Nutrients in the soil and herbage of tall sward-height patches under intensive and extensive grazing

摘要

Faeces are one of the key drivers affecting the sward structure and nutrient cycling on pastures. The effect of extensive and intensive grazing of heifers on nutrient concentration in the herbage and the soil under tall sward height patches were studied in an upland area in the Czech Republic. Three types of tall height sward patches (> 10 cm) were identified: (1) tall sward height patches with faeces under intensive grazing; (2) tall sward height patches with faeces under extensive management; (3) tall sward [height patches with no faeces under extensive management, and were compared with regularly grazed swards in intensive and extensive grazing management. The analyses indicated no significant effect of different types of patches on soil available nutrients. The different types of patches had a significant effect on herbage concentration of P, K and Mg but no effect was detected for Ca and N. The highest nutrient concentration in the herbage, the lowest dry matter standing biomass, sward heightand proportion of dead plant biomass were detected in tall sward height patches with faeces under intensive grazing. It is likely that nutrients from faeces were directly used by the existing plants in the tall sward patches and, therefore, soil enrichment was very low.