Abstract

Trampling, vegetation harvesting, and excrement spreading are the means by which ruminants interact with the ecosystem. Several mechanisms were described for the influence of vegetation harvesting and excrement spreading on the ecosystem, whereas the influence of trampling is poorly understood. The goal of the present study was to determine the influence of trampling by small ruminants on the ecosystem. The study took place in 2018 and 2019 in the north-western Negev. Each plot included a fenced control-enclosure subplot that is protected from grazing; its remaining area was grazed by a controlled sheep flock. The findings indicate that the crumbling of the surface soil and its mixing with the vegetation, caused by trampling, increased litter production six- to nine-fold compared with the control. The plant litter was better composted by two- to seven times, and its lignin and protein contents were increased by 10%. We suggest that the findings indicate the positive influence of trampling by small ruminants in enhancing soil fertility, even under arid climatic conditions and loamy soil. Nevertheless, a further experimental study is needed, in additional experimental sites, in order to work out practical guidelines for the farmers.

摘要

踩踏，收获植被和排泄粪便是反刍动物与生态系统相互作用的方式。描述了几种机制来影响植被的收获和排泄物扩散对生态系统的影响，而对践踏的影响知之甚少。本研究的目的是确定小反刍动物践踏对生态系统的影响。该研究于2018年和2019年在西北内盖夫进行。每个地块都包括一个带围栏的控制机柜子地块，该子地块可以防止放牧。剩下的区域被一群受控的绵羊放牧了。研究结果表明，践踏引起的表层土壤的粉碎及其与植被的混合，使垫料产量比对照提高了六到九倍。该植物凋落物的堆肥效果更好，为二至七倍，其木质素和蛋白质含量提高了10％。我们建议，这些发现表明即使在干旱气候条件和肥沃土壤下，小反刍动物践踏对增强土壤肥力也具有积极作用。但是，在其他试验地点还需要进行进一步的试验研究，以便为农民制定切实可行的指导方针。