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Adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) is a grazing system that combines intensive, rapid grazing livestock rotation with relatively short grazing periods and a long recovery time after grazing. The study assesses, under Mediterranean silvopastoral systems, changes in pasture phenology and spatial variability after adopting the AMP under contrasting land cover (wooded grassland versus grassland) with a remote sensing approach based on the time-series analysis of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from remote sensing through the Landsat satellite. The study revealed an overall positive effect of rotational grazing on pasture phenology and NDVI spatial variability. The AMP adoption resulted in higher estimated values of NDVI at the beginning (under grassland land cover), the end, and the peak of the growing season, while no differences were observed in parameters estimating the length of the growing season. The spatial variability of NDVI was always lower under AMP than in continuously grazed areas, except in the early stages of the growing season under grassland land cover. The results suggested that in a relatively short period (4-5 years), the AMP grazing system can represent a strategy to improve forage availability and exploitation by grazing animals under low stocking rates in extensively managed Mediterranean silvopastoral systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the ability of an ensemble of crop models (MME) to predict the impacts of fertilization and crop residue management on soil organic carbon (SOC) and aboveground biomass (AGB) in a long-term experiment (LTE) based on continuous maize cropping systems. Data from a LTE in Northern Italy were used. Treatments included continuous grain (MG) or silage (MS) maize, fertilized with mineral, cattle slurry, and farmyard manure. The MME median resulted the best predictor of the observed values. Models performance was better when simulating MG than MS, and for crops treated with mineral compared to organic fertilizers. The ability to predict the dynamics of SOC was affected by the model used and by the year × residues management and year × fertilizer interactions. The model and the residue × fertilizer interaction affected the ability to simulate AGB dynamics. Results showed that a MME can effectively predict the long-term dynamics of SOC and maize crop production under contrasting fertilization and crop residue management, and thus their potential for climate change mitigation. The uncertainty in the simulation of SOC is related to the model routines simulating SOC partitioning and to the complexity of the interactions between management factors over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we report a lipidomics approach to study the effects of two diet systems on the composition of ovine milk. Milk from two groups of Sarda sheep grazing on 40% (P40) and 60% (P60) of pasture were analyzed by a UHPLC-QTOF-MS analytical platform and data submitted to multivariate statistical analysis. Pairwise partial least square discriminant analysis of the lipid profile of the data was carried out to classify samples and to find discriminant lipids. The two dietary groups were characterized by differences in triacylglycerols, phosphocholines and phosphatidylethanolamines levels. Discriminants of the P40 group were TG and PC containing in their backbone saturated medium chain FA thus suggesting greater de novo fatty synthesis in the mammary gland. On the other hand, the P60 group was characterized by TG and PC formed by unsaturated long chain FA originating from the diet or from lipid mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing climate change, which is threatening grassland agroecosystems throughout Europe, is also evident in the Italian grasslands. These systems, often located in marginal areas, are species-rich ecosystems characterized by variable, and often unreliable, grass and forage production and strongly dependent on interactions between climate, soil and agricultural management practices (e.g. land abandonment, lack of investments on innovation, stocking rates reduction, etc.), making them very sensitive and vulnerable to climate change. This review draws from the scientific literature the impacts of current and expected climatic changes on grassland and forage crop systems framed in three different bio-climatic zones of Italy, namely the Alpine, Continental and Mediterranean, and focussing on: i) grassland biodiversity and vegetation; and ii) forage production and quality. The main aims of this review are to: i) revise the existing literature in the domain, highlighting different or common trends among different Italian biogeographical regions; ii) provide information on the main climatic impacts analysed and drivers involved in the studied evolutions; and iii) point out the knowledge gaps currently pending in order to hypothesize the future scenarios of research in this sector. Even if this review has pointed out differences in approaches, adopted methodologies and purposes of conducted researches, some common trends can be highlighted, though located in three different environments. Expected warming and