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Agronomy
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Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition
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Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Grassland and Pasture Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2025 | Viewed by 6564

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mohamed Abdalla

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK
Interests: agricultural sustainability; carbon sequestration in soils; greenhouse gas emissions from soils; climate change mitigation and adaptation; simulation modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of our first Special Issue in Agronomy, "Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability", the Editorial Office is willing to launch a second volume of the Special Issue. The topic, the editorial team, and the submission process will remain the same. 

Grassland is an important ecosystem that covers approximately 40% of the global land surface and 70% of agricultural area. It produces about 10% of terrestrial plant biomass and 20–30% of soil organic carbon (SOC). Grassland delivers vital multiple ecosystem services, including food production, biodiversity, climate regulation, water quality, mediation of water flows, erosion control and landscape, and recreation; however, grassland is threatened by many factors, such as overgrazing, drought, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Increasing grassland productivity and sustainability requires a more widespread application of efficient and cost-effective management as well as polices. Strategies with which to improve grassland productivity, such as optimizing N fertilizer rates, stocking rates, legumes and supplements, grazing management, the manipulation of daily herbage allowance, the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration, and improving the biodiversity as well as the proper use of grass byproducts. This Special Issue focuses on all strategies that improve the productivity and sustainability of grasslands. Research articles, review articles, and short communications are invited.

Dr. Mohamed Abdalla
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • grassland
  • production
  • grazing
  • degradation
  • GHG emissions
  • climate change
  • biodiversity
  • modeling

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1984 KiB  
Article
Policy Gaps and Diverging Perceptions of Effectiveness: An Assessment of Sustainable Permanent Grassland Management in Switzerland
by Simone Quatrini, Erik Hunter, Sophie Tindale, Paul Newell Price, Lynn Frewer and Eva Lieberherr
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2599; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112599 - 4 Nov 2024
Viewed by 431
Abstract
This article focuses on the effectiveness of the Swiss policy mix promoting sustainable permanent grassland (PG) management in the country. We used the Cascade Framework and stakeholder’s sentiment analysis to qualitatively assess propagation pathways for generating policy effectiveness in terms of PGs’ deliverance [...] Read more.
This article focuses on the effectiveness of the Swiss policy mix promoting sustainable permanent grassland (PG) management in the country. We used the Cascade Framework and stakeholder’s sentiment analysis to qualitatively assess propagation pathways for generating policy effectiveness in terms of PGs’ deliverance of ecosystem services (ESs), to ultimately enable sustainable PG management. We employed a mixed-method approach combining a review of governmental documents, formal policies and policy evaluations with semi-structured interviews with Swiss stakeholders. Through this analysis, we identified 16 policy instruments influencing PG management, including 3 regulatory instruments, 11 incentive instruments, and 2 informational instruments. Results showed that these instruments primarily aim to promote sustainable PG management by employing measures targeting the very structure and composition of the landscape. As such, we found gaps in the types of instruments employed, particularly in terms of demand-side policies, which can explain the poor policy outcomes in relation to a number of environmental quality objectives. In parallel, we found that most of the interviewed stakeholders considered Swiss grassland policy as generally effective, mainly because it was perceived as democratic. While this study focuses on Switzerland, its novel conceptual and methodological approach of using the cascade-framework for policy analysis can be applied to other biogeographical regions and socio-economic contexts. Our findings can improve the calibration of future policy instruments to enable land managers and grassland landscape users to restore or maintain PGs in good ecological condition, by targeting mechanisms that can ensure achieving environmental quality objectives while remaining democratically legitimate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 4717 KiB  
Article
Crude Protein as an Indicator of Pasture Availability and Quality: A Validation of Two Complementary Sensors
by João Serrano, Shakib Shahidian and Francisco J. Moral
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2310; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102310 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 552
Abstract
This study evaluated the possibility of using two complementary electronic sensors (rising plate meter (RPM) and active optical sensor (AOS)) to obtain a global indicator, pasture crude protein (CP) in kg ha−1. This parameter simultaneously integrates two essential dimensions: pasture dry [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the possibility of using two complementary electronic sensors (rising plate meter (RPM) and active optical sensor (AOS)) to obtain a global indicator, pasture crude protein (CP) in kg ha−1. This parameter simultaneously integrates two essential dimensions: pasture dry matter availability (dry matter (DM) in kg ha−1) measured by RPM, and pasture quality (measured by AOS), and supports management decisions, particularly those related to the stocking rates, supplementation, or rotation of animals between grazing parks. The experimental work was carried out on a dryland biodiverse and representative pasture, and consisted of sensor measurements, followed by the collection of a total of 144 pasture samples, distributed between three dates of the pasture vegetative cycle of 2023/2024 (Autumn—December 2023; Winter—February 2024; and Spring—May 2024). These samples were subjected to laboratory reference analysis to determine DM and CP. Sensor measurements (compressed height (HRPM) in the case of RPM, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the case of AOS) and the results of reference laboratory analysis were used to develop prediction models. The best correlations between CP (kg ha−1) and “HRPM × NDVI” were obtained in the initial and intermediate phases of the cycle (autumn: R2 = 0.86 and LCC = 0.80; and Winter; R2 = 0.74 and LCC = 0.81). In the later phase of the cycle (spring), the accuracy of the forecasting model decreased dramatically (R2 = 0.28 and LCC = 0.42), a trend that accompanies the decrease in the pasture moisture content (PMC) and CP. The results of this study show not only the importance of extending the database to other pasture types in order to enhance the process of feed supplement determination, but also the potential for the research and development of proximal and remote sensing tools to support pasture monitoring and animal production management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 1367 KiB  
Article
Canopy Characteristics of Gamba Grass Cultivars and Their Effects on the Weight Gain of Beef Cattle under Grazing
by Gustavo José Braga, Allan Kardec Braga Ramos, Marcelo Ayres Carvalho, Carlos Eduardo Lazarini Fonseca and Claudio Takao Karia
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2293; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102293 - 6 Oct 2024
Viewed by 548
Abstract
Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) is a tussock-forming forage species adapted to acid soils of Brazilian savannas and cultivated for grazing pastures. Four decades since its release, Planaltina prevails as the most commercialized cultivar of the species, even though the new cultivar [...] Read more.
Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) is a tussock-forming forage species adapted to acid soils of Brazilian savannas and cultivated for grazing pastures. Four decades since its release, Planaltina prevails as the most commercialized cultivar of the species, even though the new cultivar BRS Sarandi could be a better alternative for Gamba-grass-based farms by presenting a greater leaf:stem ratio. The objective of this study was to evaluate the average daily live weight gain (ADG) of Nellore bulls (Bos indicus) for two Gamba grass cultivars—Planaltina and Sarandi. The experiment was conducted in Planaltina, Federal District, Brazil, for 3 years, namely 2018, 2018–2019, and 2020. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design with two treatments and three replicates, each one continuously stocked at three stocking rates (SR)—1.3, 2.6, and 4 young bulls/ha. Canopy height (CH), forage mass (FM), plant-part proportion (green leaf, stem, and dead material), and nutritive value were evaluated. In 2018, mean ADG for Sarandi pastures was greater (0.690 kg/bull/d) than that of Planaltina (0.490 kg/bull/d) (p < 0.10). In the subsequent year (2018–2019), there was no effect of cultivar (p > 0.10), while in 2020 the ADG was again affected by cultivar (p < 0.10), confirming the advantage of Sarandi (0.790 kg/bull/d) over Planaltina (0.650 kg/bull/d). In 2018 and 2020, the percentage of stems for Sarandi was about 3–6 pp less than for Planaltina (p < 0.10). As well as for stems, Sarandi pastures presented a shorter CH in 2028 and 2020 (6–7%) (p < 0.10). The positive high correlation of leaf:stem ratio with ADG (r = 0.70) probably predisposed the superiority of Sarandi over Planaltina. The distinguishing plant-part composition of Sarandi canopy promotes increasing weight gain of beef cattle when compared to cv. Planaltina. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 3916 KiB  
Article
NDVI Prediction of Mediterranean Permanent Grasslands Using Soil Moisture Products
by Filippo Milazzo, Luca Brocca and Tom Vanwalleghem
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1798; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081798 - 15 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1037
Abstract
Vegetation indices are widely used to assess vegetation dynamics. The Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) is the most widely used metric in agriculture, frequently as a proxy for different physiological and agronomical aspects, such as crop yield or biomass, crop density, or drought stress. [...] Read more.
Vegetation indices are widely used to assess vegetation dynamics. The Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) is the most widely used metric in agriculture, frequently as a proxy for different physiological and agronomical aspects, such as crop yield or biomass, crop density, or drought stress. Much effort has therefore been directed to NDVI forecasting, which is usually correlated with precipitation. However, in Mediterranean and arid climates, the relationship is more complex due to prolonged dry periods and sparse precipitation events. In this study, we forecast the NDVI 7 and 30 days ahead for Mediterranean permanent grasslands using a machine learning Random Forest (RF) model for the period from 2015 to 2022. The model compares two soil moisture products as predictors: simulated soil moisture values based on in situ soil moisture sensor observations and remote sensing-derived observations of Soil Water Index (SWI) values. We further analyzed the anomalies of the predicted NDVI using the z-score. The results show that both products can be used as reliable predictors for permanent grasslands in Mediterranean areas. Predictions at 7 days are more accurate and better forecast the negative effect of drought on vegetation dynamics than those at 30 days. This study shows the potential of using a simple methodology and readily available data to predict the grassland growth dynamics in the Mediterranean area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 4671 KiB  
Article
Geographical Environment and Plant Functional Group Shape the Spatial Variation Pattern of Plant Carbon Density in Subalpine-Alpine Grasslands of the Eastern Loess Plateau, China
by Manhou Xu, Jiaying Wang, Kunkun Wei, Jie Li and Xiuli Yu
Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071420 - 29 Jun 2024
Viewed by 617
Abstract
The carbon density of subalpine-alpine grasslands (SGs) is significantly vital to sustaining the carbon cycle in global terrestrial ecosystems. However, on the Loess Plateau of China, it remains unclear how the geographical environment and plant functional groups affect the spatial variation pattern of [...] Read more.
The carbon density of subalpine-alpine grasslands (SGs) is significantly vital to sustaining the carbon cycle in global terrestrial ecosystems. However, on the Loess Plateau of China, it remains unclear how the geographical environment and plant functional groups affect the spatial variation pattern of plant carbon density in these grasslands. Here, nine typical SGs distributed in the eastern Loess Plateau with elevations ranging from 1720 to 3045 m were investigated. The biomass indices from grassland plants of different functional groups were investigated using plot surveys. The Kriging interpolation method was used to explore the spatial variation pattern of plant carbon density along geographical gradients. We found that (1) the total plant carbon density of SGs was 2676.825 g C/m2 on the eastern plateau, with 37.07%, 37.50%, and 25.43% contributed by the northern, central, and southern areas, respectively. Above- (666.338 g C/m2) and belowground (2010.488 g C/m2) carbon density accounted for 24.9% and 75.11% of the total, respectively. (2) At the horizontal scale, the plant carbon density in the northern SGs was high in the northwest and low in the southeast; in the central SGs, it was low in the northwest and high in the southeast; and in the southern SGs, it was high in the southwest and low in the northeast. At the vertical scale, plant carbon density in all SGs decreased with increasing altitude. (3) The carbon density of grasses, forbs, and sedges was 247.419 g C/m2, 26.073 g C/m2, and 23.471 g C/m2, respectively. With increased latitude, the carbon density of all functional groups (grasses, forbs, and sedges) decreased; the carbon density of forbs and grasses increased with increased longitude, while that of sedges decreased; and with increased altitude, the carbon density of all functional groups increased. In conclusion, the spatial variation pattern of plant carbon density in the SGs was not only influenced by the geographical environment but also by the plant functional groups at the horizontal and vertical scales on the eastern Loess Plateau of China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 6314 KiB  
