Moderate sheep grazing in semiarid shrubland alters small-scale soil surface structure and patch properties

Auteurs :
GOLODETS, C.
BOEKEN, B.

Description :
The AA. investigated whether long-term moderate livestock grazing by sheep (ca. 10 animal unit days/ha) in a semiarid shrubland with a long-term average annual rainfall of 200 mm causes changes in soil surface structure and dimensions of shrub and intershrub patches. They examined grazing-induced changes in landscape patchiness, patch structure, and soil moisture in 3 grazed and 3 ungrazed plots on a south-facing slope and the opposite, more productive north-facing slope. The measurements were done in early spring 2001 and 2002 before grazing started. Changes in patch size and properties induced by moderate grazing can have positive and negative effects on productivity and diversity, but may also be viewed as early signs of landscape degradation.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2006, vol. 65, n°. 3, p. 285-291, nombre de pages : 7, Collation : Illustration, Références bibliographiques : 35 ref.

Date :
2006

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena