Multi-functional pasture rejuvenation

应用适应研究将展示具有成本效益的创新做法，使牧草生产者能够振兴牧场，以实现生产、气候适应和火灾风险管理目标。其目的是确定放牧做法是否单独，或与灌木清除和播种结合起来，能够刺激牧场生产力，增强土壤固碳，从而导致气候适应和缓解。在不列颠哥伦比亚省中部内陆的卡里布地区，至少有三个农场将进行现场试验，单独和结合调查饲草播种、机械刷毛和规定的放牧。选址、基线措施和处理申请将于2021年5月启动，2021年秋季全面实施。试验将在随后的两个生长季节进行监测，在处理前和处理后两年进行牧草、土壤碳、土壤湿度和火灾危险评级的年度测量。推广活动将包括实地考察日、项目概况介绍、Cariboo农业研究联盟社交媒体上的年度更新以及不列颠哥伦比亚省饲料委员会时事通讯(The Forager)。研究结果还将构成科学硕士论文、博士后培训和经验以及一本或多本同行评议的科学出版物的基础。

Applied adaptation research will demonstrate cost-effective, innovative practices enabling forage producers to rejuvenate pastures to achieve production, climate adaptation and fire risk management goals. The objective is to determine if grazing practices alone, or in combination with brush clearing and seed sowing, can stimulate pasture productivity, enhance soil carbon sequestration, leading to climate adaptation and mitigation. A minimum of three farms in the Cariboo, a region in the central interior of British Columbia, will host on-site trials investigating forage seeding, mechanical brushing and prescribed grazing, alone and in combination. Site selection, baseline measures and treatment applications will be initiated in May 2021, with full implementation by autumn 2021. The trial will be monitored over two subsequent growing seasons, with annual measures of forages, soil carbon, soil moisture and fire hazard ratings carried out pre-treatment and at 2 years post-treatment. Extension activities will include field days, a project fact sheet, annual updates in the Cariboo Agricultural Research Alliance social media and the Forage Council of BC newsletter (the 'Forager'). Results will also form the basis for a Master of Science thesis, post-doctoral training and experience, and one or more peer-reviewed scientific publications.