Plant Soil Environ., 2007, 53(1):42-50 | DOI: 10.17221/3192-PSE

The development of above-ground biomass in unmanaged grasslands and its influence on the leakage of water and the amount of elements found

J. Fiala
Research Institute of Crop Production. Prague-Ruzyne, Grassland Research Station Liberec, Czech Republic

The influence of various forms of farming on unmanaged grasslands was monitored with regard to the accumulation of the above-ground biomass (litter + mulching) and its influence on the leakage of rainfall and the amount of elements in lysimetric waters. In 2001-2005, the highest accumulation was observed in variants 1× mulched in the later term and on green fallow (on average 2.11-1.13 t of dry matter/ha). In comparison with the control site, a conclusive increase always occurred. An interannual increase of dry matter amounted to 0.4-5.2% of the total above-ground biomass. A negative correlative dependency on rainfall leakage on this material was discovered; at a depth of 0.4 m 4-10% of the rainfall leaked, but it had a significant influence on the wash out of Ca, Mg and S. The leakage of water affected a wash out of Nmin, P, K, Ca, Mg and S more than the weight of dry matter of the above-ground biomass. With the exception of P, the elements showed a downward tendency over five years. The above-mentioned forms of farming annually increased the accumulation of the above-ground biomass by 0.05-0.16 t of dry matter/ha; however, they do not endanger underground waters by washing out minerals. After a five-year period, a disturbance of the ecological stability of grassland did not occur.

Keywords: unmanaged grasslands; accumulation of above-ground biomass; lysimetric water; nutrients

Published: January 31, 2007  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Fiala J. The development of above-ground biomass in unmanaged grasslands and its influence on the leakage of water and the amount of elements found. Plant Soil Environ. 2007;53(1):42-50. doi: 10.17221/3192-PSE.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Behrendt A., Schalitz G., Muller L., Schindler U. (2003): The dynamics of nutrients in an extensively used pasture -pasture and lysimetric experiments. In: Proc. 10 th Gumpensteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 129-132.
    2. Borin M., Morari F., Camarotto C., Bisol T., Salvan F. (2003): Nitrate leaching losses following cattle slurry and mineral fertilizer applications. In: Proc. 10th Gumpensteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 45-48.
    3. Dressel J. (1992): The results of long-term lysimetric experiments on the infiltration of nitrogen with various crop rotation and various fertilization. In: Proc. 2th Gumpensteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 1-12.
    4. Dykyjová D. et al. (1989): Methods of Study of Ecosystems. Academia, Praha: 539-546.
    5. Eder G. (1991): The leakage of N and P in grasslands. In: Proc. Gumpersteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 45-51.
    6. Fiala J. (2004): The influence of an alternative way of grassland tending on the quality and quantity of percolates. In: Proc. Int. Conf. Production, ecological and landscape enhancement functions of grassland ecosystems and forage crops, SUA, Nitra: 149-160.
    7. Fiala J., Tichý V. (1994): Production ability and persistence of herbage varieties of grasses. Rostl. Výr., 40: 1005-1014.
    8. Gaisler J., Hejcman M., Pavlů V. (2004): Effect of different mulching and cutting regimes on the vegetation of upland meadow. Plant Soil Environ., 50: 324-331. Go to original source...
    9. Hösch J., Dersch G. (2003): The influence of farming on the progression of nitrogen losses. In: Proc. 10th Gumpensteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 67-70.
    10. Kopec S. (1993): The influence of grassland and arable land on the leakage of nutrients in Polish Karpaten. In: Proc. 3th Gumpesteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 49-52.
    11. Kopec S. (1995): The balance of N, P, K, Ca in a meadow in Polish Karpaten. In: Proc. 5 th Gumpensteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 81-84.
    12. Kubát J., Nováková J., Mikanová O., Apfelthaler R. (1999): Organic carbon cycle, incidence of microorganisms and respiration activity in long-term field experiment. Rostl. Výr., 45: 389-395.
    13. Mareš R., Královec J. (2003): The loss of nitrogen due to leakage with a high intensity of nitrogen fertilization. In: Proc. 10 th Gumpensteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 215-216.
    14. Rupp H., Meissner R., Leinweber P. (2003): The following effects of the changed conditions of the use of peatbog on water quality. In: Proc. 10 th Gumpensteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 133-136.
    15. Rychnovská M. et al. (1987): Methods of Study of Grass Ecosystems. Academia, Praha: 101-103.
    16. Sobotik M. (1992): The density and depth of roots within a grassland with increasing applications of cattle slurry and their influence on the infiltration of water. In: Proc. 2th Gumpensteiner Lysimeter Day, Gumpenstein (A): 69-78.
    17. Svobodová M., Šantrůček J. (2004): Quality of lysimetric water under setting arable land aside. Coll. Sci. Pap., Fac. Agr. České Budějovice, Ser. Crop Sci., 21: 325-328.
    18. Úlehlová B. (1989): Nitrogen Cycle in Grass Ecosystems. Academia, Praha: 26-42.
    19. Vaněk V., Němeček R., Balík J. (1999): Changes in the contents of nitrates in brown soils. Rostl. Výr., 45: 519-524.
    20. Vaněk V., Šilha J., Němeček R. (2003): The level of soil nitrate content at different managements of organic fertilizers application. Plant Soil Environ., 49: 197-202. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content