Effects of Grazing and Shrub Management on Species Composition and Soil Properties in Patagonian Grasslands
Historical sheep farming in the Patagonian drylands has led to reduced grass cover, soil erosion, and shrub encroachment, compromising ecosystem function. Effective restoration requires managing shrub cover, bare soil, and patch connectivity through various strategies. This study evaluates rehabilit...
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MDPI AG
2024-09-01
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| author | Braian Vogel Lucia Molina César M. Rostagno Ludmila La Manna |
| author_facet | Braian Vogel Lucia Molina César M. Rostagno Ludmila La Manna |
| author_sort | Braian Vogel |
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| description | Historical sheep farming in the Patagonian drylands has led to reduced grass cover, soil erosion, and shrub encroachment, compromising ecosystem function. Effective restoration requires managing shrub cover, bare soil, and patch connectivity through various strategies. This study evaluates rehabilitation interventions in a grass-steppe ecosystem, comparing grazed and ungrazed areas. Over three years, we tested the following: (a) mechanical shrub cutting with biomass redistribution, and (b) enhancing patch connectivity with <i>Pinus</i> spp. branch piles, alongside controls, in eighteen 5 m × 5 m plots invaded by <i>Mulinum spinosum</i>. Half of the plots were fenced to exclude grazing, resulting in six treatment combinations. We monitored soil properties, vegetation cover, and species composition. The treatments explained twice as much of the variation in community composition as the annual climatic variations (0.26 vs. 0.13). Livestock exclusion increased perennial grass cover more than the grazed plots did (2.14 vs. 1.42 times the initial measure). All treatments reduced the amount of bare soil except the grazed controls. Shrub cutting, especially with grazing, increased the lasting litter coverage by 5–10% and decreased the bare soil equivalently. Organic matter increased except in the non-intervened interpatches (0.95 times). The enclosures with cut shrubs trapped erodible particles, showing a 5% increase. Our study highlights that grazing destabilizes communities, while enclosures stabilize them, with interventions improving soil fertility and mitigating erosion. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2813-3463 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e4cd6d1ec3a345dcae8e9abf2230fb3c2025-08-20T01:55:31ZengMDPI AGGrasses2813-34632024-09-013320522010.3390/grasses3030015Effects of Grazing and Shrub Management on Species Composition and Soil Properties in Patagonian GrasslandsBraian Vogel0Lucia Molina1César M. Rostagno2Ludmila La Manna3Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Administración de Parques Nacionales, Av. San Martín 24, San Carlos de Bariloche R8400, Río Negro, ArgentinaCentro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), Ruta 259 km 16.24, Esquel U9200, Chubut, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, ArgentinaHistorical sheep farming in the Patagonian drylands has led to reduced grass cover, soil erosion, and shrub encroachment, compromising ecosystem function. Effective restoration requires managing shrub cover, bare soil, and patch connectivity through various strategies. This study evaluates rehabilitation interventions in a grass-steppe ecosystem, comparing grazed and ungrazed areas. Over three years, we tested the following: (a) mechanical shrub cutting with biomass redistribution, and (b) enhancing patch connectivity with <i>Pinus</i> spp. branch piles, alongside controls, in eighteen 5 m × 5 m plots invaded by <i>Mulinum spinosum</i>. Half of the plots were fenced to exclude grazing, resulting in six treatment combinations. We monitored soil properties, vegetation cover, and species composition. The treatments explained twice as much of the variation in community composition as the annual climatic variations (0.26 vs. 0.13). Livestock exclusion increased perennial grass cover more than the grazed plots did (2.14 vs. 1.42 times the initial measure). All treatments reduced the amount of bare soil except the grazed controls. Shrub cutting, especially with grazing, increased the lasting litter coverage by 5–10% and decreased the bare soil equivalently. Organic matter increased except in the non-intervened interpatches (0.95 times). The enclosures with cut shrubs trapped erodible particles, showing a 5% increase. Our study highlights that grazing destabilizes communities, while enclosures stabilize them, with interventions improving soil fertility and mitigating erosion.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3463/3/3/15land degradationerosionecological restorationorganic matteradaptive managementrangeland |
| spellingShingle | Braian Vogel Lucia Molina César M. Rostagno Ludmila La Manna Effects of Grazing and Shrub Management on Species Composition and Soil Properties in Patagonian Grasslands Grasses land degradation erosion ecological restoration organic matter adaptive management rangeland |
| title | Effects of Grazing and Shrub Management on Species Composition and Soil Properties in Patagonian Grasslands |
| title_full | Effects of Grazing and Shrub Management on Species Composition and Soil Properties in Patagonian Grasslands |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Grazing and Shrub Management on Species Composition and Soil Properties in Patagonian Grasslands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Grazing and Shrub Management on Species Composition and Soil Properties in Patagonian Grasslands |
| title_short | Effects of Grazing and Shrub Management on Species Composition and Soil Properties in Patagonian Grasslands |
| title_sort | effects of grazing and shrub management on species composition and soil properties in patagonian grasslands |
| topic | land degradation erosion ecological restoration organic matter adaptive management rangeland |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3463/3/3/15 |
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