Table of Contents
What is the definition of rangelands?
Rangelands are described as lands on which the indigenous vegetation is predominately grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, and possibly shrubs or dispersed trees. Existing plant communities can include both native and introduced plants.
How are rangelands maintained?
Rangelands are typically managed principally with extensive practices, such as managed livestock grazing and prescribed fire, rather than more intensive agricultural practices of seeding, irrigation, and the use of fertilizers.
Where are the rangelands?
The arid and semi-arid areas of New South Wales are commonly referred to as ‘rangelands’. These lands generally lie to the west of the 500 mm average rainfall limit.
What is rangeland degradation?
Rangeland degradation is a decrease in plant species diversity, plant height, vegetation cover and plant productivity. Recently, degradation has also come to mean deterioration in ecosystem services and functions, such as decreased water and soil conservation, recreation values, carbon balance and so on.
How can rangeland be improved?
Methods of rangeland improvement which ensure continuous herbage growth during the dry season are
- A. re-seeding and pest control.
- B. controlled stocking and disease control.
- C. rotational grazing and weed control.
- D. fertilizer application and irrigation.
What are the types of rangeland?
Types of rangelands include tallgrass and shortgrass prairies, desert grasslands and shrublands, woodlands, savannas, chaparrals, steppes, and tundras. Rangelands do not include forests lacking grazable understory vegetation, barren desert, farmland, or land covered by solid rock, concrete and/or glaciers.
How do rangelands change over time?
Early research about changes in plant communities across time, or plant succession, on rangelands resulted in the belief that vegetation change was linear. That is, community A changed into community B, which ultimately changed into community C, and so forth.
What causes rangeland degradation?
The proximate causes of rangeland degradation include overgrazing, unsustainable fuel wood (including shrubs) use, mining, and plowing of rangelands with subsequent loss of soil productivity.
How does rangeland become degraded?
Rangeland degradation was defined as the decline in the primary and secondary productive capacity of rangelands to support livestock (IFAD, 2007). It is a type of land degradation that can result from the presence of excessive livestock populations and inadequate pasture Page 14 5 management (FAO, 1994).
What is range improvement techniques?
Range improvement means an authorized physical modification or treatment which is designed to improve production of forage; change vegetation composition; control patterns of use; provide water; stabilize soil and water conditions; restore, protect and improve the condition of rangeland ecosystems to benefit livestock.
What are the methods of range land management?
Prescribed fire, fertilization, and seeding are other management practices that can be used to improve degraded rangelands and maintain critical soil functions. In forests, soils are managed for wood and fiber production and other multiple uses such as water harvesting, recreation, and wildlife.
How does climate change affect rangelands?
These changes in climate, together with direct effects of increased atmospheric CO2 concentration on plant growth and transpiration, will influence factors such as soil water and nitrogen availability that regulate the provisioning of plant and animal products from rangelands.
What is the problem of rangeland?
rangeland degradation includes climate change, overgrazing, bush encroachment, both human and livestock population pressure, drought, and government policy . Of all bush encroachment is becoming the major threat to Yabello rangelands.
What are some issues rangelands are facing?
Rangelands, like other ecosystems, are vulnerable to loss of biodiversity through five major threats: habitat destruction, overexploitation of species, introduction of exotic species, pollution and global warming.