放牧管理策略

放牧管理者面临的挑战是如何平衡家畜生产与草地的其他价值,这些价值包括野生动物资源以及那些感觉不到的其他方面的价值.许多的这些价值受到放牧管理的影响,放牧后植物的残留数量是十分重要的.植物残留物增加枯枝落叶库的大小,对草地生态系统有重要作用.枯枝落叶影响植物生长和群落结构,进而影响食草动物.或许,重要的一点是枯枝落叶使得系统稳定,促进生产循环.因此,需要寻找植物被移走和保留之间的平衡,其结果可以通过家畜生产和生态系统的健康反映.

Grazing management-a balancing act

The challenge facing grazing managers is a balance livestock output with other values. Some values may include wildlife resources while others may be as intangible as a feeling of security in the knowledge that there will be forage for grazing next year. Many of these values are affected by grazing management through plant residue left after the grazing season. Plant residue is added to the litter pool which has significant impacts on the function of the grassland ecosystem. Litter affects plant growth and community structure. It affects herbivory. Perhaps most important, litter introduces stability into the production cycle. Therefore, the balancing act is between the amount of grass taken and the amount of grass left; the consequences are reflected in livestock output and health of the ecosystem.