Submitted by Gabriela Lopes (gmachadolopesufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-03-07T16:24:31Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação FINAL 3.pdf: 3130600 bytes, checksum: cc7a0deac92b5c66e5e7a17046de48cd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-03-09T20:34:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação FINAL 3.pdf: 3130600 bytes, checksum: cc7a0deac92b5c66e5e7a17046de48cd (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-09T20:34:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação FINAL 3.pdf: 3130600 bytes, checksum: cc7a0deac92b5c66e5e7a17046de48cd (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-03 / Os serviços ecossistêmicos (SEs) são considerados os benefícios que as pessoas recebem da natureza como qualidade da água e provisão de alimentos. A valoração como forma de subsídio ao pagamento por estes serviços pode auxiliar na mitigação dos fatores de degradação de um dos ecossistemas campestres mais importantes do mundo, os campos naturais do Pampa. O objetivo deste trabalho é adaptar à realidade deste bioma a metodologia TESSA (Toolkit for Ecossistem Service – Site-based Assessment) que é um conjunto de ferramentas que avalia e monitora os SEs com baixo investimento. O estudo foi realizado em duas propriedades certificadas pela Alianza del Pastizal no município de Lavras do Sul, RS, Brasil, sendo uma denominada de Conservada (CO) e a outra Em Recuperação (ER). A pesquisa quantitativa foi feita através da coleta de amostras de biodiversidade, massa de forragem e de solo, deformadas e indeformadas, nas profundidades de 0 - 5cm, 5 - 10cm e 10 -20 cm, em três transectas em toposequência (topo, encosta e baixada). A pesquisa qualitativa sobre os principais SEs e suas importâncias foi aplicada em pesquisadores da Embrapa Pecuária Sul e produtores do Sindicato Rural de Lavras do Sul na forma de workshops. Todos os dados foram submetidos a análise de componentes principais (ACP) e os dados de Estoque de Carbono e Valoração Econômica foram determinados por uma análise de duas vias seguida de pós teste de Bonferroni (p<0,05). Os testes de ACP foram feitos com as médias de cada toposequência com os resultados de cobertura absoluta das espécies encontradas, solo descoberto, altura, massa de forragem, carbono orgânico, densidade do solo, Ph, H+Al, alumínio, cálcio, magnésio, fósforo, potássio e Índice de Shannon e Pielou. Os resultados geraram 5 componentes principais, na qual o componente principal 1 explicou 99,6 % dos resultados, com os índices de massa de forragem e altura da pastagem, mostrando a correlação direta da conservação dos serviços ecossistêmicos com o histórico de uso destas áreas. Os resultados qualitativos mostraram que dentre os principais SEs percebidos pelos produtores e pesquisadores estão ambiente nativo, qualidade da água, qualidade da carne, modo de vida e beleza cênica, com exceção do carbono que foi citado apenas pelos pesquisadores. Como principais ameaças à conservação da biodiversidade estão sucessão familiar, infraestrutura, reforma agrária, ações do governo e a presença de espécies invasoras. No teor de COS na camada de 20 cm do solo foi encontrada diferença significativa tanto entre as duas propriedades como entre as toposequências. Os resultados transformados em dólares no mercado voluntário possibilitaram chegar à valores médios de U$ 359,32.ha-1 (74,85 ton.ha-1 CO2 equivalente x U$4,8) para CO e U$ 250,38.ha-1 para o ER. O mercado de carbono é voluntário, portanto seu valor poderá ser “qualquer valor acordado”, mas sua utilidade está em demonstrar as diferenças entre as áreas estudadas. A diferença de valores entre as duas propriedades é de U$108,94. As políticas públicas devem ser norteadas a partir das ameaças percebidas. O teor de C org dos campos naturais nas propriedades analisadas está atrelado ao histórico e manejo pecuário adotado. Os dados indicam que estes ecossistemas com boas práticas de manejo contêm estoques importantes de COS e, portanto, sua conservação é relevante para a mitigação das mudanças climáticas. Sugere-se, neste trabalho, que os valores para projetos de pagamento pelos serviços ecossistêmicos prestados por estes produtores pecuários seja ou pela diferença do Estoque de Carbono ou pela diferença entre o custo de oportunidade do arrendamento da terra, de U$ 140, comparado com alternativas produtivas de maior rentabilidade. / The ecosystem services are considered the benefits which the people got from nature. The evaluation of this services can aid in the mitigation of the factors of degradation from one of grasslands ecosystems more important of the world, the natural fields of Pampa. This work aims to adapt this biome into the reality to the methodology TESSA (Toolkit for Ecossistem Service – Site-based Assessment) a set of tools that acess and monitor ES, with low investment. For this purpose were chosen two certificated farms by Alianza del Pastizal in Lavras do Sul city, RS, Brazil. The amount was done through of samples of biodiverty, forage mass and soil, unshaped and shaped,in the depth of 0 - 5cm, 5 - 10cm e 10 -20 cm in two farms, called of Preserved (P) and in Recovering (R). They were chosen three transects on toposequence (top, encost and low), open trenches and collected. The qualitative research was done with researches from Embrapa Pecuária Sul and livestocks farmers from the Rural Sindicate of Lavras do Sul I the way of workshops were day pointed the main ES and graduated the importance. All data were subimited to Analysis of the Main Components (AMC) and the data of carbon stock and Economic Evaluation were determinated by an analysis of two ways followed by posttest of Bonferroni (p<0,05). The test of AMC with average from each toposequence with the results of absolute covering of each species found, uncovered soil, hight, forage mass, organic carbon, soil density, Ph, H + Al, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and Shannon and Pielou index had as result the main component 1 that explained 99,6% of the results, with the forage mass index and hight of grassland, showing the direct correlation of conservation of environmental services with the good practices of management in this ecosystem. The qualitative results showed that among the main ES noticed by farmers and researches are native environment, water quality, meet quality, way of life and the beauty of landscape, except the carbon, that wasn’t mentioned by farmers. As main threats to the conservation of biodiversity are the familiar succession, infrastructure, land reform, governmental actions and presence of invader species. The carbon organic amount in the layer of 20cm of soil was found significate difference either between the two farms or between the topo sequences. The results turned in to dollars in the volunteer market made possible to get to the average values of U$ 359,00 to the preserved grasslands and U$ 250,00. The carbon market is volunteer, therefore its value might be “any dealt value” but its utility is in demonstrate the differences between two farms studied. The difference of values between two farms is of U$ 108,00. The public policies must be led since from the threats noticed. The amount of organic carbon of natural grasslands in the farms analyzed is engaged to the historical and management livestock adopted. The data indicate that these ecosystems with good livestock management have good important stocks, therefore its conservation is relevant to the mitigation of climate changes. It is suggested in this paper that the values for the ecosystem service payment projects provided by these livestock farmers are or the Carbon Stock (U$ 108,00) of the difference or the difference between the opportunity cost of the land lease, from U$ 140, compared with production of more profitable alternatives.

