EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS OF EXTENSIVE UTILIZATION ON THE SPECIES DIVERSITY OF GRASSLANDS

Abstract

Preserving grassland biodiversity requires their proper utilization. In many cases, especially in protected areas, preserving species diversity becomes the main task of cultivation measures. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of several utilization systems of low intensity on changes in sward species composition. Theexperiment was carried out during 2001-2007 in the vicinity of Kraków (Bielany, 50°02’ N; 19°50’ E), on sandy soil of low fertility. Four ways of fertilization was applied. The sward was cut at two times – at the beginning of June and at the end of July. In spite of a considerable increase in yield under the influence of fertilization, no statistically significant effect of the utilization system on the number of species and Shannon-Wiener diversity index was observed. Differences in the share of the most important species (red fescue, Yorkshire fog and yarrow) were greater between particular years of the experiment than between the treatments. One of the reasons for the lack of the effect of various utilization systems on species diversity could be the impossibility of the appearance of meadow species diasporas from the neighborhood. In conclusion it was found that additional sowing of selected meadow species can be necessary for regeneration of multi-species meadow communities.

Full text

Acta Sci. Pol., Agricultura 9(2) 2010, 35-45
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS
OF EXTENSIVE UTILIZATION ON THE SPECIES
DIVERSITY OF GRASSLANDS
Jan Zarzycki
Agricultural University in Kraków1
Abstract. Preserving grassland biodiversity requires their proper utilization. In many
cases, especially in protected areas, preserving species diversity becomes the main task of
cultivation measures. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of several
utilization systems of low intensity on changes in sward species composition. The
experiment was carried out during 2001-2007 in the vicinity of Kraków (Bielany, 50°02’
N; 19°50’ E), on sandy soil of low fertility. Four ways of fertilization was applied. The
sward was cut at two times – at the beginning of June and at the end of July. In spite of
a considerable increase in yield under the influence of fertilization, no statistically
significant effect of the utilization system on the number of species and Shannon-Wiener
diversity index was observed. Differences in the share of the most important species (red
fescue, Yorkshire fog and yarrow) were greater between particular years of the
experiment than between the treatments. One of the reasons for the lack of the effect of
various utilization systems on species diversity could be the impossibility of the
appearance of meadow species diasporas from the neighborhood. In conclusion it was
found that additional sowing of selected meadow species can be necessary for
regeneration of multi-species meadow communities.
Key words: diversity index, grassland management, protected areas, red fescue, yarrow,
Yorkshire fog
INTRODUCTION
Grasslands are presently regarded as an important place of protecting numerous
species of plants and animals related to them. Many meadow communities occurring in
Poland are included in Annex I of the Habitats Directive EU as natural habitats of
common importance [Council Directive...]. Communities rich in species are of
particular natural value. Unfortunately, a large proportion of meadows and pastures is
characterized by small species diversity. In many cases a small number of species is
Corresponding author – Adres do korespondencji: dr hab. in. Jan Zarzycki, Department
of Meteorology and Agricultural Climatology of University of Agriculture in Krakow,
Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, e-mail: j.zarzycki@ur.krakow.pl

J. Zarzycki
36
a typical feature of some plant communities, such as pastures (the association Lolio-
Cynosuretum). However, decreasing biodiversity of the previously multi-species
communities has also been observed in recent years both in Europe [Pärtel et al. 2005]
and in Poland [Szoszkiewicz and Szoszkiewicz 1998, Kryszak 2001, Trba et al. 2006]
This usually results from increasing management intensity and mostly from the
application of nitrogen fertilization. This phenomenon is frequently observed in West
Europe [Walker et al. 2004]. In Poland, changing of the traditional way of utilization,
particularly the earlier time of the first cut and replacing farmyard manure with mineral
fertilization, seems to be the main cause of a decrease in species diversity of grasslands.
To the largest extent, however, a decrease in species diversity is caused by complete
abandoning of cutting or grazing [Stypiski et al. 2009].
