The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A Review
This review provides an overview of grassland studies on the effects of manure application and herbivore excreta on plant and soil properties in temperate grasslands. Grass biomass from grazing or mowing is mainly used for animal products such as milk or meat, as well as for energy or raw materials...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/3010 |
| _version_ | 1797382331004092416 |
|---|---|
| author | Arne Brummerloh Katrin Kuka |
| author_facet | Arne Brummerloh Katrin Kuka |
| author_sort | Arne Brummerloh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This review provides an overview of grassland studies on the effects of manure application and herbivore excreta on plant and soil properties in temperate grasslands. Grass biomass from grazing or mowing is mainly used for animal products such as milk or meat, as well as for energy or raw materials for biorefineries. Manure application or grazing has a significant impact on several plant and soil properties. There are effects on soil chemical properties, such as increased carbon sequestration, improved nutrient availability, and increased pH. Additionally, several physical soil properties are improved by manure application or grazing. For example, bulk density is reduced, and porosity and hydraulic conductivity are greatly improved. Some biological parameters, particularly microbial biomass and microbial and enzyme activity, also increase. The use of manure and grazing can, therefore, contribute to improving soil fertility, replacing mineral fertilizers, and closing nutrient cycles. On the other hand, over-application of manure and overgrazing can result in a surplus of nutrients over plant needs and increase losses through emission or leaching. The lost nutrients are not only economically lost from the nutrient cycle of the farm but can also cause environmental damage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:04:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6a230cb9916490c97b43be353863ef1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:04:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6a230cb9916490c97b43be353863ef12023-12-22T13:46:39ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-12-011312301010.3390/agronomy13123010The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A ReviewArne Brummerloh0Katrin Kuka1Landesamt für Bergbau, Energie und Geologie (LBEG), Referat L3.2, Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, GermanyJulius Kühn Institute (JKI)—Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Crop and Soil Science, Bundesallee 58, 38116 Braunschweig, GermanyThis review provides an overview of grassland studies on the effects of manure application and herbivore excreta on plant and soil properties in temperate grasslands. Grass biomass from grazing or mowing is mainly used for animal products such as milk or meat, as well as for energy or raw materials for biorefineries. Manure application or grazing has a significant impact on several plant and soil properties. There are effects on soil chemical properties, such as increased carbon sequestration, improved nutrient availability, and increased pH. Additionally, several physical soil properties are improved by manure application or grazing. For example, bulk density is reduced, and porosity and hydraulic conductivity are greatly improved. Some biological parameters, particularly microbial biomass and microbial and enzyme activity, also increase. The use of manure and grazing can, therefore, contribute to improving soil fertility, replacing mineral fertilizers, and closing nutrient cycles. On the other hand, over-application of manure and overgrazing can result in a surplus of nutrients over plant needs and increase losses through emission or leaching. The lost nutrients are not only economically lost from the nutrient cycle of the farm but can also cause environmental damage.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/3010organic fertilizationgrazingnutrient cyclesoil fertility |
| spellingShingle | Arne Brummerloh Katrin Kuka The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A Review Agronomy organic fertilization grazing nutrient cycle soil fertility |
| title | The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A Review |
| title_full | The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A Review |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A Review |
| title_short | The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A Review |
| title_sort | effects of manure application and herbivore excreta on plant and soil properties of temperate grasslands a review |
| topic | organic fertilization grazing nutrient cycle soil fertility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/12/3010 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT arnebrummerloh theeffectsofmanureapplicationandherbivoreexcretaonplantandsoilpropertiesoftemperategrasslandsareview AT katrinkuka theeffectsofmanureapplicationandherbivoreexcretaonplantandsoilpropertiesoftemperategrasslandsareview AT arnebrummerloh effectsofmanureapplicationandherbivoreexcretaonplantandsoilpropertiesoftemperategrasslandsareview AT katrinkuka effectsofmanureapplicationandherbivoreexcretaonplantandsoilpropertiesoftemperategrasslandsareview |