Le charbon de bois (biochar), est un amendement qui améliore les propriétés physico-chimiques du sol, augmente le stockage du carbone et les productions agricoles. Les anciens sites de production de charbon permettent d'évaluer son impact directement sur le terrain et sur le long terme. Dans les Alpes italiennes on a échantillonné une série de charbonnières daté de 1858 ainsi que les sols de prairies adjacents, ne contenant pas de charbon. 80±21% du carbone provenant de la production du charbon est toujours présent dans le sol et a un temps de résidence moyen de 650±139 ans. Le contenu des nutriments et leur biodisponibilité sont plus élevés dans les charbonnières par rapport à la prairie alentour et, sont plus élevés aujourd'hui qu'en 1858. L'ajout de charbon apporte des nutriments au sol, mais à court terme les ions Ca2+, K+, SO42- et Mg2+ sont lixiviés sous forme de cendres. Le charbon s'avère capable de retenir les dépositions atmosphériques de PO43-, NH4+, NO3- et, sur le long terme, de K+. L'augmentation du contenu en nutriments, la diminution de l'hydrophobie et de la densité apparente du sol augmentent la productivité et la valeur nutritionnelle des espèces alpines fourragères (Festuca nugrescens Lam. et Trifolium pratense L.). La croissance des plantes est limitée par l'azote sur les charbonnière et par le phosphore dans les prairies non-amendés ou amendés récemment. Nous concluons que le charbon/biochar peut être une stratégie pour stocker le carbone dans les sols, augmenter la production de biomasse et la qualité du fourrage des prairies Alpines à long terme. Toutefois les opérations d'enfouissement peuvent être complexes à cause de la géomorphologie des Alpes. / Charcoal or biochar is proposed as a soil amendment to improve physio-chemical soil properties, increase soil carbon (C) stocks and agricultural yields. Ancient charcoal hearths provide an opportunity to investigate its impact under field conditions and in the long term. A series of charcoal hearths and adjacent charcoal-free soils under grassland in the Italian Alps abandoned in 1858 was sampled.80±21% of the C originating from ancient charcoal is still present in the soil today and has a Mean Residence Time of 650±139 years. The content of total and available nutrients is higher in the hearths soils compared to the surrounding grasslands and it is higher today compared to 1858. The input of charcoal directly adds nutrients to soils but Ca2+, K+, SO42- and Mg2+ are leached in the short term after application, as they are lost in the form of ashes. Charcoal is able to retain atmospheric depositions of PO43-, NH4+, NO3- and in the long term K+.The increase in soil nutrient content and decreases in hydrophobicity and bulk density translated into higher plant growth and nutritional values of two alpine fodder species (Festuca nigrescens Lam. and Trifolium pratense L.). Plant growth was N-limited in the charcoal hearths soils and P-limited in the surrounding grasslands not amended or recently amended with charcoal/biochar.We can conclude that charcoal/biochar is a long term strategy to store carbon in soils, improve biomass productivity and fodder quality in alpine grasslands. However charcoal/biochar incorporation into soil can be complex because of the geomorphology of the Alps.