Thus, the preservation of meadow communities requires conducting proper
measures, adapted to particular habitat conditions [Perzanowska and Mróz 2003,
Gibbon 2005]. The functional aspect, that is the yield height and its fodder usefulness,
do not play an essential role in such cases. What is more, a reduction in yield is
favorable, due to the impossibility of managing the generated biomass, which takes
place especially in protected areas [Wróbel 2000].
The aim of this study was to develop a variant of meadow management which will
increase the species diversity of the sward, preserving small yielding level.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The experiment was carried out in 2001-2007 near Kraków at Bielany (50°02’ N;
19°50’ E), in the fields of the experimental station UR in Kraków on grassland formed
from self-sodding of former arable lands. Red fescue and Yorkshire fog predominated
in the sward. The experiment was established in the randomized blocks design in three
replications. The area of plots was 9 m2. Different utilization systems selected on the
basis of various studies [Nösberger and Rodriguez 1996, Perzanowska and Mróz 2003]
were used as treatments: 1 – without measures; 2 – late cutting, without fertilization; 3 –
early cutting, without fertilization; 4 – two-time cutting, without fertilization; 5 – self-
sodding after oats cultivation, late cutting, without fertilization; 6 – late cutting,
fertilization with the biomass from the previous year; 7 – late cutting, fertilization with
PK; 8 – late cutting every 2nd year, without fertilization; 9 – late cutting, fertilization
with NPK; 10 – late cutting, fertilization with farmyard manure. Mineral fertilization
was applied in spring at the amount: P – 17.2 kg·ha-1, K – 33.2 kg·ha-1, N – 35 kg·ha-1.
The plots were fertilized in autumn with partially decomposed biomass from the
previous year and with farmyard manure at an amount of 10 t ha-1, at first every year
and from 2004 every second year. The early cutting fell at the beginning of June and the
late cutting at the end of July. Harvest of the second cutting was gathered in the middle
of September. After cutting, the dry weight yield was estimated. Before the cut, the
species composition of the sward was determined using the scale of Braun-Blanquet.
Based on this, the share of individual species in the ground cover was assessed. Species
diversity was presented as the number of species on a plot and the Shannon-Wiener
species diversity index [Magurran 1988]. For the estimation of changes in composition
after 7 years of the experiment, detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was applied
using the program Canoco. For each plot, the length of gradient was calculated
characterizing the range of species exchange (-diversity) along the axis presenting the
Acta Sci. Pol.

Evaluation of the effect... 37
direction of the main variability [Leps and Smilauer 2003]. The other statistical
analyses, i.e. the analysis of variance with testing difference with the Duncan test and
charts were made using the program Statistica (StatSoft, Inc. 2008).
RESULTS
The yields obtained were relatively low and considerably varied in individual years.
The highest mean yield was gathered in 2002 (4.0 tha-1), and the lowest in 2007 (1.7
tha-1) (Table 1). A tendency for a decrease in yield in successive years can be seen. The
highest yields were obtained from the fertilized plots, whereas on the other treatments
the differences were very small. Only in 2003 no statistically significant differences
were found between the treatments.
