Changes in the Understory Vegetation of a Japanese Red Pine(Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) Grazing Forest, Including the Grass-growing Area

DOI JASI Web Site

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 草生地が点在するアカマツ(Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.)林放牧地における下層植生の推移
  • クサフチ ガ テンザイ スル アカマツ(Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.)ハヤシ ホウボクチ ニ オケル カソウショクセイ ノ スイイ

Search this article

Abstract

Changes in the understory vegetation of a Japanese red pine forest, including the grass-growing area and grazed by beef cattle, were studied. The forest was grazed from mid- May to mid-October. The average grazing pressure was 130 animal unit days/ha/year. Measurements were recorded in late July each year for 9 years. In the grass-growing area produced by the withering of red pines and grazing, sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum L.) was dominant. Under the continued grazing, sweet vernal grass gradually decreased while Japanese lawn grass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) increased. However, further increase in Japanese lawn grass was prevented by the growth of red pine seedlings. In the shrub-dominated area, cattle grazed the shrub leaves well. The vegetation cover of the area decreased rapidly and sweet vernal grass began to appear continuously. These findings indicated that if red pine trees are thinned and grazing of understory vegetation is continued, Japanese red pine forests will change to the Zoysia-type grassland mixed with red pines. In this case, some newly growing red pine seedlings should be removed because cattle do not graze on these seedlings, which will then rapidly grow and suppress the growth of Japanese lawn grass.

Journal

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top