It is imperative to understand the strong coupling between the carbon capture process and water use to sustainably manage rangelands. Woody encroachment is undermining rangelands grass production. Evapotranspiration (ET) highlights the links between ecosystem carbon capture process and water use. It forms the biggest flux of the hydrological cycle after precipitation yet it is not well understood. The Grassland and the Albany Thicket (AT) biomes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, provide an interesting space to study the dynamics in rangelands biomass production and the associated water use. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to contribute towards management of rangelands by understanding the dynamics in rangeland grass production and water use. To achieve this aim, the impact of Acacia mearnsii, an invasive alien plant, on soil chemical properties and rangelands grass production was investigated. This was achieved by analysing the biophysical attributes of A. mearnsii as they related to grass production. Secondly, selected soil variables that could be used as a prognosis for landscape recovery or deterioration were evaluated. In addition, aboveground grass biomass was measured in areas cleared of A. mearnsii and regression equations were prepared to help model aboveground grass biomass in areas cleared of A. mearnsi. The thesis also explored dynamics in water vapour and energy fluxes in these two biomes using an eddy covariance system. Consequently, water vapour and energy fluxes were evaluated in order to understand landscape water use and energy partitioning in the landscape. The study also tested the application of Penman-Monteith equation based algorithms for estimating ET with micrometeorological techniques used for validation. Pursuant to this, the Penman- Monteith-Leuning (PML) and Penman-Monteith-Palmer (PMP) equations were applied. In addition, some effort was devoted to improving the estimates of ET from the PMP by incorporating a direct soil evaporation component. Finally, the influence of local changes in catchment characteristics on ET was explored through the application of a variant of the Budyko framework and investigating dynamics in the evaporative index as well as applying tests for trends and shifts on ET and rainfall data to detect changes in mean quaternary catchment rainfall and ET. Results revealed that A. mearnsii affected soil chemical properties and impaired grass production in rangelands. Hence, thinning of canopies provided an optimal solution for enhanced landscape water use to sequestrate carbon, provide shade, grazing, and also wood fuel. It was also shown that across sites, ET was water limited since differences between reference ET and actual ET were large. ET was largely sensitive to vapour pressure deficit and surface conductance than to net radiation, indicating that the canopies were strongly coupled with the boundary layer. Rangeland ET was successfully simulated and evaporation from the soil was the dominant flux, hence there is scope for reducing the so-called ‘unproductive’ water use. Further, it was shown that the PML was better able to simulate ET compared to the PMP model as revealed by different model evaluation metrics such as the root mean square error, absolute mean square error and the root mean square observations standard deviation ratio. The incorporation of a soil evaporation component in the PMP model improved estimates of ET as revealed by the root mean square error. The results also indicated that both the catchment parameter (w) and the evaporative index were important in highlighting the impacts of land cover change on ET. It was also shown that, despite changes in the local environment such as catchment characteristics, global forces also affected ET at a local scale. Overall, the study demonstrated that combining remote sensing and ground based observations was important to better understand rangeland grass production and water use dynamics.

