Publication Date
1993
Description
Arid rangelands of northern Chile consist of open shrub formations associated with a seasonal herbaceous stratum. Small pastoralists (comuneros) use the available fodder fer goat raising, by managing individual flocks under continuous grazing. Since each flock spends nights in a corral, a piosphere effect has evolved around it. Through radial transects and quadrals starling from the corral, cover, density, diversity and yield were determined for herbaceous and woody species. Except for shrub diversity and herbage yield, all other total variables showed significant increments with distance. When individual species were considered, different response trends were observed. Some species decreased, others increased, abruptly or progressively, with corral distance; others disappeared or grew better at middle distances. Grass yields, and the frequency of palatable shrubs, increased with distance, contrary to most forbs and non-palatable or toxic shrubs. This spatial degradation near corrals could be prevented through fencing, rest-rotational grazing, shepherding and collective management,
Citation
Lailhacar, S; Mansilla, A; Faundez, L; and Tonini, P, "The Piosphere effect of a Goat Corral on the Productivity of Arid Mediterranean-type Rangelands in Northern Chile" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 6.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session7/6
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Piosphere effect of a Goat Corral on the Productivity of Arid Mediterranean-type Rangelands in Northern Chile
Arid rangelands of northern Chile consist of open shrub formations associated with a seasonal herbaceous stratum. Small pastoralists (comuneros) use the available fodder fer goat raising, by managing individual flocks under continuous grazing. Since each flock spends nights in a corral, a piosphere effect has evolved around it. Through radial transects and quadrals starling from the corral, cover, density, diversity and yield were determined for herbaceous and woody species. Except for shrub diversity and herbage yield, all other total variables showed significant increments with distance. When individual species were considered, different response trends were observed. Some species decreased, others increased, abruptly or progressively, with corral distance; others disappeared or grew better at middle distances. Grass yields, and the frequency of palatable shrubs, increased with distance, contrary to most forbs and non-palatable or toxic shrubs. This spatial degradation near corrals could be prevented through fencing, rest-rotational grazing, shepherding and collective management,