Article
Modeling Gross Primary Production (GPP) of a Mediterranean Grassland in Central Spain Using Sentinel-2 NDVI and Meteorological Field Information
by Víctor Cicuéndez, Rosa Inclán, Enrique P. Sánchez-Cañete, Carlos Román-Cascón, César Sáenz and Carlos Yagüe
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061243 - 7 Jun 2024
Viewed by 748
Abstract
Mediterranean grasslands provide different ecosystems and social and economic services to the Mediterranean basin. Specifically, in Spain, pastures occupy more than 55% of the Spanish surface. Farmers and policymakers need to estimate the Gross Primary Production (GPP) to make sustainable management of these [...] Read more.
Mediterranean grasslands provide different ecosystems and social and economic services to the Mediterranean basin. Specifically, in Spain, pastures occupy more than 55% of the Spanish surface. Farmers and policymakers need to estimate the Gross Primary Production (GPP) to make sustainable management of these ecosystems and to study the role of grasslands acting as sinks or sources of Carbon in the context of climate change. High-frequency satellites, such as Sentinel-2, have opened the door to study GPP with a higher spatial and lower revisit time (10 m and 5 days). Therefore, the overall objective of this research is to estimate an ecosystem light use efficiency (eLUE) GPP model for a Mediterranean grassland in central Spain using Sentinel-2 NDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), complemented with meteorological information at the field scale for a relatively long period (from January 2018 to July 2020). The GPP models studied in this research were the MODIS GPP product, as well as the four eLUE models built with MODIS or Sentinel-2 NDVI and complemented by the inclusion of minimum temperature (Tmin) and soil water content (SWC). The models were validated through the GPP obtained from an eddy-covariance flux tower located in the study site (GPP_T). Results showed that the MODIS GPP product underestimated the GPP_T of the grassland ecosystem. Besides this, the approach of the eLUE concept was valid for estimating GPP in this Mediterranean grassland ecosystem. In addition, the models showed an improvement using Sentinel-2 NDVI compared to MODIS GPP product and compared to the models that used MODIS NDVI due to its higher spatial and temporal resolution. The inclusion of Tmin and SWC was also a determinant in improving GPP models during winter and summer periods. This work also illustrates how the main wind directions of the study area must be considered to appropriately estimate the footprint of the eddy covariance flux tower. In conclusion, this study is the first step to efficiently estimating the GPP of Mediterranean grasslands using the Sentinel-2 NDVI with complementary meteorological field information to make the management of these ecosystems sustainable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 5056 KiB  
Article
Agriculturally Improved and Semi-Natural Permanent Grasslands Provide Complementary Ecosystem Services in Swedish Boreal Landscapes
by Guillermo Aguilera Nuñez, Anders Glimskär, Giulia Zacchello, Richard M. Francksen, Mark J. Whittingham and Matthew Hiron
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 567; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030567 - 12 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1756
Abstract
Permanent grasslands cover more than a third of European agricultural land and are important for a number of ecosystem services. Permanent grasslands used for agriculture are broadly separated into agriculturally improved and semi-natural grasslands. High cultural and natural values linked to semi-natural grasslands [...] Read more.
Permanent grasslands cover more than a third of European agricultural land and are important for a number of ecosystem services. Permanent grasslands used for agriculture are broadly separated into agriculturally improved and semi-natural grasslands. High cultural and natural values linked to semi-natural grasslands are well documented. However, in boreal and hemi-boreal agricultural landscapes, less information is available about the areal coverage of improved permanent grasslands and their role for ecosystem service provision and biodiversity. In Sweden, grasslands are administratively separated into semi-natural (i.e., land that cannot be ploughed) or arable (i.e., improved temporary or permanent grassland on land that can be ploughed). We used data from a large-scale environmental monitoring program to show that improved permanent grassland (i.e., permanent grasslands on arable fields) may be a previously unrecognised large area of the agricultural land use in Sweden. We show that improved permanent grasslands together with semi-natural grasslands are both comparable but also complementary providers of a range of ecosystem services (plant species richness, plant resources for pollinators and forage amount for livestock production). However, as expected, semi-natural grasslands with the highest-level AESs (special values) show high species richness values for vascular plants, plants indicating traditional semi-natural management conditions and red-listed species. Improved permanent grasslands on arable fields are likely an underestimated but integral part of the agricultural economy and ecological function in boreal landscapes that together with high nature value semi-natural grasslands provide a broad range of ecosystem services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grassland Productivity and Sustainability — 2nd Edition)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Assessing Sustainability of Miscanthus and Willow As Global Bioenergy Crops Under Current and Future Climate Conditions

Authors: Mohamed Abdalla

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