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido na Estação Experimental do INIA La Estanzuela, em Colonia del Sacramento – Uruguai, de novembro de 2015 a março de 2017, com o objetivo de avaliar os parâmetros relacionados à produção e qualidade de sementes da espécie Paspalum notatum INIA Sepé. Buscou-se o entendimento dos componentes do rendimento de sementes frente a distintos níveis de fertilização nitrogenada e manejo de cortes. Foi utilizado o delineamento de blocos completamente casualizados com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de quatro doses de fertilização nitrogenada (0, 75, 150 e 225 kg de N.ha-1) e três momentos de corte: corte precoce, corte tardio e sem corte, formando um arranjo fatorial 4x3. O padrão para realização do corte foi a fração da radiação fotossinteticamente ativa interceptada pelas plantas (50% para corte precoce e 80% para corte tardio). Para cada ano de estudo foram utilizados distintos locais dentro da mesma estação experimental a fim de avaliar a produção de sementes de plantas com idade similar (3 anos de idade), os quais foram denominados ambiente 2016 e ambiente 2017, sendo que no ambiente 2016 ocorreu maior deficiência hídrica no solo A aplicação de N possibilitou o incremento na massa de forragem, teor de proteína bruta, índice de nutrição nitrogenada e no número de perfilhos. A máxima produtividade de sementes alcançada situou-se próxima de 1000 kg.ha-1, rendimento atingido com 150 kg de N.ha-1 no ambiente 2016 e na dose 75 no ambiente 2017. Tal produtividade foi obtida com a realização de duas colheitas anuais, que foi possibilitada com a utilização de corte precoce e sem corte. Com o uso de corte tardio, por outro lado, foi possível a realização de apenas uma colheita anual, o que determinou menor rendimento total de sementes, porém possibilitou maior rendimento em apenas uma colheita. Com relação ao potencial germinativo das sementes, observamos que em situações de déficit hídrico, as plantas com suprimento de N comprometem a qualidade de sementes e favorecem o crescimento vegetativo, no caso de colheitas precoces. Por outro lado, a germinação foi melhorada quando aplicado nitrogênio associado ao corte tardio. Dessa forma, conclui-se que o ecótipo Paspalum notatum INIA Sepé possui bom rendimento de sementes, o qual é positivamente influenciado pela fertilização nitrogenada e aplicação de corte precoce. / The present work was developed at the INIA La Estanzuela Experimental Station, in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, from November 2015 to March 2017, with the objective of evaluating the parameters related to the production and quality of seeds of the specie Paspalum notatum INIA Sepé. We aimed understanding of the components of the seed yield under different levels of nitrogen fertilization and cutting management. A completely randomized block design with four replications was used. The treatments consisted of twelve factorial combinations of nitrogen fertilization doses (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg of N.ha-1) and three cutting times: early cut, late cut and no cut, totaling a factorial arrangement 4x3. The standard for cutting was the fraction of the photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the plants (50% for early cutting and 80% for late cutting). For each year of study, different locations were used within the same experimental station in order to evaluate the seed production of plants with similar age (3 years old), which were named environment 2016 and environment 2017, wherein in the environment 2016 occurred greater soil water deficit The application of N promoted the increase in forage mass, crude protein content, nitrogen nutrition index and the number of tillers. The maximum seed yield reached was close to 1000 kg.ha-1, yield reached with 150 kg of N.ha-1 in the environment 2016 and at dose 75 in the environment 2017. Such productivity was obtained by performing two harvests annually, which was possible by the use of early cutting and uncut treatments. However, with late cutting was possible to perform only one annual harvest, which resulted in lower total seed yield, but with a higher yield in only one harvest. Regarding to the seed germination, we observed that in situations of water deficit, plants with N supply compromise their seed quality in detriment of vegetative growth in the case of early harvests. On the other hand, the germination was improved when N was associated with late cut. In this way, we concluded that Paspalum notatum INIA Sepé ecotype has a good seed yield, which is positively influenced by nitrogen fertilization and early cut application.

