The Effect of Goat Grazing on the Biodiversity of Pannonian Dry Grassland
Karoly Penksza,
Ferenc Pajor,
Andrea Kevi,
Zsombor Wagenhoffer,
Laszló Sipos,
Eszter Salata-Falusi,
Peter Penksza,
Peter Poti,
Jozsef Berke,
Denes Salata,
Marta Bajnok,
Szilard Szentes
Affiliations
Karoly Penksza
Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pater Károly u. 1, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Ferenc Pajor
Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pater Károly u. 1, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Andrea Kevi
Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pater Károly u. 1, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Zsombor Wagenhoffer
Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science Department, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Istvan u., 1078 Budapest, Hungary
Laszló Sipos
Institute of Food Science and Technology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Villanyi ut 35–43., 1118 Budapest, Hungary
Eszter Salata-Falusi
Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pater Károly u. 1, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Peter Penksza
Anton Paar Hungary, Budapest, Aliz u. 3., 1117 Budapest, Hungary
Peter Poti
Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pater Károly u. 1, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Jozsef Berke
Department of Drone Technology and Image Processing, Dennis Gabor University, Fejer Lipot utca 70., 1119 Budapest, Hungary
Denes Salata
Institute for Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Marta Bajnok
Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science Department, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Istvan u., 1078 Budapest, Hungary
Szilard Szentes
Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science Department, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Istvan u., 1078 Budapest, Hungary
In this study, we analyzed the phytosociological data from four sample sites located in the Pannonian region. The study areas, ranging from 2.4 to 2.5 hectares, have been subjected to goat grazing and mowing for 24 years. N1: Nagyréde, an overgrazed pasture with 24 goats; N2: Nagyréde, a mown field; C1: Csokvaomány, a lightly grazed pasture with 12 goats; and meadow C2: Csokvaomány, a site that is both mown and grazed. Six phytosociological surveys were conducted randomly in each area. We also considered the conservation value, biomass production, and forage values. Phytosociological data were processed using hierarchical cluster analysis and the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test. The overgrazed pasture (N1) exhibited the most degraded vegetation community, dominated by weeds and disturbance-tolerant species. The overgrazed (N1) pasture had a low forage value because of the different timing of treatments. Even in the lightly grazed pasture (C1), the proportion of species indicative of degradation was significant. The species composition of the areas indicated that the mown and subsequently grazed area (C2) had outstanding values. The species richness of C2 was twice that of the mown field (N2). Based on the present study, a combination of light grazing pressure and mowing is the most suitable approach for managing and economically utilizing these grasslands.
