Floristic Composition: Dynamic Biodiversity Indicator of Tree Canopy Effect on Dryland and Improved Mediterranean Pastures

João Serrano, Shakib Shahidian, Eliana Machado, Luís L. Paniagua, Emanuel Carreira, Francisco Moral, Alfredo Pereira and Mário de Carvalho
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João Serrano: MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Shakib Shahidian: MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Eliana Machado: MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Luís L. Paniagua: Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida Adolfo Suárez, S/N, 06007 Badajoz, Spain
Emanuel Carreira: MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Francisco Moral: Departamento de Expresión Gráfica, Escuela de Ingenierías Industriales, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, S/N, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Mário de Carvalho: MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-25

Abstract: Montado is a characteristic ecosystem of the Mediterranean region. The adequate management of this silvo-pastoral ecosystem requires good understanding of the effect of factors such as tree canopy, fertilization and soil amendment on pasture growth. The main objectives of this work were: (1) to evaluate the effect of tree canopy on soil characteristics and pasture productivity and quality; and (2) to test floristic composition assessment as a bio-indicator of soil improvements (amendment and fertilization) in each study area (under and outside tree canopy). Topsoil was characterized at the beginning of the project (October 2015) and at the end of the experiments (spring 2020). Soil parameters obtained by electronic sensors (soil moisture content, soil cone index and surface temperature) were monitored monthly during the 2017/2018 pasture vegetative cycle. Pasture productivity, quality and floristic composition were evaluated every two years (2016, 2018 and 2020) in the spring flowering period. The results of the floristic inventory were submitted to a multilevel pattern analysis (Indicator Species Analysis, ISA). Pasture biodiversity was evaluated based on the calculation of richness indices. This study showed a positive effect of tree canopy on soil fertility and pasture quality (e.g., CP). Pasture productivity, on the other hand, was higher in areas outside tree canopy. The great potential of ISA as a tool for identification of bio-indicator species was also demonstrated. Pasture species were identified as ecological and dynamic attributes characteristic of each study area, before and after soil amendment and fertilization.

Keywords: Montado; soil amendment; pasture productivity and quality; botanical species; ISA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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