Testing rehabilitation strategies for arid rangelands
Keywords:
forage grasses, plant density, vegetation recovery, degraded areas, Arid ChacoAbstract
Overgrazing by domestic cattle has caused loss of plant diversity and primary productivity in rangelands of the Arid Chaco (Argentina). The objective of our study was to evaluate a number of rehabilitation strategies that might increase the density of forage grasses in an overgrazed rangeland in this region. Based on the hypothesis that soil compaction, lack of seeds and litter cover constrain plant establishment we performed a field factorial experiment, that combined soil pitting, seed addition and the combined effect of competition release and litter addition. During four years, we evaluated seedling and plant density of added grasses and all forage grasses. Seed addition was the only factor that increased seedling and plant density, with Pappophorum spp. and P. philippianum accounting for the main variation in seedling and plant density, respectively. During the third year (a dry year), there was 70-80% decrease in plant density in all treatments, although the differences due to the addition of seeds was still apparent. Our results suggest that, in addition to adverse climatic conditions, the lack of seeds in the soil bank restricts the recovery of overgrazed rangelands in the Arid Chaco. Pappophorum philippianum seems to be a promising species for the rehabilitation of these rangelands.
References
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CALL, CA & BA ROUNDY. 1991. Perspectives and processes in revegetation of arid and semiarid rangelands. Journal of Range Management 44:543-549.
COLE, I; ID LUNT & T KOEN. 2005. Effects of sowing treatment and landscape position on establishment of the perennial tussock grass Themeda triandra (Poaceae) in degraded eucalyptus woodlands in southeastern Australia. Restoration Ecology 13:552-561.
DAUBENMIRE, R. 1959. A canopy-coverage method of vegetation analysis. Northwest Science 33:43–65.
DE SOUZA MAIA, M; FC MAIA & MA PÉREZ. 2006. Bancos de semillas en el suelo. Agriscientia 23:33-44.
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FOWLER, NL. 1986. Microsite requeriments for germination and establishment of three grass especies. American Midland Naturalist 115:131-145.
GOLDBERG, D & A NOVOPLANSKY. 1997. On the relative importance of competition in unproductive environments. The Journal of Ecology 85:4.9-418.
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HANDA, IT; R HARMSEN & RL JEFFERIES. 2002. Patterns of vegetation change and the recovery potential of degraded areas in a coastal marsh system of the Hudson Bay lowlands. Journal of Ecology 90:86-99.
HARETCHE, F & C RODRÍGUEZ. 2006. Banco de semillas de un pastizal uruguayo bajo diferentes condiciones de pastoreo. Ecología Austral 16:105-113.
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HYDER, PW; EL FREDRICKSON; RE ESTELL & ME LUCERO. 2002. Transport of phenolic compounds from leaf surface of creosotebush and tarbush to soil surface by precipitation. Journal of Chemical Ecology 28:2475-2482.
LITTELL, RC; GA MILLIKEN; WW STROUP & RD WOLFINGER. 1996. SAS for mixed models. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA.
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MARONE, L; BE ROSSI & J LÓPEZ DE CASENAVE. 1998b. Granivore impact on soil-seed reserves in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Functional Ecology 12:640-645.
MARONE, L; ME HORNO & R GONZÁLEZ DEL SOLAR. 2000. Post-dispersal fate of seeds in the Monte desert of Argentina: patterns of germination in successive wet and dry years. Journal of Ecology 88:940-949.
MCKAY, JK; CE CHRISTIAN; S HARRISON & K RICE. 2005. “How local is local?” A review of practical and conceptual issues in the genetics of restoration. Restoration Ecology 13:432-440.
MORELLO, JH; J PROTOMASTRO; LA SANCHOLUZ & C BLANCO. 1985. Estudio macroecológico de Los Llanos de La Rioja. Serie del cincuentenario de la Administración de Parques Nacionales 5:1-53.
O ́CONNOR, TG & GA PICKETT. 1992. The influence of grazing on seed production and seed banks of some African savannas grasslands. Journal of Applied Ecology 29:247-260.
OESTERHELD, M; J LORETI; M SEMMARTIN & OE SALA. 2001. Inter-annual variation in primary production of a semi-arid grassland related to previous-year production. Journal of Vegetation Science 12:137-142.
PASSERA, CB; O BORSETTO; RJ CANDIA & CR STASI. 1992. Shrub control and seeding influences on grazing capacity in Argentina. Journal of Range Management 45:480-482.
PETRUZZI, HJ; NP STRIZLER; EO ADEMA; CM FERRI & JP PAGELLA. 2003. Mijo Perenne. Publicación Técnica No 51 de la EEA Anguil. Ediciones INTA.
PROHASCA, FJ. 1959. El polo de calor de América del Sur. IDIA 141:27-30.
RAGONESE, AE & JC CASTIGLIONI. 1970. La vegetación del Parque Chaqueño. Sociedad Argentina de Botánica 11:133-160.
READER, RJ & BJ BEST. 1989. Variation in competition along an environmental gradient: Hieracium floribundum in an Abandoned Pasture. Journal of Ecology 77:673-684.
