Effects of Long-Term Mowing on Biomass Composition in Pannonian Dry Grasslands
This study is focused on the vegetation of seminatural dry grasslands. These grasslands are valuable with large biodiversity; however, their long-term preservation requires regular conservation management. This report demonstrates the results of a 13-years mowing experiment, designed to suppress the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/5/1107 |
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| author | Judit Házi Károly Penksza András Barczi Szilárd Szentes Gergely Pápay |
| author_facet | Judit Házi Károly Penksza András Barczi Szilárd Szentes Gergely Pápay |
| author_sort | Judit Házi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study is focused on the vegetation of seminatural dry grasslands. These grasslands are valuable with large biodiversity; however, their long-term preservation requires regular conservation management. This report demonstrates the results of a 13-years mowing experiment, designed to suppress the spread of an unpalatable grass species, <i>Calamagrostis epigejos</i>. The study site was located in mid-successional grasslands, in the Western-Cserhát, near Rád, Northern Hungary. The experimental design consisted of eight permanent plots, where mowing was applied twice a year. The vegetation was sampled annually (from 2001 to 2013). The impacts of mowing were tested using repeated–measures analyses of variance (ANOVA). In 2001, <i>Calamagrostis epigejos</i> was the species with the highest cover in both the mown and control sites, with an average cover value of 63%. However, as a result of mowing, a significant difference was detected in the amount of litter and legumes species as well. The number of species showed an increase in both types of treatment, from 15 to 37 in the mowed plots, but also from 18 to 27 in the control plots. We concluded that mowing twice a year proved to be a useful measure for modifying botanical composition of a grassland. It was well suited for agricultural usage, in particular grazing, which can replace the expensive and time-consuming scythe. Mowing can also be a suitable management measure for controlling native invader species such as <i>Calamagrostis epigejos,</i> and can significantly increase the proportion of species with higher forage values. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7189c8fbe8b5441dbcb0f860bec3b3bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:30:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-7189c8fbe8b5441dbcb0f860bec3b3bf2023-11-23T09:42:54ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-05-01125110710.3390/agronomy12051107Effects of Long-Term Mowing on Biomass Composition in Pannonian Dry GrasslandsJudit Házi0Károly Penksza1András Barczi2Szilárd Szentes3Gergely Pápay4Department of Botany, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Rottenbiller utca 50, H-1077 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Botany, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Environmental Studies, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryDepartment of Botany, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryThis study is focused on the vegetation of seminatural dry grasslands. These grasslands are valuable with large biodiversity; however, their long-term preservation requires regular conservation management. This report demonstrates the results of a 13-years mowing experiment, designed to suppress the spread of an unpalatable grass species, <i>Calamagrostis epigejos</i>. The study site was located in mid-successional grasslands, in the Western-Cserhát, near Rád, Northern Hungary. The experimental design consisted of eight permanent plots, where mowing was applied twice a year. The vegetation was sampled annually (from 2001 to 2013). The impacts of mowing were tested using repeated–measures analyses of variance (ANOVA). In 2001, <i>Calamagrostis epigejos</i> was the species with the highest cover in both the mown and control sites, with an average cover value of 63%. However, as a result of mowing, a significant difference was detected in the amount of litter and legumes species as well. The number of species showed an increase in both types of treatment, from 15 to 37 in the mowed plots, but also from 18 to 27 in the control plots. We concluded that mowing twice a year proved to be a useful measure for modifying botanical composition of a grassland. It was well suited for agricultural usage, in particular grazing, which can replace the expensive and time-consuming scythe. Mowing can also be a suitable management measure for controlling native invader species such as <i>Calamagrostis epigejos,</i> and can significantly increase the proportion of species with higher forage values.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/5/1107productivity of the grasslandunpalatable grasslong-term datapermanent plots |
| spellingShingle | Judit Házi Károly Penksza András Barczi Szilárd Szentes Gergely Pápay Effects of Long-Term Mowing on Biomass Composition in Pannonian Dry Grasslands Agronomy productivity of the grassland unpalatable grass long-term data permanent plots |
| title | Effects of Long-Term Mowing on Biomass Composition in Pannonian Dry Grasslands |
| title_full | Effects of Long-Term Mowing on Biomass Composition in Pannonian Dry Grasslands |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Long-Term Mowing on Biomass Composition in Pannonian Dry Grasslands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Long-Term Mowing on Biomass Composition in Pannonian Dry Grasslands |
| title_short | Effects of Long-Term Mowing on Biomass Composition in Pannonian Dry Grasslands |
| title_sort | effects of long term mowing on biomass composition in pannonian dry grasslands |
| topic | productivity of the grassland unpalatable grass long-term data permanent plots |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/5/1107 |
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