with gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) Haemonchus contortus in lambs and in vitro ruminal fermentation of mallow, chamomile, fumitory, wormwood (Herbmix), and chicory using inoculum from GIN-infected lambs. Twelve lambs were equally divided into two groups: uninfected animals (CON) and animals infected (INF) with approximately 5000 third-stage larvae derived from the MHCo1 strain of GIN H. contortus. Two lambs per group were killed on days 48, 49, and 50 after infection and ruminal content was collected separately from each lamb. Batch cultures of ruminal fluid from CON and INF were incubated for 24 h in vitro with 0.25 g meadow hay, Herbmix, and chicory using an in vitro gas production technique. Daily weight gain was relatively lower in the INF than the CON group, but not significantly (72.6 vs. 130.1 g/day). The ruminal populations of protozoa, bacteria, total Archaea, Methanobacteriales, and Methanomicrobiales were significantly higher in the INF than in the CON group. The substrates affected the concentrations of n-butyrate, iso-butyrate, n-valerate, iso-valerate, ammonia-N, total gas, and methane (p < 0.001) in vitro. GIN infection affected fermentation and microbial population in the rumens of the lambs, and chicory was a promising substrate to modulate ruminal fermentation in vitro. Full article

The general practice of sheep farmers in gastrointestinal helminth control is based on the use of commercial drugs, making chemoresistance very common. Considering this, our study focused on the biological control of gastrointestinal parasitism using high-tannin plant hay. Three groups of 30 animals each were formed. The control group was additionally fed meadow hay, while the other two groups received chicory (group 2) and bird’s foot trefoil hay (group 3). The number of gastrointestinal strongyle eggs, shed through faeces (EPG), was surveyed for 28 days for all animals. The amounts of total tannins for meadow, chicory, and Lotus corniculatus hay supplements were 13.92 mg/g, 78.59 mg/g, and 94.43 mg/g, while their condensed tannin contents were 2.58 mg/g, 29.84 mg/g, and 15.94 mg/g, respectively. Compared to experimental day 0, there was an increase in EPG of 80.83% in the control group, a decrease of 24.72% in group 2, and a 20% decrease in group 3, by day 28. The p-value was <0.05 between group 1 and the other groups, showing significant differences between the control and experimental groups. The decrease in EPG rates in the experimental groups compared to the control group demonstrates an antiparasitic effect of Lotus corniculatus and chicory. Full article

Europe is currently experiencing a huge decline in biodiversity, with the greatest reduction observed in plant species associated with grassland areas. There is therefore a need for more appropriate land management practices that do not endanger native populations. The focus of our research was to assess the modification of the species composition of the phytocenoses found in sloping meadows in the mountain–forest belt using organic and mineral fertilization and by reseeding cultural swards (with a mixture of Poaceae or Trifolium repens L.), while applying various meadow usage methods: multipurpose use (cut four times) and hay production (cut two times). The highest botanic richness (41 species from 16 families and 90% of perennial plants) was observed from the multipurpose usage of the meadow, which resulted in 28.1% more species than the haymaking usage. With regard to species stability, the most appropriate fertilization of the meadows was P₃₀K₆₀, regardless of the usage method. Fertilization with nitrogen fertilizers improved the yield of meadows but reduced the number of species. When meadows were reseeded with P. pratense and F. Pratensis and fertilized for haymaking, the number of families and species reduced, with a 25% decline in the number of T. repens families. This study concludes that to maintain the richness of plant species in these grasslands, farmers must receive financial subsidies to limit fertilization and plant cultivated species. Full article