Effect of grazing on the composition and floristic diversity during fallow at El-Tarf, Algeria
Keywords:
asteraceae, floristic richness, grazing intensity, herbaceous phytomass, total nitrogen
Abstract
In the El-Tarf region, located in northeastern Algeria, fallow lands are frequently used as grazing grounds for sheep flocks, where they are left all day with a significant grazing load. Limited studies conducted to assess the effects of grazing have yielded varied and sometimes contradictory results, thus underscoring the need for reliable local data. The study aims to assess the impact of grazing on the floristic richness, diversity, production, and chemical composition of fallow lands in the El-Tarf region (northeast Algeria). Measurements were taken during the optimal vegetation period from March to June over a period of 2 years (2019 and 2020). The experimental design included a single factor: grazing intensity (no grazing, moderate grazing, and intense grazing). The results indicated that grazing reduced floristic richness and diversity (Maximum Diversity, Shannon and Weaver Index, Evenness Index), but it did not have an effect on coverage. The non-grazed fallow land is richer, hosting 23 herbaceous species distributed among 8 botanical families, with the most represented being Asteraceae (39 %), followed by Poaceae (26 %). The Fabaceae, on the other hand, display a more modest representation, accounting for only 13 %.Grazing also decreased significantly the biomass and total aboveground herbaceous phytomass, with improvements noted in non-grazed conditions, recording values of 3.80 t.DM.ha-1 and 1.77 t.DM.ha-1, respectively. In addition, grazing had a significant impact on chemical composition, with the highest values recorded for moderate grazing, reaching 14.7 % for total nitrogen content and 11.66 % for mineral content.
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References
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Ojoatre, S., Barlow, J., Jacobs, S. R., & Rufino, M. C. (2024). Recovery of aboveground biomass, soil carbon stocks and species diversity in tropical montane secondary forests of East Africa. Forest Ecology and Management, 552, 121569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121569
Poorter, L., Amissah, L., Bongers, F., Hordijk, I., Kok, J., Laurance, S. G., ... & van der Sande, M. T. (2023). Successional theories. Biological Reviews, 98(6), 2049-2077. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12995
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Yé, L., Lata, J. C., Nacro, H. B., & Barot, S. (2016). Grazing Effects on Herbaceous Biomass and Chemical and Biological Soil Parameters in a Shrub Savanna in Burkina Faso. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 10(6), 2539–2554. (in French). DOI: 10.4314/ijbcs.v10i6.11
Yerou, H., Belgharbi, B., Homrani, A., Miloudi, A., & Homrani, A. (2022). Impact of restoration through enclosure on the pastoral potential of a steppe range dominated by Artemisia herba alba in western Algeria. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 34(2) Article 8. (in French). https://www.lrrd.org/lrrd34/2/3408hour.html
Yerou, H., Belgherbi, B., Slimen, I. B., & Chniter, M. (2023). Production and nutritional value of forage shrubs as feed support for meat goats: Case of Pistacia lentiscus and Calycotome spinosa in the semi-arid cork oak forest of Northwestern Algeria (in french). Livestock Research for Rural Development,35, 3, Article 25. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd35/3/3525hour.html
Zainelabdeen, Y. M., Yan, R., Xin, X., Yan, Y., Ahmed, A. I., Hou, L., & Zhang, Y. (2020). The impact of grazing on the grass composition in temperate grassland. Agronomy, 10(9), 1230. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091230
Zhang, Q., Lu, Y., Zhang, C., Yao, B., & Su, J. (2023). Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different
ages. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 12459. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39530-7
Arbouche, Y., Arbouche, R., Arbouche, H. S., Arbouche, F., & Mennani, A. (2016). Production and nutritional values of floodplain meadows in Northeast Algeria. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 28(2). (In French). http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd28/2/arbo28029.htm
Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). (1990). Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 15th edition Washington DC. https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/ibr/002/aoac.methods.1.1990.pd
Boukerker, H., Boumedjene, M.R, Doughbege, A. E, Belhouadjeb, F.A, Kherifi, W., Hecini, L & Bekiri, F. (2021). State of pastoral resources in the Algerian steppe regions: main factors of degradation and definition of preservation and rehabilitation actions. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 33(140). http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd33/12/33140hbouk.htm
Braun-Blanquet, J. (1951). Pflanzensoziologische einheiten und ihre klassifizierung. Vegetatio Acta Geobot, 126-133. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00338286
Bricarello, P. A., Longo, C., da Rocha, R. A., & Hötzel, M. J. (2023). Understanding Animal-Plant-Parasite Interactions to Improve the Management of Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Grazing Ruminants. Pathogens, 12(4), 531. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12040531
Chaher Houd, K., Chibani, K., Mebirouk-Boudechiche, L., & Matallah, S. (2020). Impact of fallow management on soil quality, floristic composition, and nutritional value in Constantine (Algeria). AFPF Days – Producing Forages Tomorrow, March 25-26.(in French. https://afpf-asso.fr/acte/journees-de-printemps-2020?acte=695
Chebli, Y., El Otmani, S., Elame, F., Moula, N., Chentouf, M., Hornick, J. L., & Cabaraux, J. F. (2021). Silvopastoral system in Morocco: Focus on their importance, strategic functions, and recent changes in the Mediterranean side. Sustainability, 13(19), 10744 . https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910744
Cherednichenko, O. V., Gavrilova, T. M., Borodulina, V. P., Zhelezova, S. D., & Elumeeva, T. G. (2021). Structure of aboveground phytomass of abandoned and managed mesic meadows in the forest zone: a case study from the Central Forest Reserve, Russia. Botany Letters, 168(2), 297-309. https://doi.org/10.1080/23818107.2021.1884899
Daget, P., & Poissonet, J. (1971). A phytological analysis method for meadows: Application criteria. Annales Agronomiques, 22, 5-41. (in French). https://agritrop.cirad.fr/537178/
Dan Gomma A., Issa S., Abasse T., & Banoin M. (2019). Effects of forage harvesting on the environment and on agro-silvo-pastoral and commercial activities in the Sahelian regions of Niger. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 13(6), 2590 2602. (in French). https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v13i6.13
Davies, K. W., Copeland, S. M., & Bates, J. D. (2022). Grazing effects on shrub induced resource islands and herbaceous vegetation heterogeneity in sagebrush-steppe communities. Global Ecology and Conservation, 35, e02106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02106
Djohy, G. L., Bouko, B. S., Dossou, P., & Yabi, J. (2022). Productivity of natural pastures and pastoral mobility practices in the context of climate change in West Africa. Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires, 10(1), 92-105. (in French). https://www.agrimaroc.org/index.php/Actes_IAVH2/article/view/1077
Dobignard A. & chatelain C. (2010/2013). Index of the Flora of North Africa. Ed. Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques, Geneva. http://www.villege.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/
El Housni, A., El Maadoudi, A.H., & Bendaou, M. (2013). Strategies for improving the nutritional value of fallow land in Morocco. Mediterranean Options, A, 108, 115-120. (in French). https://om.ciheam.org/om/pdf/a108/00007623.pdf
Godinot, O., Foray, S., Lemosquet, S., Delaby, L., & Edouard, N. (2022). From the animal to the territory, a critical look on nitrogen use efficiency of dairy cattle systems. INRAE Productions Animales, 35(1), 43-60. https://doi.org/10.20870/productions-animales.2022.35.1.5498
Hachmi, A., Andich, K., El Alaoui-Faris, F. E., & Mahyou, H. (2018). Improvement of vegetation and soil fertility in arid rangelands of Morocco through restoration and rehabilitation techniques. Revued’Ecologie, Terre et Vie, 73(4), 401-413. (in French).https://www.persee.fr/doc/revec_0249-7395_2018_num_73_4_1946
Hempson, G. P., Parr, C. L., Lehmann, C. E., & Archibald, S. (2022). Grazing lawns and overgrazing in frequently grazed grass communities. Ecolog and Evolution, 12(9), e9268. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.9268
Herrero‐Jáuregui, C., & Oesterheld, M. (2018). Effects of grazing intensity on plant richness and diversity: A meta‐analysis. Oikos, 127(6), 757-766. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.04893
Husain, M., Geelani, S. N., Mughal, A. H., Wani, A. A., & Bhat, G. M. (2019). Floristic composition of alpine grassland in Gulmarg, Kashmir. Range Management
and Agroforestry, 40(2), 188-195. https://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:rma&volume=40&issue=2&article=003
Hussain, A. (2020). The Genus Artemisia (Asteraceae): A Review on its Ethnomedicinal Prominence and Taxonomy with Emphasis on Foliar Anatomy, Morphology, and Molecular Phylogeny: Ethnomedicinal Prominence and Taxonomy of Artemisia. Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences: B. Life and Environmental Sciences, 57(1), 1-28. http://www.ppaspk.org/index.php/PPAS-B/article/view/1009/596
Matallah, S., & Abbas, K. (2015). Étude du fonctionnement du système agrosylvo-pastoral du Nord-Est algérien par une typologie. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 27(5), Article 99 (in French). http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd27/5/mata27099.html
Oikonomou, D., Vrahnakis, M., Yiakoulaki, M., Xanthopoulos, G., & Kazoglou, Y.(2023). Grazing as a Management Tool in Mediterranean Pastures: A Meta-Analysis Based on A Literature Review. Land, 12(7), 1290. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071290
Ojoatre, S., Barlow, J., Jacobs, S. R., & Rufino, M. C. (2024). Recovery of aboveground biomass, soil carbon stocks and species diversity in tropical montane secondary forests of East Africa. Forest Ecology and Management, 552, 121569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121569
Poorter, L., Amissah, L., Bongers, F., Hordijk, I., Kok, J., Laurance, S. G., ... & van der Sande, M. T. (2023). Successional theories. Biological Reviews, 98(6), 2049-2077. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12995
Sitou, M. I., Guimbo, I. D., Rabiou, H., Mahamadou, S. M., & Mahaman, M.O. (n.d.). Analysis of farmers’ criteria for assessing the palatability of spontaneous forage grasses and the functioning of natural pastures in the central-western region of Niger (Sahelian West Africa). OSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS), 14 (4), 68-80. https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-javs/papers/Vol14-issue4/Series-1/K1404016880.pdf
Yé, L., Lata, J. C., Nacro, H. B., & Barot, S. (2016). Grazing Effects on Herbaceous Biomass and Chemical and Biological Soil Parameters in a Shrub Savanna in Burkina Faso. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 10(6), 2539–2554. (in French). DOI: 10.4314/ijbcs.v10i6.11
Yerou, H., Belgharbi, B., Homrani, A., Miloudi, A., & Homrani, A. (2022). Impact of restoration through enclosure on the pastoral potential of a steppe range dominated by Artemisia herba alba in western Algeria. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 34(2) Article 8. (in French). https://www.lrrd.org/lrrd34/2/3408hour.html
Yerou, H., Belgherbi, B., Slimen, I. B., & Chniter, M. (2023). Production and nutritional value of forage shrubs as feed support for meat goats: Case of Pistacia lentiscus and Calycotome spinosa in the semi-arid cork oak forest of Northwestern Algeria (in french). Livestock Research for Rural Development,35, 3, Article 25. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd35/3/3525hour.html
Zainelabdeen, Y. M., Yan, R., Xin, X., Yan, Y., Ahmed, A. I., Hou, L., & Zhang, Y. (2020). The impact of grazing on the grass composition in temperate grassland. Agronomy, 10(9), 1230. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091230
Zhang, Q., Lu, Y., Zhang, C., Yao, B., & Su, J. (2023). Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different
ages. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 12459. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39530-7
Published
2024-03-13
How to Cite
Matallah, S., & Matallah, F. (2024). Effect of grazing on the composition and floristic diversity during fallow at El-Tarf, Algeria. Revista De La Facultad De Agronomía De La Universidad Del Zulia, 41(1), e244110. Retrieved from https://produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/agronomia/article/view/41707
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