Management of Grazing Systems: From Decision and Biophysical Models to Principles for Action

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Abstract

Changes in forage systems taking into account new environmental issues often lead to a reappraisal of the agricultural practices by farmers. These changes also raise new issues about the relevancy of traditional practices of grassland management. We therefore propose an analytical scheme to describe a production plan compatible with land resources (sown or native grasslands). To that end, we present a conceptual model that can be used to design a set of grazing management practices suited to a diversity of specifications. It involves of a combination of defoliation and fertilizer practices allowing different targets to be achieved in terms of herbage yield, composition, and grassland biodiversity. Finally, we suggest several management principles underlying these changes in forage systems. These management principles allow to take decisions on a monthly to yearly basis, to assess the conformity between farm resources and farmers’ objectives, and to coordinate different combinations of herd and land at different periods of the year.

Abstract

Decision Extensification Fertilization Grazing Model 

Résumé – Gestion des systèmes de pâturage: des modèles biophysiques et de décision aux principes pour l’action.

Les transformations des systèmes fourragers nécessaires à la prise en compte de nouvelles préoccupations (environnement, qualité des produits) se traduisent souvent par une désintensification. Il s’agit d’abord de reconsidérer les entités gérées par les éleveurs. Nous proposons un cadre d’analyse permettant de décliner un projet d’ensemble en objectifs cohérents attachés à chacune de ces entités et compatibles avec les ressources en surfaces, en fourrages cultivés ou spontanés. Ces choix remettent aussi en cause les références habituelles sur la conduite des prairies. C’est pourquoi nous présentons ensuite un modèle conceptuel qui permet de définir des itinéraires techniques adaptés à une diversité de cahiers des charges, d’une part en caractérisant les modes de conduite à partir des pratiques de défoliation et de fertilisation (efficience d’utilisation des ressources, flexibilité), d’autre part en rendant compte de leurs effets sur la production de biomasse et sur la diversité spécifique et fonctionnelle des végétations pâturées. Enfin, nous énonçons quelques principes comme autant de préalables à la création d’outils permettant d’accompagner de telles transformations. Ces principes permettent de raisonner les décisions pluriannuelles (cohérences entre les ressources et les objectifs) et annuelles (coordination entre les différentes “saisons-pratiques”).

Mots clés

Décision Extensification Fertilization Modèle Pâturage 
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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.UMR Agrosystèmes et développément territorial INRACastanetFrance

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