For the ecologically vulnerable Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), hypoxia is increasingly becoming an extremely important environmental risk factor that significantly affects the health of both humans and livestock in the plateau region, as well as hindering high-quality development. To focus on the problem of hypoxia, it is especially urgent to study the surface oxygen concentration (i.e., oxygen concentration). However, the existing research is not sufficient, and there is a lack of oxygen concentration data collected on the QTP. In this study, through the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research and field measurements, the oxygen concentration data and corresponding geographic environmental data were collected at 807 measurement points on the QTP from 2017 to 2022, and the spatiotemporal oxygen concentration patterns were estimated. This work filled the gaps in the measurement and research of oxygen concentrations on the QTP while providing data support for analyses of the influencing factors and spatiotemporal characteristics of oxygen concentrations, which is of great significance for promoting the construction of ecological civilization in the QTP region.

How to cite: Hu, X., Chen, Y., Huo, W., Jia, W., Ma, H., Ma, W., Jiang, L., Zhang, G., Ma, Y., Tang, H., and Shi, P.: Surface oxygen concentration on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (2017–2022), EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-16294, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16294, 2024.

The runoff ratio is important in hydrology and water resource management because it helps quantify the efficiency of a watershed or catchment area in handling precipitation. The runoff ratio can vary widely depending on factors such as land cover (e.g., urban, forested, agricultural), soil type and permeability, land slope, and climate.  Some previous research revealed that the number of days of precipitation is the major determinant of runoff ratio, while how runoff sensitivity changes at different ratio has been not fully understood. Here, we use runoff ratio as a hydrological indicator to explore the influencing factors of changes in runoff sensitivity. Since land cover types have not changed a lot in the UK after 2000. We calculated runoff ratio for catchments in the UK during 2000 to 2015 and its sensitivity to a range of controlling factors. This study will outline the key findings on runoff ratio controls, which will then be tested in other regions to determine the relative role of land cover change.

How to cite: Xue, P., Spracklen, D., and Holden, J.: Exploring runoff sensitivity based on runoff ratio in the UK during 2000 to 2015, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-16547, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16547, 2024.

Groundwater recharge is one of the key Ecosystem Services (ES) supplied by protected areas (PAs). However, such drivers as biodiversity loss, climate, and land use change affect the capacity for groundwater recharge (GRC). National-scale PA studies focused on GRC ES are scarce, thus leaving a knowledge gap on a global scale. Therefore, it is critical to map and assess the groundwater recharge spatiotemporal dynamics in supporting human wellbeing. In this study we mapped and assessed GRC at different timeframes (1990, 2000, 2012, 2018, 2022) in the PAs of Lithuania at national scale. For the model we used 15 indicators such as annual average evapotranspiration and precipitation, topographic properties (slope inclination, topographic position index, topographic wetness index, roughness index, curvature index, drainage density, lineament density), lithology, geomorphology, soil (texture, depth, imperviousness), land use (Corine Land Cover, Esri Land Cover). The results show that the highest GRC is observed in PAs to the west of the country, closer to the Baltic Sea, and PAs located in the eastern part of Lithuania with dense network of lakes, less intensive agriculture, fewer impervious areas, and soil properties more suitable for water infiltration. Lesser GRC is observed in urban PAs with higher imperviousness (Vilnius city). PAs in south and southwest of Lithuania with more intense agriculture practices, higher drainage density, and less water bodies also show lower GRC, as well as coastal PAs with sandy soils, no freshwater bodies, and higher roughness. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant difference between GRC spatial distribution through different years due to low variation of evapotranspiration and precipitation values, and lesser land use changes within the PAs. Our findings contribute to a better understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of one of the key provisioning ES in the Lithuanian PAs – the GRC. Mapping and assessing groundwater recharge support better management of the PAs, and contributes to achieving global and regional (e.g., Sustainable Development Goals, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030) policy targets.

How to cite: Kalinauskas, M. and Pereira, P.: Multi-temporal assessment of Groundwater Recharge Capacity in Protected Areas of Lithuania, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-17956, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-17956, 2024.

