Apennine Natural Pasture Areas: Soil, Plant, and Livestock Interactions and Ecosystem Characterization

Antonella Fatica (), Alessio Manzo, Erika Di Iorio, Luana Circelli, Francesco Fantuz, Luca Todini, Thomas W. Crawford, Claudio Colombo and Elisabetta Salimei
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Antonella Fatica: Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Alessio Manzo: Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Erika Di Iorio: Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Luana Circelli: Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Francesco Fantuz: Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Luca Todini: Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Thomas W. Crawford: Global Agronomy, LLC, Marana, AZ 85658, USA
Claudio Colombo: Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Elisabetta Salimei: Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Grasslands and livestock are essential to support the diversity of soils, plants, and animals. This study analyzes changes that occurred from 2019 to 2022 in two protected pasture areas of the Italian Apennines, designated as UNESCO (area 1) and NATURA2000 (area 2). In each area, three sampling sites were identified and georeferenced, and the soil was studied. Forage quality and productivity were assessed from botanical and chemical perspectives using biomass samples. Adult bovine unit and grazing index were calculated. Soils, classified as Phaeozems in area 1 and Fluvisols in area 2, exhibit a weak structure with an increased risk of compaction and erosion. The height of forage species and vegetal diversity increased during the study, and variations in botanical and chemical composition were observed. Forage productivity averaged 2760 (±1380 SEM) kg DM/ha in area 1 and 3740 (±1160) kg DM/ha in area 2. Animal population declined by 11.4% in area 1 and by 1.14% in area 2, along with a decrease in the number of livestock farms. From a multidisciplinary perspective, improving management would enhance the ecosystem services of pasture areas, including promoting the role of soil as a carbon sink. The results present means of resilience to enhance cultural and naturalistic values of sites in inner Mediterranean ecosystems.

Keywords: grassland; soil degradation; soil organic carbon; grazing; inner areas; ecosystem evolution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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