The Impact of Different Grazing Periods in Dry Grasslands on the Expansive Grass <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arrhenatherum elatius</Emphasis> L. and on Woody Species |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Ji?í?DostálekEmail author Tomá??Frantík |
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Institution: | (1) Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening, 252 43 Průhonice, Czech Republic;(2) Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 252 43 Průhonice, Czech Republic |
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Abstract: | Dry grasslands are one of the most species rich and endangered types of vegetation in Europe. In the Czech Republic, dry grasslands
are mainly of anthropogenic origin and were formed as a result of grazing after the clear-cutting of thermophilous oak woods.
Gradual changes in the farming landscape throughout the 20th century, particularly in the 1960s, resulted in the abandonment
of the relatively infertile habitats of dry grasslands. After abandonment, dry grasslands decline and degrade due to the gradual
overgrowth of woody species and expansion of perennial tall grasses. In the year 2000, a grazing management program was introduced
in the protected areas within the territory of Prague City to maintain the species diversity of dry grasslands. The responses
of the expansive grass species, Arrhenatherum elatius L. and multiple woody species (especially, Prunus spinosa L.) to differences in grazing periods were monitored for over a decade. Grazing in spring through the end of June had the greatest impact on the reduction of A. elatius and woody species. Grazing in the height of summer through autumn did not reduce the cover of these plants, and may support
the prosperity of both A. elatius and the woody species due to higher levels of nutrients. |
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