Table 1. Dry matter yield, tha-1
Tabela 1. Plon suchej masy, tha-1
Year – Rok
Treatment
Obiekt 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Mean
rednia
1 nk nk nk nk nk nk nk nk
2 2.0 a 3.2 a 2.4 a 1.7 a 1.5 a 1.4 a 1.4 b 2.0
3 2.4 ab 3.0 a 2.2 a 1.5 a 2.6 abc 1.5 a 1.5 bc 2.1
4 4.1 cd 4.0 ab 2.3 a 1.7 a 3.0 bc 1.7 ab 1.1 a 2.6
5 nk 3.1 a 2.7 a 1.7 a 2.8 bc 1.6 a 1.4 b 2.3
6 3.3 bc 3.1 a 2.8 a 1.9 a 2.8 bc 1.6 a 1.7 cd 2.5
7 2.9 ab 3.4 ab 2.3 a 1.7 a 2.0 ab 1.7 a 1.4 b 2.2
8 nk 4.4 ab nk 2.5 b nk 1.8 ab nk 2.9
9 4.2 cd 5.0 bc 3.2 a 2.7 b 3.7 c 2.3 b 1.9 d 3.4
10 4.8 d 6.4 c 3.7 a 3.2 c 6.1 d 3.2 c 2.5 e 4.4
Mean
rednia 3.4 4.0 2.7 2.1 3.1 1.9 1.7 2.7
nk – no cuts – nie koszone
treatment no. 5 in 2001 oats cultivation – obiekt nr 5 w 2001 r. – uprawa owsa
values in a column denoted with same letters do not differ significantly (Duncan’s test, P = 0.05) – dane
dotyczce tego samego roku oznaczone t sam liter nie róni si istotnie (test Duncana P = 0,05)
A comparison of the effect of particular utilization systems on the relative yield
height (% of mean yield for all the treatments) in successive years (Fig. 1) indicates that
the highest yields in relation to the others were obtained on treatments fertilized with
farmyard manure, with full mineral fertilization and cut every second year. The plots cut
twice show a noticeable downward tendency. The effect of the other utilization systems
on yield is not proved statistically.
The total number of species occurring on the plots was very low and amounted to
51, of which 23 are species recorded sporadically less than 10 times during the
experiment. The mean number of species per plot was from 8.7 to 16.7 and did not
show an upward tendency in successive years, at any utilization system (Table 2). Quite
the opposite, in the first year of the experiment the largest number of species was
recorded on many plots. Differences in the number of species in the final year of the
experiment are not large. The treatments which were not cut and cut every second year
were characterized by the smallest number of species. The highest number of species
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J. Zarzycki
38
was observed for the treatment fertilized with composted biomass and for the other
fertilized treatment. The differences between them, however, were small.
treatment no. 1 was not cut – obiekt nr 1 nie by koszony
Fig. 1. Relative yield [% o mean dry matter yield for each year]
Rys. 1. Plon wzgldny [% redniego plonu s.m. dla danego roku]
Table 2. Mean number of plant species
Tabela 2. rednia liczba gatunków rolin
Year – Rok
Treatment
Obiekt 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1 11.0 a 9.7 a 7.0 a 8.3 a 10.3 a 10.7 a 8.7 a
2 13.3 a 12.0 a 11.3 a 11.3 a 14.0 a 12.0 a 9.7 ab
3 13.3 a 9.3 a 9.7 a 11.7 a 11.3 a 11.7 a 10.3 abc
4 13.0 a 11.7 a 10.3 a 12.0 a 15.0 a 11.7 a 12.7 bc
5 – 9.7 a 10.3 a 10.0 a 12.0 a 11.3 a 11.7 abc
6 11.7 a 10.0 a 9.0 a 11.7 a 13.0 a 13.7 a 13.7 c
7 15.0 a 13.7 a 11.3 a 12.0 a 13.7 a 11.0 a 11.3 abc
8 16.7 a 11.0 a 9.3 a 8.3 a 11.0 a 11.7 a 9.0 a
9 14.0 a 10.7 a 9.3 a 9.0 a 9.7 a 9.7 a 10.0 ab
10 14.3 a 10.7 a 10.0 a 12.3 a 14.7 a 12.3 a 12.0 abc
for explanations, see Table 1 – objanienia w tabeli 1
The Shannon-Wiener diversity index showed considerably higher fluctuations than
the number of species (Table 3). Nevertheless, just as with the number of species, no
clear tendencies were observed in successive years. The plots which were not cut were
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Evaluation of the effect... 39
characterized by a considerable lowest diversity and this index reached the highest
values for the plots fertilized with farmyard manure.
