Extensively used grassland as a basis of low input livestock systems and as a resource of energy and raw materials

摘要

In many European countries the traditional agricultural use of extensive grassland seems to be no longer competitive. To avoid grassland abandonment with all its negative consequences for ecology, economy and society, as well as to keep open the cultural landscape, alternative land use concepts have to be developed and tested. Within a comprehensive research project, carried out by the Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein at Buchau/Styria, different agricultural and non-agricultural strategies have been investigated. Beside extensive livestock production systems with grazing heifers, suckler cows and sheep, grassland has also been considered and analyzed as a sustainable and potential resource of energy. The focus was given to the use of grassland biomass for methane production and as combustion material. Finally, different methods to keep the landscape open without any productive use have been tested with a special concentration on floristic diversity. Selected results from the first project period of 5 years will be presented.