SAS INSTITUTE. 1996. SAS/STAT software: changes and enhancements through Release 6.11. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA.
SNYMAN, HA. 2003. Revegetation of bare patches in a semi-arid rangeland of South Africa: an evaluation of various techniques. Journal of Arid Environments 55:417-432.
STEBBINS, GL. 1981. Coevolution of grasses and herbivores. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 68:75-86.
SUDING, KN; KL GROSS & GR HOUSEMAN. 2004. Alternative states and positive feedbacks in restoration ecology. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 19:46-53.
VAN DEN BERG, L & K KELNER. 2005. Restoring degraded patches in a semi-arid rangeland of South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 61:497-511.
VILLALBA, R & TT VEBLEN. 1998. Influences of large-scale climatic variability on episodic tree mortality in northern Patagonia. Ecology 79:2624-2640.
WESTOBY, M; B WALKER & I NOY-MEIR. 1989. Opportunistic management for rangelands not at equilibrium. Journal of Range Management 42:266-274.
WISLEY, BJ & HW POLLEY. 2001. Effects of seed additions and grazing history on diversity and productivity of subhumid grasslands. Ecology 84:920-931.
XIONG, S & C NILSSON. 1999. The effects of plant litter on vegetation: a meta-analysis. Journal of Ecology 87:984-994.
ZULETA, GA; MC LI PUMA & A BUSTAMANTE LEIVA. 2003. Initial effects of branching designs to restore semiarid shrub steppes in abandoned oil and gas locations of Patagonia, Argentina. 15th Annual International Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration, Austin, Texas, USA.
ANDERSON, DL; JA DEL AGUILA; A MARCHI; JC VERA; EL ORIONTE ET AL. 1980. Manejo del pastizal natural y producción ganadera. Parte 1. Páginas 1-61. Editorial INTA. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
BERTILLER, MB. 1992. Seasonal variation in the seed bank of a Patagonian grassland in relation to grazing and topography. Journal of Vegetation Science 3:47-54.
BIURRUN, FN. 1988. La Región de Los Llanos. El deterioro del Ambiente en la Argentina. Fundación para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
BLANCO, LJ; CA FERRANDO; FN BIURRUN; EL ORIONTE; P NAMUR ET AL. 2005. Vegetation responses to roller chopping and buffelgrass seeding in Argentina. Rangeland Ecology and Management 58:219-224.
BLANCO, LJ; MO AGUILERA; FN BIURRUN & JM PARUELO. 2008. Grazing effect on NDVI across an aridity gradient in Argentina. Journal of Arid Environments 72:764-776.
CABIDO, M; C GONZÁLEZ; A ACOSTA & S DÍAZ. 1993. Vegetation changes along a precipitation gradient in Central Argentina. Vegetatio 109:5-14.
CALL, CA & BA ROUNDY. 1991. Perspectives and processes in revegetation of arid and semiarid rangelands. Journal of Range Management 44:543-549.
COLE, I; ID LUNT & T KOEN. 2005. Effects of sowing treatment and landscape position on establishment of the perennial tussock grass Themeda triandra (Poaceae) in degraded eucalyptus woodlands in southeastern Australia. Restoration Ecology 13:552-561.
DAUBENMIRE, R. 1959. A canopy-coverage method of vegetation analysis. Northwest Science 33:43–65.
DE SOUZA MAIA, M; FC MAIA & MA PÉREZ. 2006. Bancos de semillas en el suelo. Agriscientia 23:33-44.
DIEZ, HA; HF CALELLA; JC PEREZ; G PIGNATA; G BRONSTEIN ET AL. 1991. Acuerdo federal para el desarrollo rural del Chaco Árido. Documento Proyecto. Consejo Federal de Inversiones.
FOWLER, NL. 1986. Microsite requeriments for germination and establishment of three grass especies. American Midland Naturalist 115:131-145.
GOLDBERG, D & A NOVOPLANSKY. 1997. On the relative importance of competition in unproductive environments. The Journal of Ecology 85:4.9-418.
GÓMEZ, JC; HP CALELLA; RR CORZO & AA REYNOSO. 1993. Mapa de las subregiones de vegetación y suelo del Chaco Árido de La Rioja. Proyecto de Desarrollo Rural Integral de Los Llanos. Consejo Federal de Inversiones.
GONZÁLEZ, CL & JD DODD. 1979. Production responses of native and introduced grasses to mechanical brush manipulation, seeding, and fertilization. Journal of Range Management 32:305-309.
HANDA, IT & RL JEFFERIES. 2000. Assisted revegetation trials in degraded salt-marshes of the Hudson Bay lowlands. Journal of Applied Ecology 37:944-958.
HANDA, IT; R HARMSEN & RL JEFFERIES. 2002. Patterns of vegetation change and the recovery potential of degraded areas in a coastal marsh system of the Hudson Bay lowlands. Journal of Ecology 90:86-99.
HARETCHE, F & C RODRÍGUEZ. 2006. Banco de semillas de un pastizal uruguayo bajo diferentes condiciones de pastoreo. Ecología Austral 16:105-113.