Table 3. Shannon-Wiener diversity index
Tabela 3. Wspóczynnik rónorodnoci Shannona-Wienera
Year – Rok
Treatment
Obiekt 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1 1.11 a 1.06 a 0.31 a 0.84 a 0.98 a 1.24 ab 1.19 a
2 1.56 bc 1.46 a 1.44 bc 1.21 ab 1.58 bcd 1.54 bc 1.43 ab
3 1.41 abc 1.32 a 1.46 bc 1.56 bc 1.57 bcd 1.51 abc 1.45 ab
4 1.46 abc 1.42 a 1.42 bc 1.68 bc 1.98 d 1.63 bc 1.45 ab
5 – 1.43 a 1.31 bc 1.34 abc 1.59 bcd 1.67 bc 1.65 b
6 1.36 abc 1.37 a 1.75 c 1.61 bc 1.84 cd 1.80 c 1.53 ab
7 1.65 bc 1.18 a 1.16 b 1.50 bc 1.61 bcd 1.53 bc 1.65 b
8 1.80 c 1.39 a 1.54 bc 1.44 bc 1.79 cd 1.27 ab 1.48 ab
9 1.57 bc 1.34 a 1.23 bc 1.18 ab 1.22 ab 1.10 a 1.19 a
10 1.38 ab 1.36 a 1.31 bc 1.80 c 1.87 cd 1.88 c 1.76 b
for explanations, see Table 1 – objanienia w tabeli 1
In spite of slight changes in species composition on particular plots, considerable
changes in the share of the main species were observed in individual years. Three
species predominated in the sward of all the experimental treatments: red fescue
(Festuca rubra), Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). In
the first years red fescue almost completely dominated the plots which were not cut
(Fig. 2), whereas later the proportion of this species slightly decreased. A slight but
constant upward tendency in the share of this species was observed on the plots with
full mineral fertilization and those subject to self-sodding after oats cultivation.
Yorkshire fog (Fig. 3) obtained the highest share on plots subject to self-sodding, but
this proportion decreased quickly in successive years. In the case of plots fertilized with
farmyard manure, almost complete disappearance of this species was noted in 2003 and
2004, whereas later this share increased constantly. No effect of the utilization system
on the share of yarrow in the sward was observed (Fig. 4). This share changed
considerably in individual years but it was hardly related with the utilization system.
Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) applied for plots in the 7th year of the
experiment showed a large diversification of individual plots within the same utilization
system (Table 4). The total variance and the length of gradient of changes in
composition during 7 years of the experiment was calculated for individual plots. The
least variance was from 0.320 for the plot subject to self-sodding to 0.737 for the plot
cut without fertilization. The length of gradient was from 0.930 for the plot fertilized
with biomass from the previous year to 1.660 for a plot cut twice. However, no
statistically significant differences were found in those indexes for individual utilization
systems.
Agricultura 9(2) 2010

J. Zarzycki
40
Fig. 2. Share of red fescue in ground cover
Rys. 2. Udzia kostrzewy czerwonej w pokryciu powierzchni
Fig. 3. Share of Yorkshire fog in ground cover
Rys. 3. Udzia kosówki wenistej w pokryciu powierzchni
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Evaluation of the effect... 41
Fig. 4. Share of yarrow in ground cover
Rys. 4. Udzia krwawnika pospolitego w pokryciu powierzchni
Table 4. Changes of species composition on plots during 7 years of experiment obtained with
DCA method
Tabela 4. Ocena zmiennoci skadu gatunkowego na poszczególnych poletkach w cigu 7 lat
uzyskana metod DCA
Total variance
Wariancja cakowita
Length of gradient (standard deviation)
Dugo gradientu (odchylenie standardowe)
plot no. – numer poletka
Treatment
Obiekt
1 2 3 1 2 3
1 0.445 0.724 0.610 1.07 1.43 1.33
2 0.374 0.561 0.429 1.24 1.26 1.08
3 0.557 0.737 0.403 1.54 1.41 1.17
4 0.641 0.624 0.662 1.66 1.51 1.55
5 0.320 0.546 0.541 1.10 1.37 1.42
6 0.613 0.334 0.530 1.58 0.93 1.43
7 0.495 0.455 0.616 1.22 1.15 1.55
8 0.463 0.456 0.652 1.51 1.12 1.39
9 0.411 0.471 0.529 1.00 1.24 1.24
10 0.431 0.540 0.561 1.40 1.44 1.49
DISCUSSION
Decided changes in species diversity did not occur during 7 years of the experiment.