The Crau plain, 600 km2 located in South-East France, is mainly associated with the production of high quality hay (around 15,000 ha) irrigated from open-channel networks. Traditional irrigation practices consist in high discharge in order to reach the end of long plots, the excess of water being both drained by run-off to ditches and percolated to the so-called “Crau aquifer”. The aquifer recharge depends for around 70% on hay irrigation, the organization of its management thus relies on the sustainability of irrigation practices. However, hay production faces social and physical pressures from local to regional scales.

• Socially, water management in the fields requires to be fine-tuned to balance working time dedicated to irrigation (difficult labor conditions with high workload and night shifts) with water flows throughout irrigated plots, farms and canals.
• Physically, the low-performance hay irrigation is under tension because of local land-use changes due to the development of urban areas and other agricultural production (orchards and horticulture), in a context of hydraulic infrastructures requiring important rehabilitation works.
• Locally, return flows provide a mix of interdependent services, the aquifer being used for the extraction of drinking water for 300,000 inhabitants, for other irrigated crops like orchards, and for industries.
• Regionally, water comes from an historical inter-basin transfer, passing through a succession of hydraulic infrastructures and hydroelectric power plant before entering the plain. The climate change impacts on upstream precipitation make incoming water being less abundant, leading to water restrictions as experienced in 2022.

The sustainability of water transfers questions the integration of land and water planning. The aim of our research is to propose an original perspective coupling the characterization of water flows in relation to irrigation practices at the plot and scheme scales with the evaluation of farmers leeway in terms of economic and organizational constraints. The objective of this communication is to present each part of this work and to draw up further correspondences between the hydraulic and economic dimensions. First, an agrarian diagnosis revealed the lack of information on water flows, motivating in turn the original development of affordable measuring devices to track water in an irrigated block and automate parts of irrigation practices. Second, the context of water and land increasing scarcities motivated the characterization of the vulnerability of hay productions in terms of access to water, labor and markets. These studies aimed to directly contribute to water management in the Crau plain, respectively in the search for technical optimization to use water in the agricultural system more efficiently (contributing to reduce working flows) and for the definition and evaluation of strategies for adapting agriculture to meet the challenges of farm economics, groundwater recharge and water conservation. Finally, we will draw on both inputs to assess land cover scenarios and their impacts on aquifer recharge; we may also evaluate possible impacts of water restrictions on land uses.

How to cite: Belaud, G., Daudin, K., Montginoul, M., Charron, F., Igbui, P., Leauthaud, C., and Vandôme, P.: Sustainability of water transfers in the Crau plain, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-17364, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-17364, 2024.

A nuanced understanding of crop patterns is pivotal for accurate crop yield and irrigation water use calculations, holding profound implications for national food security and sustainable environmental development. In the water-scarce North China Plain (NCP), where agricultural intensity faces challenges due to groundwater suppression and ecological restoration, this study employs random forest classification on Sentinel-2 Multispectral Instrument (MSI) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imagery (OLI) time series to reveal the spatial and temporal dynamics of crop patterns from 2013 to 2022. Our classification, featuring a finer scheme (nine categories), higher spatial resolution (10/30 m), and extensive field sampling points, aligns well with China's statistical yearbooks. The annual mapping exposes a shift towards economic forests, mainly from other food crops, across all NCP provinces. Distinct spatial patterns emerge, with wheat-maize rotation decreasing at higher latitudes, countered by an increase in single maize and economic forests. Despite these shifts, wheat-maize rotation remains dominant, and seasonal fallow is concentrated in regions with poor irrigation, notably in groundwater funnel areas. Overall, our crop pattern mapping provides a robust dataset for water conservation and land management, contributing to regional resilience planning.

How to cite: Dong, L., Long, D., Zhang, C., Cui, Y., and Scanlon, B. R.: Fine mapping of crop patterns in the North China Plain from 2013 ‒ 2022, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-14569, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-14569, 2024.

