Publication Date

1989

Description

The Aso area is one of the most important areas for grass­land agriculture in Japan. In this area there exists ca. 44,000 hectares of which ca. 28,700 ha are steep mountainous lands ( a gradient of more than 15 degrees). Additionally, there is much precipitation (ca 2.600 mm/year) in the area. Consequently, there is a problem of grassland destruction due to soil erosion. Therefore, in order to promote the utilization and conser­vation of steep grasslands, the following two experimental grazing were carried out: 1) a two pasture system and 2) a coexistent pasture system with introduced and native grasses. In the two systems, energy efficiency from global solar radi­ation to consumed digestible herbage and change of vegetation were compared. The purpose of this paper is to present an efficient manage­ment system in steep mountainous grassland as an example.

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Comparison of Energy Efficiency and Vegetation in Different Establishment and Management Systems of Steep Mountainous Grassland in the Aso Area, Japan

The Aso area is one of the most important areas for grass­land agriculture in Japan. In this area there exists ca. 44,000 hectares of which ca. 28,700 ha are steep mountainous lands ( a gradient of more than 15 degrees). Additionally, there is much precipitation (ca 2.600 mm/year) in the area. Consequently, there is a problem of grassland destruction due to soil erosion. Therefore, in order to promote the utilization and conser­vation of steep grasslands, the following two experimental grazing were carried out: 1) a two pasture system and 2) a coexistent pasture system with introduced and native grasses. In the two systems, energy efficiency from global solar radi­ation to consumed digestible herbage and change of vegetation were compared. The purpose of this paper is to present an efficient manage­ment system in steep mountainous grassland as an example.