The lengths of gradient DCA calculated, being the measure of the changes on individual
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42
plots, are small. It is assumed that at a length of gradient of about 4 SD (standard
deviation) [Leps and Smilauer 2003] the total exchange of species occurs, whereas in
this experiment they did not exceed 1.66 of standard deviation. On many plots, different
direction of those changes was observed at the same utilization system, which suggests
rather random variability of species composition than the effect of utilization.
None of the systems applied in the experiment had a decisive effect on an increase
of the species number and diversity of the sward. Diversification of the Shannon-
-Wiener diversity index was higher than that of the species number. The Shannon-
-Wiener index considers the share of individual species in the ground cover. The share
in ground cover is considerably more affected by various factors, particularly the
weather conditions, than the appearance and vanishing of species. It can be observed
that abandoning utilization has a definitely negative effect on the number of species.
This is confirmed by the results of many studies – utilization of semi-natural meadows
ecosystems is necessary to preserve them [Bakker 1989, Kostuch and Piorunek 2001].
Also cutting every second year, which is sometimes recommended, in this case resulted
in a decrease in the number of species. The times of cutting and fertilization rates
applied in this experiment had a relatively small effect on a change in the species
composition of individual plots. One of the main causes seems to be a relatively small
diversification of the measures applied. A significant effect of the utilization system was
usually observed comparing such measures as grazing, cutting and mulching as well as
burning [Moog et al. 2002]. The level of fertilization, generally limiting species
diversity, was originally very low and aimed only to prevent the excessive nutrient
deficiency of soil. The fertilization applied, especially organic, resulted in a significant
increase in yield. The majority of studies conducted in Poland and Europe indicated a
negative effect of fertilization on the species diversity of grasslands. An increase in the
availability of nutrients results in competitive elimination of many small species by
nitrofilous plants [Bobbink et al. 1998]. They are more productive, generate much
biomass and compete with more weekly growing species for light and nutrients [Marrs
et al. 1993]. These studies usually considered much more fertile habitats and application
considerably more fertilization rates. Under conditions of poor, sandy soils that
occurred in the experiment, increasing fertility, or for instance its keeping by returning
the nutrients taken with yield, can have a favourable effect on the number of occurring
species. Increasing species diversity along with an increase in fertility of poor habitats
and a decrease in this diversity along with an increase in fertility of fertile habitats was
observed in grasslands of the Beskid Sdecki mountains [Kope et al. 2010].
The fluctuations in the number of species observed were small and not related to the
utilization system but to the year of observation. Usually annual species and those
typical of other types of communities (e.g. weeds of arable land) appeared in the sward
and vanished. Plant communities of grasslands are characterized by considerable
fluctuations of species composition in individual years. This is usually connected with
the course of weather conditions which most frequently act through the effect of
precipitation level on the development of biomass [Silverton et al. 1994, Kasperczyk
and Szewczyk 2007], and the amount of biomass is regarded as one of most important
factors affecting the number of species in the community [Marrs et al. 1993]. It seems
that in the experiment the effect of habitat factors was larger than that of the measures
applied. Presumably, the diversifying effect of measures would have a chance to emerge
during the period of their application longer than seven years.