Most of the floodplain ecosystems in the world have been reclaimed for allowing urbanization and agriculture. In reclaimed floodplains, water is addressed in artificial canals which could have several purposes such as irrigation, soil draining, hydraulic safety of the floodplain and source of biodiversity. In this context, the main aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of artificial canal use (irrigation and receiving canals) crossing the Life Green4Blue project floodplain area on water quality. The study area is located within the Po plain (Italy) characterized by heavy reclamation activities for agricultural purposes in the last century. The irrigation canals, used for agricultural purposes, are fed during summer season (from April to September) by the Emiliano Romagnolo Canal which carries water from the Po River. The receiving canals, larger than irrigation canals, are mainly used as discharging canals for both irrigation and draining canal and to lesser extent for irrigation purposes. During the autumn and winter seasons (from October to March), both type of canals is used for hydraulic safety of the investigated floodplain area by keeping the water level of them low. The water survey was monthly conducted from the beginning of 2020 till December 2023. The cluster analysis (CA) showed a clear distinction between water of receiving canals and that from irrigation canals. According to the principal component analysis (PCA), the differences were mainly related to the amounts of nutrients and salts. In fact, water of receiving canals was characterized by higher amount of nutrients (e.g., N–NH₄, Ca, K, Mg, P and S) and higher values of electrical conductivity (EC). The poorer water quality of receiving canals can be attributed both to the water origin, namely soil leachates and water of irrigation canals that already flowed for several kilometres the agricultural land, and the absence of freshwater inflow. Therefore, the water quality index (WQI) showed higher value for the irrigation canals (67) compared to the receiving ones (61). For both canals’ type the PCA highlighted the worsening of water quality during the autumn and winter (AW) seasons. Indeed, during AW seasons a greater loading of nutrients and EC were observed compared to spring and summer (SS) seasons. The higher load of nutrients in AW compared to SS might be due to the higher nutrient leaching from soils resulting from the higher rainfalls occurring in AW seasons. In addition, the lower water flow during AW seasons prevented a ‘dilution effect’ and allowed a greater exchange of both cations and anions from the bed sediments. However, it was interesting to observe that the water quality worsening during the AW seasons was marked for irrigation canals compared to receiving ones suggesting the major role of freshwater input on water quality of such type of canals. The present study highlighted the importance of canal use on water quality. Specifically, in a view of a sustainable conservation of floodplain ecosystem services, this study showed the needing to ensure the input of freshwater in all canals’ type and throughout the year.

How to cite: De Feudis, M., Falsone, G., Trenti, W., Morsolin, A., and Vittori Antisari, L.: Canal use purposes impact the water quality: a case study within the Life Green4Blue project floodplain area , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-10846, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-10846, 2024.

The unique habitat and plateau hypoxia in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have always troubled tourists. The study of plateau hypoxia is of great significance to improve tourists' well-being and formulate related policies. In this paper, based on the data of oxygen content and blood oxygen saturation of short-term residents in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Province was divided into severe hypoxia region, hypoxia region and non-hypoxia region according to the established relationship between blood oxygen saturation and oxygen content. Combined with the results of the spatialization of short-lived population, the exposure numbers of short-lived population under different hypoxic zones in summer and winter were calculated. The results show that: 1) The distribution of tourist population in Qinghai Province presents a distribution rule of "one center gathering", and the population is mainly concentrated in the eastern region. The population density is high in the main urban areas with dense POI, and very low in woodland, remote mountain and other areas. 2) With the decrease of oxygen content, blood oxygen saturation decreased exponentially. 3) Compared with winter, short-term residents is more suitable to travel to the plateau in summer.

How to cite: Huo, W. and Shi, P.: Hypoxia exposure of short-term residents in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-16027, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16027, 2024.

