Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 1 — Meta-analysis / systematic reviewPeer-reviewed

Effects of grazing on grassland biomass and biodiversity: A global synthesis

Fengfeng Cao, Weibin Li, Yuan Jiang, Xiaoling Gan, Chuanyan Zhao, Jiancheng Ma

Field Crops Research · 2023

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Summary

This global synthesis examines the complex relationship between grazing management and grassland ecosystem outcomes, integrating evidence across diverse climatic and edaphic contexts. The paper appears to characterise how moderate grazing can influence biomass accumulation and species composition, with implications for both pastoral productivity and conservation objectives. As a systematic review, it provides evidence-based guidance on optimal grazing regimes for balancing agricultural output with biodiversity preservation.

UK applicability

Findings are relevant to UK upland and lowland grassland management, particularly for extensive pastoral systems and conservation grazing programmes. The synthesis may inform UK agri-environment schemes and livestock management practices, though UK-specific conditions and native sward compositions should be considered when applying global conclusions locally.

Key measures

Grassland above-ground biomass, plant species richness, diversity indices, grazing intensity metrics

Outcomes reported

The study synthesised global data on how grazing intensity and management affect grassland biomass production and biodiversity metrics. The research appears to quantify trade-offs or synergies between livestock productivity and ecological outcomes across diverse grassland systems.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Grassland & pasture systems
Study type
Systematic Review
Study design
Systematic review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Pasture-based livestock
DOI
10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109204
Catalogue ID
SNmohi6lve-ev2cb9

Topic tags

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