Research projects

Influence of spring grazing on the plant population of cut meadows - exact experiment

Starz Walter, Dr.

Dr. Walter Starz

Organic grassland and agriculture

As a permanent crop, grassland reacts to management measures with a delayed effect. Therefore, a project duration of 4 years of investigation (2011-2014) is aimed for. Within this term, influences from management should be measurable.

Goals of the research project:

This experiment aims to test the influence of spring grazing on the plant population. While the implementation-oriented part takes place on several practical farms, in this study an exact test is to be carried out on the organic farm of the LFZ Raumberg-Gumpenstein.

The following hypotheses should be tested:

  • By overgrazing cut meadows early in spring, the plant population of meadows can be positively controlled.
  • Spring grazing increases stock density.
  • Accompanying overseeding with meadow bluegrass increases the population density of valuable forage grasses.
Cow in pasture

Cow in pasture

 HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

Left

National partners

DAFNE

 

Influence of spring grazing on the plant population of cut meadows - exact experiment (implementation project “Organic grassland research and advice” by Dr. Steinwidder under Dafne 100692 already covered in the FJF)

Starz Walter (2011 - 2015)