Key research in movement ecology is investigating shifts in animal behavior and identifying the factors that induce alterations in movement behavior and mechanics. The impact of natural environments and human activities on the underlying behavioral processes of domestic goats are still being elucidated. We applied seasonal multivariate Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to characterize the fine-scale movements (30- second intervals) of GPS-tracked Zhongwei goats for 124 days and determine how grazing intensity, seasonal food resources, terrain factors and daylight hours affect movement behavior in the mountain grassland in China. We classified the goats’ activities as two basic behavioral states of foraging (low step length, varied and undirected turning angle) and travelling (long step lengths, low and directed turning angles). Grazing intensity, a management factor, exerted the most significant influence on goats across different seasons. Additionally, factors such as daylight hour and slope had a more pronounced impact on their movement activities compared to the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Elevation and solar radiation were found not explain much of the variability in movement behavior of goats. Their probability of foraging behavior was most likely to increase with grazing intensity, slope, diurnal hours and NDVI. In addition, the percentage time allocation of foraging was higher in spring and winter with lower food resources periods and shorten daylight hours, than summer and autumn with larger food resources and long daylight hours. The foraging percentage increased from morning to afternoon. HMMs are found useful for disentangling movement behavior and understanding how goats respond to seasonal grazing intensity, time of daylight, NDVI and slope. Our findings underscore the importance of accounting for interactions between movement behavior and gazing management, not only the environmental factors and behavioral rhythms, when assessing the movement characteristics and behavioral transitions of goats. These results are important for designing grazing management strategies that satisfy ecological and socioeconomic demands on mountain grassland ecosystems.

How to cite: Cheng, H., Johansen, K., Jin, B., and McCabe, M. F.: Seasonal movement behavior of goats related to grazing intensity and environmental variability using Hidden Markov Models, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-6526, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6526, 2024.

Groundwater is the primary reservoir of unfrozen freshwater, a critical element in the
water cycle. It is constantly extracted, which has resulted in irreversible depletion.
The significant extraction of groundwater led to a shift in the Earth's rotational pole
and has been attributed to global sea level rise, and disruption of the regional energy
budget. The extraction has influenced the soil quality and the interaction between
surface and subsurface water. The Hindon River basin, situated in the north-western
region of the Ganga plain in India, once witnessed the Indus Valley civilization, is
now facing adverse effects from anthropogenic activities. The groundwater level has
decreased by over a meter in recent decades, and the concentration of dissolved
nitrate, an indicator of pollution, has exceeded safe limits. The pollution in
groundwater has resulted in numerous severe health issues, including cancer and
liver disorders. Consequently, it is crucial to comprehend the human-induced
alterations in the water cycle, focusing on identifying pollutant sources and the
processes responsible for redistribution of water mass among different components
of the regional hydrological cycle. In this study, we have used remote sensing data in
the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to understand impact of crop patterns
on regional water budget. Chemical tracers such as stable water isotopes (δD-H₂O,
δ¹⁸O-H₂O), dissolved nitrate isotopes (δ¹⁵N-NO₃ , δ¹⁸O-NO₃ ), and ionic chemistry [NO₃^- ]
have been used to validate the model results. The initial output of the model
suggests that changes in existing cropping patterns can improve the discharge in the
river.

How to cite: Mandal, R., Sanyal, P., and Samantaray, S.: Agricultural impact on quality and quantity of groundwater in the north-western Ganga plain, India: A stable isotopes and remote sensing approach, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-17140, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-17140, 2024.

Rapid urbanization and intensive agricultural practices have resulted in considerable changes in land use and land cover (LULC), underscoring the paramount significance of land cover analysis and change detection assessments for river ecosystems. The Yamuna River, a major tributary of the Ganges, is notably polluted, particularly in the Delhi region³. Thus, the compromised Yamuna River's health in Delhi necessitates an intricate exploration of land change intensity. In this context, the study seeks to enhance comprehension of landscape changes in the urbanized expanse of Delhi and scrutinize their repercussions on the Yamuna River. The Land Change Intensity (LCI) analysis, covering the period from 2016 to 2023, was conducted to examine the evolving dynamics of Delhi's temporal and spatial land use patterns. The LCI analysis assesses land use changes by examining the rate of overall change and the patterns of land transitions, determining their consistency across different time periods¹. The findings of the study reveal prominent land use changes, with notable expansions into built-up and agricultural areas, resulting in encroachments upon barren land and green areas. During the period, an observable transformation in land cover was discerned, with 12% for built area and a concurrent 10% for crop area. The period also witnessed a 13% decrease in barren land alongside a 5% reduction in green spaces. The land use changes, particularly the expansion of urban areas, adversely affect the Yamuna River's health through a surge in water demand, reduction in capacity for pollutant absorption, extensive agricultural practices involving fertilizer use, and the occurrences of extreme events like floods². Moreover, the visible and persistent foam formation in the Yamuna River is primarily attributed to urbanization and agricultural activities occurring in the Delhi stretch of the river⁴. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish an equilibrium between developmental pursuits and environmental conservation for the holistic well-being of the river ecosystem. Through this study, we corroborate that the encroached floodplain of the Yamuna River in Delhi can be effectively utilized for phytoremediation. Such techniques would facilitate biotic absorption and neutralization of agricultural effluents and emerging pollutants like surfactants.

