Perceived feasibility of sward management options in permanent grassland of Alpine regions and expected effects on delivery of ecosystem services

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作   者：

Gabriele Mack;  Nadja El Benni;  Martina Spoerri;  Olivier Huguenin?Elie;  Sophie Tindale;  Erik Hunter;  Paul Newell Price;  Lynn J. Frewer; 

作者机构：

Switzerland;  Sweden;  Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences;  Agroscope;  ADAS;  Zurich;  Centre for Rural Economy;  Animal Production Systems and Animal Health;  Ettenhausen;  Switzerland;  School of Natural and Environmental Sciences;  Uppsala;  Sustainability Assessment and Agricultural Management;  Mansfield NG20 9PD;  T?nikon;  UK;  Department of People and Society;  Newcastle University;  Newcastle Upon Tyne; 

关键词：

Rising plate meters;  Farmer interviews;  Mountain agriculture;  Overseeding;  Delphi;  Sward renewal; 

期刊名称：

Environment, development and sustainability

i s s n：

1387-585X

年卷期：

2024 年 26 卷 2 期

页   码：

4579-4601

页   码：

摘   要：

Agriculture in Alpine regions plays an important role for multiple ecosystem services (ES)supplied from permanent grassland (PG). This paper investigates the feasibility of swardrenewal, overseeding, and rising plate meters on PG for the Swiss Alpine region and analysestheir expected effects on ES supply. Sward renewal and overseeding are managementoptions implemented in response to a decline of grassland yields and nutritive value orsward damage. Rising plate meters focus on increased grass utilisation for improving profitabilityof grassland farms in a sustainable manner. The aim was to improve the understandingwhich of these three PG management practices could be promoted to deliver awide range of agricultural and non-agricultural ESs in the Swiss Alpine region. Throughinterviews with 75 farmers (including organic and intensive/extensive non-organic farmers)and a Delphi-methodology on a panel of experts (N = 10 experts with different expertise),we found that sward renewal is perceived to have negative effects on biodiversity, carbonstorage, flood control, prevention of soil erosion, and prevention of loss of organic matterin Alpine regions. Therefore, sward renewal should not be promoted, although about halfof the farmers interviewed had already carried out the practice on plots following severesward damage in Alpine regions. Overseeding is perceived to have positive effects on biodiversity,prevention of soil erosion, and grass production. Thus, the high level of overseedingthat is currently practiced in the Swiss Alpine region is probably sustainable. Risingplate meters do not play a significant role in PG management in the Alpine region becausecalibration in PG with diverse grassland botanical composition in the Alpine region is toodifficult.