The effect of soil microtopographic gradients on dry matter yields and species richness in two Mediterranean pastures

C., Aguiar; M., Rodrigues; M.E., Fernández-Nuñez; T., Domingos; J., Pires

The effect of soil microtopographic gradients on dry matter yields and species richness in two Mediterranean pastures

2012

C., Aguiar | M., Rodrigues | M.E., Fernández-Nuñez | T., Domingos | J., Pires

The Sown Biodiverse Permanent Pastures Rich in Legumes (SBPPRL) mix a large number of species and cultivars of improved annual pasture species adapted to Mediterranean climate, with a predominance of Trifolium subterraneum. On a commercial mixed farm were explored the effects of soil microtopographic gradients on dry matter (DM) yields and species richness in two intensively grazed nearby pastures – a stabilized SBPPRL and an old seminatural annual pasture (SNP) – established in the same soil catena, with a high P2O5 and K2O availability. As expected the SBPPRL had higher DM yields than the SNP, more stable along the slope system, and with a larger legume fraction. The indigenous genotypes of the SNP seemed unable to translate into biomass soil fertility improvement. SBPPRL improved pasture species depressed significantly pasture species diversity and species spatial turnover. In the SBPPRL legumes mainly substituted many short living low productivity autochthonous species common in the SNP. The buffering of soil ecological gradients is probably important in the explanation of the superior agronomic performance of SBPPRL. SOM accumulation is certainly involved in this process.

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