Offered Papers Theme C: Delivering the Benefits from Grassland
Description
Residual dry matter (RDM) is a standard used by grassland managers for assessing the level of grazing use on annual grasslands and associated savannas and woodlands. Residual dry matter is the old plant material left standing or on the ground at the beginning of a new growing season. It indicates the combined effects of the previous season's forage production and its consumption by grazing animals of all types. The standard assumes that the amount of RDM remaining in the fall, subject to site conditions and variations in weather, will influence subsequent species composition and forage production, in addition to providing soil protection and protect against nutrient losses (Bartolome, et al., 2002). While RDM is measured at the beginning of a new growing season, grazing does not always occur continuously up to this time. Managers do not have information to predict the disappearance of residual dry matter due to physical and chemical breakdown during a period of non-grazing. In this study the rate of RDM disappearance during the summer (non-growing) period on annual grasslands was investigated.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Disappearance of Residual Dry Matter on Annual Grassland in the Absence of Grazing
Residual dry matter (RDM) is a standard used by grassland managers for assessing the level of grazing use on annual grasslands and associated savannas and woodlands. Residual dry matter is the old plant material left standing or on the ground at the beginning of a new growing season. It indicates the combined effects of the previous season's forage production and its consumption by grazing animals of all types. The standard assumes that the amount of RDM remaining in the fall, subject to site conditions and variations in weather, will influence subsequent species composition and forage production, in addition to providing soil protection and protect against nutrient losses (Bartolome, et al., 2002). While RDM is measured at the beginning of a new growing season, grazing does not always occur continuously up to this time. Managers do not have information to predict the disappearance of residual dry matter due to physical and chemical breakdown during a period of non-grazing. In this study the rate of RDM disappearance during the summer (non-growing) period on annual grasslands was investigated.