Die Futterpflanzen Kaukasischer Klee und Futterchicorée wurden als Reinsaat und in Gemenge mit einer Grünlandmischung auf zwei Standorten in Sachsen auf ihre Anbaueignung und ihren Futterwert untersucht. Der Kaukasische Klee überdauert Trockenstressphasen sehr gut, ist absolut winterfest und weist einen teilweise überdurchschnittlichen Gehalt an wertgebenden Inhaltstoffen auf. Dem stehen eine niedrige Keimfähigkeit und schwierige Etablierung eines Pflanzenbestandes mit geringem Ertrag entgegen. Der Kaukasische Klee ist in seiner Anbaueignung stark eingeschränkt und für sächsische Standortbedingungen wenig geeignet. Der Futterchicorée lässt sich leicht etablieren, zeichnet sich durch rasches Massenwachstum aus und überdauert Trockenstress ebenfalls gut. Er ist gekennzeichnet durch einen teilweise überdurchschnittlichen Gehalt an wertgebenden Inhaltsstoffen, seine Nutzungsmöglichkeiten sind aber durch den geringen Trockensubstanzgehalt eingeschränkt. Der Futterchicorée ist zum Anbau als Futterpflanze in Sachsen geeignet, es deuten sich insbesondere Möglichkeiten der Nutzung als Gemengepartner von Grünlandmischungen an.

Factors determining distribution of species in semi-natural grasslands Survival and colonization of plant species in fragmented landscapes are topic of many recent studies. Most of them deal with one or just a few species or with overall species diversity. There are also a lot of studies devoted to the effect of abiotic characteristics and other parameters of fragmented habitat patches. Studies that would enable to evaluate behaviour of a large number of individual species are still relatively rare, especially in case of grassland species. Comparison of species traits in conjunction with the knowledge of type of historical land use and abiotic requirements of species can be a key to understanding of current species dispersal and their regional dynamic in fragmented landscape. This method of prediction of species dispersal can be a good implement for landscape planning and conservation of species and also their habitats. Goal of my thesis was to determine which traits of species influence response of species on land-use history in fragmented habitat of dry grasslands. I tried to use effect of land-use history without effect of environmental factors on species composition in phytosociological relevés. Then I tried to explain the reaction of species through their traits. I focused partially on traits...

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Pasture Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Bush encroachment is a major problem in arid and semi-arid savannas characterized by a grass layer interspersed with a shrub stratum. Land cover change as a result of rapid proliferation of woody species in previously open rangelands alters herbaceous species and impacts soil properties. So far, little is known about the threshold at which woody plant density and cover affects herbaceous cover and the underlying mechanisms driving bush encroachment in arid and semi-arid rangelands are still debated. The objectives of this dissertation were to (1) to assess woody species composition and structure along an encroachment gradient and to explore the relationship between woody vegetation and herbaceous vegetation. (2) To determine the effect of increasing tree density and cover on grass species richness, diversity, evenness and selected soil nutrients in a bush encroached rangeland. In order to address these objectives, a semi-arid rangeland was demarcated into three encroachment gradients spanning from open to intermediate and intensive. Within each encroachment gradient six plots of 10 m x 10 m were randomly selected, whereby woody and herbaceous vegetation were assessed and soil properties determined. A discernible increase in woody species diversity and evenness was found along the transition from open to intensive bush encroached rangeland. Leguminous woody species Vachellia spp. and Dichrostachys cinerea were dominant along the bush encroachment gradient. Tree height was found to be positively correlated with long crown diameter (LCD) and short crown diameter (SCD). Furthermore, increasing tree density resulted in a 53% decline in grass species richness (GR). A decline in GR mirrored an increase in the composition of the decreaser species Panicum maximum (90%). Increasing woody plant density and cover also increased macro-nutrients; total carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, exchangeable calcium and magnesium by 21%-159% in the shallow rangeland soils. Such quantitative information will assist rangeland managers to better understand the effects of varying bush encroachment intensities on herbaceous species composition, richness and soil properties in semi-arid savanna rangelands.

No description available.

Range improvements for livestock were analyzed for the Curlew National Grassland and Saddle Creek Allotment. Increases in aum's which were a result of range improvements were calculated and valued at $4.00 each. Internal rates of return for both study areas were computed with a 15-year project life span for estimated grazing capacity and permitted grazing. Rate of return was then set at 10 percent to calculate project life span for both permitted grazing and estimated grazing capacity for the two areas. Effects of range improvements for livestock on wildlife habitat were studied. Due to a lack of quantitative data, values could not be placed upon benefits and detriments which improvements for livestock had on wildlife. Positive and negative effects which range improvements for livestock had on wildlife are given for both study areas. An alternative grazing policy is suggested for both study areas. Internal rates of return for permitted grazing are calculated for a 15-year project life span. Internal rate of return was then set at 10 percent to calculate project life span necessary to provide that rate of return.

No description available.