Development of botanical composition of grassland affected by the different exploitation intensity

Article Details: Received: 2019-04-08 | Accepted: 2019-06-03 | Available online: 2019-09-30https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2019.22.03.101-109The aim of the work was to analyze the influence of different intensity of grassland exploitation on the development of floristic composition. The experiment was carried out in 2017 and 2018 in the Žirany village (SW Slovakia) characterized by a mild climate with an average annual temperature of 9 °C. Before the experiment was established, the grassland was used for sheep grazing and dominated by Lollium perenne L. The monitoring period was 2017 and 2018. The experimental crops were mown 2× (variant 4), 3× (variant 3) and 4× (variant 2). We established also control variant (variant 1) which was not mowed and fertilized, as well. The floristic composition was evaluated before each cut. It follows from the results obtained at the beginning of the monitoring in 2017, grass species (Lollium perenne L., Poa trivalis L., Poa pratensis L.) predominantly prevailed and they maintained their dominant position during the whole vegetation period in 2017. Furthermore, other meadow herbs (Achillea millefolium L., Cerastium arvense L.) were found in higher proportion. Legumes were found in a lesser extent. In 2018, we reduced the proportion in the botanical groups of other meadow herbs and leguminous plants. Conversely, grasses increased their share compared to 2017. The cover has been reduced mainly in variant 3 (3× mowed) and variant 2 (2× mowed).Keywords: floristic composition, mowing management, grasses, legumes, other meadow herbs, permanent grasslandReferencesBOVAL, M. and DIXON, R. (2012) The importance of grasslands for animal production and other functions: A review on management and methodological progress in the tropics. In Animal, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 748–762. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731112000304BRITAŇÁK, N. et al. (2013) Production capacity of a mountain meadow in Slovakia. In Michalík, D. L., et. al. (eds.) Proceedings of the 22nd International Grassland Congress – Revitalising Grassland to Suitain our Communities, 2013 Sept 15–19, Sydney, pp. 1520–1521.ECONOMIC and social development program 2014–2020 Village Žirany [online]. Retrived 2019-01-09 from http://www.zirany.eu/documents/1427100129phsr-zirany2014.pdf (In Slovak).EZE, S., PALMER, S. M. and CHAPMAN, P. J. (2018) Soil organic carbon stock in grasslands: Effects of inorganic fertilizers, liming and grazing in different climate settings. In Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 223.GAISLER, J., PAVLŮ, V. and PAVLŮ, L. (2011) Effect of different extensive management treatments on the plant diversity of an upland meadow without forage utilisation. In Grassl. Sci. Eur., vol. 16, pp. 577–579.GIBSON D. J. (2009) Grasses and grassland ecology. New York: Oxford University Press. 305 p.JANČOVIČ, J. and VOZÁR, Ľ. (2014) Use of grasslands (In Slovak) In SKLÁDANKA, J. et. al. Fodder crops. Brno: MU. 368 p.(In Czech).KLAPP, E. (1971) Wiesen und Wieden. Berlin: Paul Parey. 520 p.KLIMEŠ, L., JONGEPIEROVÁ, I., and JONGEPIER, J.W. (2000) The effect of mowing on previously abandoned meadow: a ten year experiment. Praha: Příroda..KOHOUTEK, A. et al. (2009) Selected indicators of productive and extraproductional management of grasslands in the Czech Republic. In Grassl. Sci. Eur., vol. 14, pp. 11–24.KRAJČOVIČ, V. (2004) Integration of mountain farming landscape systems. In Use of permanent grassland in mountain and agriculturally disadvantaged areas (Publication on the occasion of Slovakia´s accession to the European Union). Banská Bystrica: VÚTPHP, pp. 56–133 (In Slovak).MICHAUD, A. et al. (2012) Identification of the environmental factors which drive the botanical and functional composition of permanent grasslands. In J. Agric. Sci., vol. 150, pp. 219–236.MORAVEC, J. et. al. (1994) Phytocoenology. Praha: Academia. 403 p. (In Czech).O‘MARA F. P. (2012) The role of grasslands in food security and climate change. In Annals of Botany, vol. 110, no. 6, pp. 1263–1270. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcs209POLLÁK, Š., JANČOVÁ and LIESKOVSKÝ, M. (2013). Alternative energy utilization options grasslands: proceedings of research papers. Piešťany: Plant production research centre in Piešťany. 218 p. (In Slovak).REGAL, V. 1956. Microskopic method for evaluation of grass quality. Proceeding ČS AZV, Plant production, no. 6 (In Czech).SMITH, N. A. C., WILLEMS, J. H. and BOBBINK, R. (2008) Longterm after-effect of fertilisation on the restoration of calcareous grasslands. In Appl. Veg. Sci., vol. 11, pp. 279–286.ŠTÝBNAROVÁ, M. and DUFEK, A. (2016) Changes of botanical composition of permanent grassland four years after the cessation of different fertilization with compost and slurry. In Cattle Research, 2016, vol. 58, no. 211