Theme 1-2: Rangeland/Grassland Ecology--Poster Sessions
Description
Despite the importance for people´s livelihoods, many semi-arid African savannas are prone to heavy degradation due to overutilization by people, livestock and increased climate variability. Rangeland management, such as transhumance and deferred grazing systems, practiced by the Maasai in northern Tanzania, can be useful in combating the negative consequences of overuse and increasing rainfall variability. But little is known on how different rangeland regimes, practiced by the Maasai, impacts the productivity of these rangelands.
We collected data on regrowth rates under different rangeland management regimes (rainy season grazing land, dry season grazing land, and seasonal exclosures), different harvest rates (month, season) and additional, uncontrolled grazing (fenced, open plots). We conducted the experiment for two consecutive growing seasons 2019 (GS1) and 2019/2020 (GS2).
Grass regrowth rates were similar for all rangeland management regimes. During dry conditions in GS1 seasonally cut plots showed significantly higher grass regrowth compared to monthly cut plots, when fenced. Outside the fence grass regrowth was generally lower and similar for both harvest rates. During high rainfall conditions in GS2, seasonally cut plots showed higher grass regrowth independent of fencing. Regrowth rates of forbs were not impacted by any treatment during GS1. It increased by 5 times during GS2, and was significantly higher in the seasonally cut plots then.
Our results suggest that recovery phases between heavy grazing events is crucial to maintain forage provision of the rangelands. Uncontrolled additional grazing can hamper the rangeland productivity during times of low rainfall, but seem not to have influence when rainfall is frequent. Traditional rangeland management is based on the concept of granting seasonal recovery periods, which seems to be an effective way to maintain rangeland productivity despite intense harvest and unpredictable rainfall pattern. Implementation and control of grazing plans are crucial, particularly during times of drought.
Included in
Back to the Roots - Do Traditional Maasai Management Strategies Work towards Resilience against Unpredictable Rainfall and Grazing Pressure in Northern Tanzania?
Despite the importance for people´s livelihoods, many semi-arid African savannas are prone to heavy degradation due to overutilization by people, livestock and increased climate variability. Rangeland management, such as transhumance and deferred grazing systems, practiced by the Maasai in northern Tanzania, can be useful in combating the negative consequences of overuse and increasing rainfall variability. But little is known on how different rangeland regimes, practiced by the Maasai, impacts the productivity of these rangelands.
We collected data on regrowth rates under different rangeland management regimes (rainy season grazing land, dry season grazing land, and seasonal exclosures), different harvest rates (month, season) and additional, uncontrolled grazing (fenced, open plots). We conducted the experiment for two consecutive growing seasons 2019 (GS1) and 2019/2020 (GS2).
Grass regrowth rates were similar for all rangeland management regimes. During dry conditions in GS1 seasonally cut plots showed significantly higher grass regrowth compared to monthly cut plots, when fenced. Outside the fence grass regrowth was generally lower and similar for both harvest rates. During high rainfall conditions in GS2, seasonally cut plots showed higher grass regrowth independent of fencing. Regrowth rates of forbs were not impacted by any treatment during GS1. It increased by 5 times during GS2, and was significantly higher in the seasonally cut plots then.
Our results suggest that recovery phases between heavy grazing events is crucial to maintain forage provision of the rangelands. Uncontrolled additional grazing can hamper the rangeland productivity during times of low rainfall, but seem not to have influence when rainfall is frequent. Traditional rangeland management is based on the concept of granting seasonal recovery periods, which seems to be an effective way to maintain rangeland productivity despite intense harvest and unpredictable rainfall pattern. Implementation and control of grazing plans are crucial, particularly during times of drought.
