Exploring the potential of rising plate meter techniques to analyse ecosystem services from multi-species grasslands

Abstract

Context Continuous grazing in extensive grassland creates grazed and ungrazed patches, which are important for ecosystem service delivery. One possibility for optimising ecosystem services is to target a defined compressed sward height, which can be measured with rising plate meters supplied with internal global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers. Aims We assessed the ability of a modern rising plate meter to map long-term patch structure in extensively grazed grassland as a means to improve estimation of phytodiversity at paddock scale as a paramount ecosystem service. Methods The patch class proportions obtained from interpolating the georeferenced compressed sward height values were used to calculate phytodiversity indicators at paddock scale as determined by dry-weight ranking. In addition, a modern rising plate meter with internal GNSS receiver was compared with an established one without GNSS receiver. Key results The mapping of the patch classes revealed decreasing proportions of tall patches with increasing stocking intensity. Phytodiversity at paddock scale depended on the proportions of respective patches, highlighting the importance of accurate mapping of patches for ecosystem service assessment. Conclusions The new rising plate meter extends the utilisation of compressed sward height measurements into a spatial context. Patch size, spatial distribution of patches within a paddock and spatial clustering of patches, as well as repeated mapping over time, can be utilised to detect change and monitor long-term management schemes without the need for sophisticated remote-sensing applications. Implications The combination of the new rising plate meter and dry-weight ranking extends grazing management towards biodiversity monitoring in an easy-to-learn approach.