Floristic Composition: Dynamic Biodiversity Indicator of Tree Canopy Effect on Dryland and Improved Mediterranean Pastures
João Serrano,
Shakib Shahidian,
Eliana Machado,
Luís L. Paniagua,
Emanuel Carreira,
Francisco Moral,
Alfredo Pereira,
Mário de Carvalho
Affiliations
João Serrano
MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Shakib Shahidian
MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Eliana Machado
MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Luís L. Paniagua
Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida Adolfo Suárez, S/N, 06007 Badajoz, Spain
Emanuel Carreira
MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Francisco Moral
Departamento de Expresión Gráfica, Escuela de Ingenierías Industriales, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, S/N, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Alfredo Pereira
MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Mário de Carvalho
MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Montado is a characteristic ecosystem of the Mediterranean region. The adequate management of this silvo-pastoral ecosystem requires good understanding of the effect of factors such as tree canopy, fertilization and soil amendment on pasture growth. The main objectives of this work were: (1) to evaluate the effect of tree canopy on soil characteristics and pasture productivity and quality; and (2) to test floristic composition assessment as a bio-indicator of soil improvements (amendment and fertilization) in each study area (under and outside tree canopy). Topsoil was characterized at the beginning of the project (October 2015) and at the end of the experiments (spring 2020). Soil parameters obtained by electronic sensors (soil moisture content, soil cone index and surface temperature) were monitored monthly during the 2017/2018 pasture vegetative cycle. Pasture productivity, quality and floristic composition were evaluated every two years (2016, 2018 and 2020) in the spring flowering period. The results of the floristic inventory were submitted to a multilevel pattern analysis (Indicator Species Analysis, ISA). Pasture biodiversity was evaluated based on the calculation of richness indices. This study showed a positive effect of tree canopy on soil fertility and pasture quality (e.g., CP). Pasture productivity, on the other hand, was higher in areas outside tree canopy. The great potential of ISA as a tool for identification of bio-indicator species was also demonstrated. Pasture species were identified as ecological and dynamic attributes characteristic of each study area, before and after soil amendment and fertilization.
