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A methodology for assessing the impact of cattle grazing on soil properties, water quality and quantity, plant and invertebrates diversity
Fučík, P. ; Zemek, František ; Hakrová, P. ; Svobodová, M. ; Zajíček, A. ; Šlachta, M. ; Pikl, Miroslav ; Duffková, R. ; Mrkvička, J. ; Bystřický, V. ; Procházka, J. ; Skalický, M. ; Holubík, O. ; Moravcová, J. ; Novotný, Jan ; Skalická, J. ; Peterková, J. ; Musil, M. ; Šantrůček, J. ; Matoušková, V. ; Brom, J. ; Hanuš, Jan ; Novotná, K. ; Huislová, P.
This methodology introduces the approaches for assessment of soil, water, plant, forage and invertebrates characteristics of pastures as influenced by cattle grazing. These parameters are necessary to observe and evaluate in order to set the optimal grazing management of pastures for support of the sustainable land use and for mitigating the negative impacts of agriculture on the environment. Moreover, the proper management of pastures enables to improve livestock welfare, market challenges of foods, and strenghten and diversify various activities in rural areas. For the assessment of grazing-induced changes of aforementioned parameters, the focus is oriented towards different pasture geomorphological / hillslope zones, where grazing may exhibit in a distinct manner. The approaches are postponed based on literature survey as well as on knowledge acquired during a multi-branch research project. The methodology shows the principles for monitoring and evaluation of parameters regarding soil physics and chemistry, water quality and quantity, plant diversity and forage quality and ecology of selected invertebrate species. Beside this, approaches for application and interpretation of remote sensing methods and tools for detecting the changes in plant and soil pasture characteristics are introduced and discussed. The methodics is targeted on one hand for specialist from state administration offices (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of the Environment) as a background for evaluation of the effectiveness of subsidy programmes focused on grazing management. On the other hand, the approaches described in the methodics can serve the experts for an integrated assessment of grazing management on various pasture parameters or on the environment. The novelty of the methodics lies in the multi-level approach, which enables to assess the pasture parameters both individually or jointly, according to their mutual interrelatons and possible driving factors.
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