Effects of different clipping intensities on above- and below-ground production in simulated herbaceous plant communities

• Published in: Plant biosystems Vol. 150; no. 3; pp. 468 - 476
• Main Authors: Herrero-Jáuregui, C., Schmitz, M.F., Pineda, F.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03.05.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Environmental gradient; Factorial experiments; grazing pressure; Herbivores; Mediterranean pastures; plant diversity
• ISSN: 1126-3504; 1724-5575
• DOI: 10.1080/11263504.2014.965800

We studied the effect of clipping on above- and below-ground production in different plant communities through a factorial experiment. We designed five pasture systems with different species composition, perennials/annuals ratio and soil water availability, recreating different altitudinal locations, and simulated a gradient of grazing intensity by clipping with different heights and frequencies. Response patterns of above- and below-ground production were similar, increasing with the higher clipping frequency and decreasing with altitude. These results suggest that high grazing intensity stimulate above-ground production, but only in certain situations of species composition, density, diversity, perennials/annuals ratio and water availability. This stimulus, however, is unsustainable over time, and the lower clipping frequencies are those that favour the maintenance of production.