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Evaluation of the effect... 43
A low number of species and the lack of new ones appearing also result from soil
conditions, which do not favor forming species-rich meadow communities. Meadow
communities formed on unfertile, sandy soils are usually characterized by poor species
composition due to a small number of species adapted to this type of habitats. Yorkshire
fog usually predominated under conditions of insufficient moisture as well as the lack of
fertilization and improper use [Wyupek 2008]. Similarly, red fescue often
predominates in sward at the lack of fertilization [Kope 2000].
The impossibility of migration of meadow species diasporas is an additional factor
preventing the appearance of new species. The lack of seeds is usually one of the major
causes making it impossible for multi-species meadow communities to regenerate. In
Holland [Bakker et al. 2002] even after 25 years of extensive use the migration of
species of poor communities did not occur, in spite of their presence at a small distance.
Smith et al. [2002] proved that a combination of cutting, grazing and additional sowing
of desirable plant species is necessary for an increase in the species diversity of
intensively utilized meadows. The experiment was located in areas where typically
utilized meadows and pastures with rich species diversity, from where seeds of those
species could migrate, do not exist anymore. Under such conditions, introduction of
such species which would be adapted to the local habitat conditions should be taken into
consideration. Such action is already applied in some European countries [Hopkins et
al. 1995].
CONCLUSIONS
1. The most important factor affecting the species composition of meadow sward
was utilization or its lack. The smallest number of species was found in the case of lack
of cutting of cutting every second year.
2. The utilization systems used in the experiment diversified the biomass yield but
they did not significantly affected the species composition of the sward. Diversification
of species composition between the years was higher than that between utilization
systems.
3. Under conditions of permeable and poor soils, fertilization with manure can have
a favorable effect not only on yield but also on an increase in species diversity.
4. To increase the number of species, in the case of the lack of their occurrence in
the neighborhood, additional sowing of species adapted to the local habitat conditions
should be additionally applied.
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OCENA WPYWU RÓNYCH SPOSOBÓW EKSTENSYWNEGO
UYTKOWANIA NA RÓNORODNO GATUNKOW
UYTKÓW ZIELONYCH
Streszczenie. Zachowanie rónorodnoci biologicznej uytków zielonych wymaga ich
odpowiedniego uytkowania. W wielu przypadkach, zwaszcza na obszarach chronio-
nych, zachowanie rónorodnoci gatunkowej staje si gównym zadaniem zabiegów
uprawowych. Celem bada byo porównanie wpywu kilku mao intensywnych sposobów
uytkowania na ksztatowanie si skadu gatunkowego runi. Dowiadczenie prowadzono
w latach 2001-2007 w okolicach Krakowa (Bielany, 50°02’ N; 19°50’ E), na glebie
piaszczystej o niskiej yznoci. Zastosowano cztery sposoby nawoenia. Ru koszono
w dwóch terminach – na pocztku czerwca i pod koniec lipca. Pomimo znacznego
zwikszenia wysokoci plonu pod wpywem nawoenia, nie stwierdzono istotnego
statystycznie wpywu sposobu uytkowania na liczb gatunków i wspóczynnik
rónorodnoci Shannona-Wienera. Rónice w udziale najwaniejszych gatunków
(kostrzewy czerwonej, kosówki wenistej i krwawnika pospolitego) byy wiksze
pomidzy poszczególnymi latami dowiadczenia ni pomidzy obiektami. Jedn
z przyczyn braku wpywu rónych sposobów uytkowania na rónorodno gatunkow
móg by brak moliwoci pojawienia si diaspor gatunków kowych z ssiedztwa.
W konkluzji stwierdzono, e dla odtwarzania wielogatunkowych zbiorowisk kowych
niezbdne moe by dosiewanie wybranych gatunków kowych.
Sowa kluczowe: kosówka wenista, kostrzewa czerwona, krwawnik pospolity,
rónorodno gatunkowa, uytki zielone, uytkowanie ekstensywne
Accepted for print – Zaakceptowano do druku: 20.05.2010
Agricultura 9(2) 2010