HOLMGREN, M; M SCHEFFER; E EZCURRA; JR GUTIERREZ & GMJ MOHREN. 2001. El Niño effects on the dynamics of arid ecosystems. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16:89-94.
HOLMGREN, M & M SCHEFFER. 2001. El Niño as a window of opportunity for the restoration of degraded arid ecosystems. Ecosystems 4:151-159.
HYDER, PW; EL FREDRICKSON; RE ESTELL & ME LUCERO. 2002. Transport of phenolic compounds from leaf surface of creosotebush and tarbush to soil surface by precipitation. Journal of Chemical Ecology 28:2475-2482.
LITTELL, RC; GA MILLIKEN; WW STROUP & RD WOLFINGER. 1996. SAS for mixed models. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA.
MAESTRE, FT; S BAUTISTA; J CORTINA & J BELLOT. 2001. Potential for using facilitation by grasses to establish shrubs on a semiarid degraded steppe. Ecological Applications 11:1641-1655.
MARONE, L; BE ROSSI & ME HORNO. 1998a.Timing and spatial patterning of seed dispersal and redistribution in a South American warm desert. Plant Ecology 137:143-150.
MARONE, L; BE ROSSI & J LÓPEZ DE CASENAVE. 1998b. Granivore impact on soil-seed reserves in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Functional Ecology 12:640-645.
MARONE, L; ME HORNO & R GONZÁLEZ DEL SOLAR. 2000. Post-dispersal fate of seeds in the Monte desert of Argentina: patterns of germination in successive wet and dry years. Journal of Ecology 88:940-949.
MCKAY, JK; CE CHRISTIAN; S HARRISON & K RICE. 2005. “How local is local?” A review of practical and conceptual issues in the genetics of restoration. Restoration Ecology 13:432-440.
MORELLO, JH; J PROTOMASTRO; LA SANCHOLUZ & C BLANCO. 1985. Estudio macroecológico de Los Llanos de La Rioja. Serie del cincuentenario de la Administración de Parques Nacionales 5:1-53.
O ́CONNOR, TG & GA PICKETT. 1992. The influence of grazing on seed production and seed banks of some African savannas grasslands. Journal of Applied Ecology 29:247-260.
OESTERHELD, M; J LORETI; M SEMMARTIN & OE SALA. 2001. Inter-annual variation in primary production of a semi-arid grassland related to previous-year production. Journal of Vegetation Science 12:137-142.
PASSERA, CB; O BORSETTO; RJ CANDIA & CR STASI. 1992. Shrub control and seeding influences on grazing capacity in Argentina. Journal of Range Management 45:480-482.
PETRUZZI, HJ; NP STRIZLER; EO ADEMA; CM FERRI & JP PAGELLA. 2003. Mijo Perenne. Publicación Técnica No 51 de la EEA Anguil. Ediciones INTA.
PROHASCA, FJ. 1959. El polo de calor de América del Sur. IDIA 141:27-30.
RAGONESE, AE & JC CASTIGLIONI. 1970. La vegetación del Parque Chaqueño. Sociedad Argentina de Botánica 11:133-160.
READER, RJ & BJ BEST. 1989. Variation in competition along an environmental gradient: Hieracium floribundum in an Abandoned Pasture. Journal of Ecology 77:673-684.
SAS INSTITUTE. 1996. SAS/STAT software: changes and enhancements through Release 6.11. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA.
SNYMAN, HA. 2003. Revegetation of bare patches in a semi-arid rangeland of South Africa: an evaluation of various techniques. Journal of Arid Environments 55:417-432.
STEBBINS, GL. 1981. Coevolution of grasses and herbivores. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 68:75-86.
SUDING, KN; KL GROSS & GR HOUSEMAN. 2004. Alternative states and positive feedbacks in restoration ecology. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 19:46-53.
VAN DEN BERG, L & K KELNER. 2005. Restoring degraded patches in a semi-arid rangeland of South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 61:497-511.
VILLALBA, R & TT VEBLEN. 1998. Influences of large-scale climatic variability on episodic tree mortality in northern Patagonia. Ecology 79:2624-2640.
WESTOBY, M; B WALKER & I NOY-MEIR. 1989. Opportunistic management for rangelands not at equilibrium. Journal of Range Management 42:266-274.
WISLEY, BJ & HW POLLEY. 2001. Effects of seed additions and grazing history on diversity and productivity of subhumid grasslands. Ecology 84:920-931.
XIONG, S & C NILSSON. 1999. The effects of plant litter on vegetation: a meta-analysis. Journal of Ecology 87:984-994.
ZULETA, GA; MC LI PUMA & A BUSTAMANTE LEIVA. 2003. Initial effects of branching designs to restore semiarid shrub steppes in abandoned oil and gas locations of Patagonia, Argentina. 15th Annual International Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration, Austin, Texas, USA.
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2009-08-01
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Quiroga, E., Blanco, L., & Orionte, E. (2009). Testing rehabilitation strategies for arid rangelands. Ecología Austral, 19(2), 107–117. Retrieved from https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1357
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