Consequences of Grazing Cessation for Soil Environment and Vegetation in a Subalpine Grassland Ecosystem.

ABSTRACT: Areas covered by seminatural grasslands have been in constant decline for decades in Europe. This trend is particularly strong for mountain territories, where such traditional agricultural practices as cattle grazing are no longer economically feasible. This study was conducted in the subalpine pasture of Cinte Tesino (TN, Italy), where local farmers have applied the following different management strategies: shorter and longer grazing durations during the season and a complete abandonment for the last 15 years. We aimed to study how these different management strategies impact the functioning and diversity of vegetation and the chemical and biological characteristics of the soil. Species richness was higher in plots subjected to longer grazing with a prevalence of D. caespitosa in

SUBMITTER: Gavrichkova O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9416782 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature