Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

login


[close window] [previous abstract] [next abstract]

Ernst P. (1991) The influence of winter goose grazing on dry-matter yields of grassland in North-Rhine-Westphalia. ARDEA 79 (2): 187-190
Since 1982/83 the Institute for Ecology, Landscape Development and Forest Planning North-Rhine-Westphalia (LOLF NW) has been carrying out goose grazing tests on grassland in the Nether-Rhine region. The effects of grazing on the grassland yield is established by measuring the dry matter yield in the following growing season during the first three cuts up to about mid-July. No significant influence on yield was detected with grazing intensities of 500 and 1500 goose-days per hectare (GD/ha). With 3000 and 6000 GD/ha significant reductions of approximately 10% and 20% respectively were recorded during the first cut. No effects on yield could be established during subsequent cuts. Additional irrigation on grazed areas during February resulted in further yield reduction during the first cut with 3000 GD/ha upwards only. Neither grazing period (December, January and February), nor the varying grazing frequency showed significant effect on the yield. There was a connection between the amount of yield reduction with 3000 GD/ha and the growth conditions during March and April: if favourable growth conditions prevailed, higher yield reductions were established.


[close window] [previous abstract] [next abstract]