modification on rainfall pattern will produce deep changes in vegetation of grassland types, with reduction or the disappearance of cold tolerant species and a spread of xeric/thermophilus ones and shrubby vegetation and with a general upward shift of vegetation types in mountain areas. Moreover, a general reduction of aboveground biomass is expected, as summer droughts is considered a main driver able to force grassland productivity. Finally, warming and rainfall reduction are considered the main factors able to reduce forage quality and palatability of grasslands, as a consequence of reduction of nitrogen content in the available biomass and of the higher spread of less unpalatable species and shrubs. The hypothesis is that the information gained from this review can provide insights on the current level of knowledge on the expected impacts of climate change on Italian grassland systems, and support the development of policy strategies for adaptation at national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under Mediterranean conditions, the impacts of both organic and mineral N fertilization on soil Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emission can be controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the soil GHG emissions and the net Global Warming Potential (GWP) in a Mediterranean irrigated forage system under different fertilization treatments. Three N fertilization options were compared for two years in a double-crop rotation of silage maize and Italian ryegrass for hay: cattle slurry (SL), solid fraction of slurry (SO) and mineral fertilizer with a nitrification inhibitor (MI). The soil CO 2 , N 2 O and CH 4 fluxes were highly influenced by the interaction between treatment and date. The maximum values of GHG emissions were observed after fertilizations, to a different extent depending on the fertilizer. In the net GWP reference year, soil respiration (SR) was higher in SO (46.26 ± 3.26 Mg ha −1  yr −1 of CO 2 ) than SL (30.03 ± 0.40 Mg ha −1  yr −1 ) and MI (23.71 ± 0.57 Mg ha −1  yr −1 ). However, the C sequestration was higher in SO than in the other treatments. The N 2 O fluxes were higher in SL (11.5 ± 5.2 kg ha −1  yr −1 of N 2 O) than in SO (3.4 ± 1.8 kg ha −1  yr −1 ), while the MI had intermediate values (6.5 ± 1.4 kg ha −1  yr −1 ). No differences were observed in cumulative CH 4 emissions. The SO resulted as a net GWP sink (-9.86 ± 3.05 Mg yr −1 of CO 2 eq based on SR), while the SL and MI (9.79 ± 1.41 and 1.34 ± 1.87 Mg yr −1 , respectively, based on SR) resulted as a source. The SO seemed to have a higher potential in terms of reducing GHG emissions by maintaining adequate levels of agronomic efficiency. This study put in evidence how different organic fertilizers can have contrasting impacts on GHG emissions providing some insights on their different potential mitigation roles under Mediterranean conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oversowing of legume-rich mixtures is a management practice gaining importance in Mediterranean silvopastoral farms due to enhanced forage production, quality, and ecosystem service provision. However, the oversowing of legume species can be expensive in silvopastoral farms due to the high cost of legume seeds and seeding operations and low persistence under inadequate management. The study aimed to assess the long-term impacts of legume-rich mixtures oversowing on pasture production of Mediterranean wooded grasslands with a remote sensing approach. The study was conducted on six Dehesa farms in Western Spain, where legume mixtures had been sown in different years from 2002 to 2015 in part of the farms. The effects of legume species oversowing were assessed by analyzing the variation across years of a set of derived vegetation indices in sown and unsown areas of each farm. Among all considered vegetation indices, the Simple Ratio (SR) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) showed the highest capacity in estimating grassland yield (Pearson's r = 0.58 and 0.52, P < 0.01, respectively) and N content (r = 0.52 and 0.48, P < 0.05, respectively). All normalized vegetation indices increased after the sowing and remained significantly higher than before sowing (P < 0.001) for the whole monitoring period. Furthermore, the sowing also positively affected the temporal stability of each vegetation index, being interannual variability significantly higher (P < 0.01) before the sowing than after. The study confirmed the hypothesis that the oversowing of legume-rich mixtures in Mediterranean wooded grasslands effectively improves intra- and interannual biomass production and stability. Remote sensing using Landsat images proved to be an effective tool to assess the impacts of grassland management practices in the long term in silvopastoral systems. • Pasture yield and quality are related to satellite vegetation indices in Mediterranean wood pastures. • Simple Ratio and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index are the best predictors of pasture yield and quality. • Sowing legume rich mixtures increased pasture yield in the long-term. • High interannual variability of pasture yield is halted after sowing legume rich mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]