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Sheep grazing in young oak Quercus spp. and ash Fraxinus excelsior plantations: vegetation control, seasonality and tree damage

Sheep grazing in young oak Quercus spp. and ash Fraxinus excelsior plantations: vegetation... An experiment was carried out where sheep were grazed in temporary fenced paddocks at a stocking rate of 178 LSU ha −1 in a 5-year old broadleaf plantation of oak ( Quercus spp.) and ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) (1.5 m spacing) on fertile, former lowland pasture in Northern Ireland. The grazing regime was rotational and intensive, with two grazing periods of 5 days in February and October 2001. Results showed that a significant proportion of the rank herbage height was removed within the first 24 h of livestock introduction. Herbage biomass was reduced by approximately half after 5 days. Sward height in grazed plots remained significantly lower than control plots for over 6 months after cessation of grazing, whilst biomass remained significantly lower for over 4 months after cessation of grazing. No significant tree damage to either oak or ash was measured during the February grazing trial, however significant damage to the lateral branches of both oak and ash was observed in the October grazing trial. Leader damage did not occur on trees greater than 152 cm. Ash was more commonly browsed than oak. Annual height increment of both tree species was unaffected by grazing, but annual stem diameter increment was significantly reduced in both oak and ash in February grazed plots. Oak trees in both February and October grazed plots were found to have a significantly smaller annual increase in canopy diameter than those in control plots. Results are discussed with regard to practical implementation of controlled grazing in young broadleaf forestry plantations on fertile, lowland soils. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Agroforestry Systems Springer Journals

Sheep grazing in young oak Quercus spp. and ash Fraxinus excelsior plantations: vegetation control, seasonality and tree damage

Agroforestry Systems , Volume 74 (2) – Oct 1, 2008

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References (22)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 by Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Subject
Life Sciences; Agriculture; Forestry
ISSN
0167-4366
eISSN
1572-9680
DOI
10.1007/s10457-008-9121-x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

An experiment was carried out where sheep were grazed in temporary fenced paddocks at a stocking rate of 178 LSU ha −1 in a 5-year old broadleaf plantation of oak ( Quercus spp.) and ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) (1.5 m spacing) on fertile, former lowland pasture in Northern Ireland. The grazing regime was rotational and intensive, with two grazing periods of 5 days in February and October 2001. Results showed that a significant proportion of the rank herbage height was removed within the first 24 h of livestock introduction. Herbage biomass was reduced by approximately half after 5 days. Sward height in grazed plots remained significantly lower than control plots for over 6 months after cessation of grazing, whilst biomass remained significantly lower for over 4 months after cessation of grazing. No significant tree damage to either oak or ash was measured during the February grazing trial, however significant damage to the lateral branches of both oak and ash was observed in the October grazing trial. Leader damage did not occur on trees greater than 152 cm. Ash was more commonly browsed than oak. Annual height increment of both tree species was unaffected by grazing, but annual stem diameter increment was significantly reduced in both oak and ash in February grazed plots. Oak trees in both February and October grazed plots were found to have a significantly smaller annual increase in canopy diameter than those in control plots. Results are discussed with regard to practical implementation of controlled grazing in young broadleaf forestry plantations on fertile, lowland soils.

Journal

Agroforestry SystemsSpringer Journals

Published: Oct 1, 2008

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