Palm density and grazing effects on plant communities: implications for livestock management in a Butia palm grove.

Some grasslands in ecotones with forests tend to be encroached by woody species, because of changes in climate and land use. Such structural changes in vegetation can be facilitated when the grassland community presents an autochthonous arboreal component, like Butia palms. We aim to identify the responses of taxonomic and functional diversity on grassland community with the occurrence of arborescent/ arboreal species (autochthonous and encroaching) to palm density and grazing intensity. The study was conducted in a Butia odorata palm grove under cattle management, in Southern Brazil. To assess the taxonomic and functional composition we performed ordinations analysis with the vegetational data and using path analysis we assessed the causal relationships between variables of interest. Density of Butia odorata and woody plants were strongly positive related, suggesting a facilitation process in the establishment of arborescent plants on the grassland matrix. The abundance of less palatable plants and grazing pressure were inversely related, indicating a selection process induced by higher grazing intensity. We suggest that the grazing intensity management must be based on the autochthonous tree density, applying higher grazing intensity in areas with higher density of encroaching plants, in addition to maintaining other regions conducive to Butia palm regeneration through fallows.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	SOUZA, G. C., JARENKOW, J. A., RAGUSE-QUADROS, M., MALDONADO, G., URRUTH, L. M., SOSINSKI JUNIOR, E. E., OLIVEIRA, J. M.
Other Authors:	GABRIELA C. SOUZA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL; JOÃO ANDRÉ JARENKOW, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL; MATEUS RAGUSE-QUADROS, PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL; GIOVANNA MALDONADO, UNIVERSIDADE DO VALE DO RIO DOS SINOS; LEONARDO M. URRUTH, SECRETARIA ESTADUAL DO MEIO AMBIENTE E INFRAESTRUTURA DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL; ENIO EGON SOSINSKI JUNIOR, CPACT; JULIANO M. OLIVEIRA, UNIVERSIDADE DO VALE DO RIO DOS SINOS.
Format:	Artigo de periódico biblioteca
Language:	Ingles English
Published:	2023-12-05
Subjects:	Multidisciplinary, Bioma Pampa, Butiá, Pastagem, Vegetação,
Online Access:	http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1159203
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