Cattle browsing on Nothofagus antarctica saplings in Chubut province, Argentina, related to stocking rate and plant height
In northwestern Chubut province extensive cattle rearing is the main economic activity developed under ñire canopy (Nothofagus antarctica) in silvopastoral systems with a wide range of livestock stocking rates. Cattle's browsing causes damages on ñire saplings, compromises tree regeneration and...
| Published in: | Bosque (Valdivia) |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Published: |
Universidad Austral de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales.
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://revistas.uach.cl/index.php/bosque/article/view/235 https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002014000300010 |
| Summary: | In northwestern Chubut province extensive cattle rearing is the main economic activity developed under ñire canopy (Nothofagus antarctica) in silvopastoral systems with a wide range of livestock stocking rates. Cattle's browsing causes damages on ñire saplings, compromises tree regeneration and consequently woodland sustainability. In the present study, we aimed at evaluating the effects of cattle browsing on ñire tree regeneration along time, as related to stocking rate and plant height. Our study was conducted in three livestock rearing settlements in Chubut province, Argentina. Our results revealed that cattle management under low stocking rates along summer range (< 0.4 UG ha-1; livestock units ha-1) allowed saplings apex to escape browsing with a plant minimum mean height of1.6 m. Moreover, under such conditions ñire saplings can tolerate domestic herbivory with compensatory growth to recover plant structures removed by cattle. Conversely, high stocking rate (> 0.8 UG ha-1), for an extended period, determines suppressed tree regeneration with a shrubby architecture and lower growing rates. Under such conditions livestock exclusions are needed for at least 20 years to allow regeneration recover. It is possible to make compatible livestock production with woodland persistence by managing low cattle stocking rates and monitoring saplings height. En el noroeste de la provincia de Chubut, la ganadería de cría bovina extensiva es la principal actividad productiva, y se desarrolla principalmente bajo el dosel del ñire (Nothofagus antarctica) en sistemas silvopastoriles con diferentes niveles de carga ganadera. El ganado bovino provoca daños por ramoneo sobre los renovales de ñire que compromete la regeneración y la sustentabilidad del bosque. El presente estudio evaluó el efecto del ramoneo bovino sobre la regeneración natural de ñire a lo largo del tiempo en relación a la carga ganadera y la altura de las plantas. El estudio se realizó entre los años 2005 y 2011 en tres establecimientos ganaderos de la ... |
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