Tag Archives: grassland management

318-325 R. Melniks, J. Ivanovs, A. Lazdins and K. Makovskis
Mapping drainage ditches in agricultural landscapes using LiDAR data
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Mapping drainage ditches in agricultural landscapes using LiDAR data

R. Melniks¹², J. Ivanovs¹, A. Lazdins¹ and K. Makovskis¹

¹Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, Riga street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
²University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, Jelgava street 1, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
*Correspondence: mailto:raitis.melniks@silava.lv

Abstract:

The aim of this study is to develop a method for identification of the drainage ditch network, which can be used for surface runoff modeling and to increase accuracy of estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in croplands and grasslands, using remote sensing data. The study area consists of 11 objects throughout Latvia with a total area of 145 km2. Digital elevation models (DEMs) in two resolutions, which were created using three different interpolation methods, were used for the analysis. Several multi-level data filtering methods were applied to identify ditch network, including flow patterns, which can be used in surface runoff process. The method we developed correctly identified 85–89% of ditches, depending on the DEM used, in comparison to the reference data. Mapped ditches are located within 3 m range of the reference data in 89–93% of cases. The elaborated model is robust and uses openly available source data and can be used for large scale ditch mapping with sufficient accuracy necessary for hydrological modelling and GHG accounting in the national inventories.

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479-488 P. Stypinski
The Effect of Grassland-based Forages on Milk Quality and Quantity
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The Effect of Grassland-based Forages on Milk Quality and Quantity

P. Stypinski

Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Department of Agronomy Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland,
piotr_stypinski@sggw.pl

Abstract:

Grassland is the first land use in the agricultural areas (AA) of Europe, covering, with rangeland, 56 million ha (33% of AA in EU). Grasslands are characterized by multiple functions and values but one of the most important is forage production for ruminants. In the “grassland region” milk production is connected with grassland management and proper utilisation, whereas in other parts of Europe milk production is based on maize and concentrates. Unfortunately, grassland, particularly grazing, seems to be less important than in the past. Milk quality depends on animal feed. Milk and meat produced from grassland, particularly from botanically diverse pastures, have higher concentrations of those fatty acids and antioxidants which are considered to be of benefit to human health.

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139–151 J. Isselstein, B. Jeangros and V. Pavlu
Agronomic aspects of biodiversity targeted management of temperate grasslands in Europe – A review
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Agronomic aspects of biodiversity targeted management of temperate grasslands in Europe – A review

J. Isselstein¹, B. Jeangros² and V. Pavlu³

¹Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, University of Goettingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 8, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
²Agroscope RAC Changins, Swiss Federal Agricultural Research Station,CH-1260 Nyon, Switzerland
³Research Institute of Crop Production, Prague, Grassland Research Station, Rolnicka 6, CZ-46011 Liberec, The Czech Republic

Abstract:

Maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity of the agriculturally utilised area has a high priority in environmental policy worldwide. Temperate grasslands in Europe make an important contribution to the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes. The species and community diversity of grasslands is a result of a traditional extensive grassland management interacting with a broad range of site conditions. Until the early decades of the last century, grassland sites were hardly ameliorated and the agronomic potential was generally low, depending on the fertility of the soils. Later on the production from grassland was markedly improved by regular fertilisation, by liming and by artificial drainage of wet sites. Correspondingly, the stocking rates and the cutting frequency increased. Thus, biodiversity strongly decreased, and unimproved species-rich swards only persisted on a low percentage of the total grassland area. The preservation of the remaining species-rich grassland is a primary goal of nature conservation. The continuation of traditional ways of grassland management that would best preserve biodiversity is often not compatible with the requirements of intensive livestock production. Therefore, this grassland is at risk of being abandoned from agricultural use. There is a need to identify and develop improved management measures that better integrate biodiversity and agronomy targets of species-rich grassland farming. In addition, compensation payments for farmers are required to support grass production on species-rich swards. Apart from the unimproved species-rich grassland, there is an increasing area of now de-intensified species-poor grassland which can be managed to increase biodiversity. Grazing at a low stocking rate seems to have the potential to facilitate the restoration of diverse swards and to support reasonable individual performances of the grazing animals.

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