Keywords: Delhi, Land Change Intensity (LCI), LULC, Phytoremediation, Yamuna River

References

1. Aldwaik, S. Z., and R. G. Pontius. 2012. "Intensity analysis to unify measurements of size and stationarity of land changes by interval, category, and transition." Urban Plan., 106 (1): 103–114. Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2012.02.010.

2. Kumar, M., M. Sharif, and S. Ahmed. 2020. "Impact of urbanization on the river Yamuna basin." J. River Basin Manag., 18 (4): 461–475. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/15715124.2019.1613412.

3. Rajan, S., and J. R. Nandimandalam. 2024. "Environmental health risk assessment and source apportion of heavy metals using chemometrics and pollution indices in the upper Yamuna river basin, India." Chemosphere, 346 (May 2023): 140570. Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140570.

4. Sejwal, G., and S. K. Singh. 2023. "Perspective: The unexplored dimensions behind the foam formation in River Yamuna, India." Sci. Pollut. Res., 30 (39): 90458–90470. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28857-3.

How to cite: Neenu, N. and Kansal, M. L.: Urbanization and River Health: Analyzing the Effects of Land Cover Change on the Upper Yamuna Basin, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-18023, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-18023, 2024.

The growing human population accelerates alterations in land use and land cover (LULC) over time, putting tremendous strain on natural resources. Rapid land use transformations, encompassing urbanization, intensive agriculture, and changes in natural landscapes, have a profound impact on water cycle. This necessitates the development and implementation of sustainable land management strategies to mitigate adverse effects on water resources. Anticipating future land use and cover (LU&LC) dynamics in the Munneru river basin is pivotal for modelling of hydrological processes. This study delves into the combined impact of Land Use and Land Cover Scenarios (LU&LC) which is based on Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP2-45, SSP3-75 and SSP5-85) and climate change within the context of representative concentration pathway (RCP 4.5 & RCP 8.5) scenarios on water resources for Munneru river basin, India. Landsat data was employed for preparing LU&LC maps from the Google Earth Engine (GEE) using the random forest (RF) method for the period 2005-2020 with the accuracy of 91% and kappa coefficient of 0.89. The future scenarios of LU&LC’s were projected by integrating Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) data and DynaCLUE model for 2030, 2050 and 2080. DynaCLUE model uses driving factors, Binary Logistic Regression analysis for past LU&LC maps for projecting future LU&LC maps. The SWAT model is calibrated and validated for the period 1983–2017 in SWAT-CUP using the SUFI2 algorithm for 2015 LU&LC map. The future projected LU&LC maps based on SSP’s are incorporated in SWAT model for future periods under both RCP 4.5 & 8.5 scenarios. The average monthly streamflow’s are simulated for the baseline period (1983–2005) and for three future periods, namely the near future (2021–2039), mid future (2040–2069) and far future (2070–2099) under both LU&LC and climate change scenarios. Results indicate that there is increase in surface runoff and water yield and decrease in evapotranspiration, groundwater and total aquifer for three SSP scenarios under both RCP’s. Assessing the impact on water balance components, provides the necessity for adaptive strategies in the face of shifting climate and land use dynamics.

How to cite: Kotapati Narayanaswamy, L., Keesara, V. R., and Buri, E. S.: Synergies of Land Use Land Cover and Climate Change on Water Balance Components in SSP–RCP Scenarios over Munneru basin, India, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-7209, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-7209, 2024.

The land cover degradation in the Anthropocene under a changing climate threat remains one of the significant concern for water resources preservation and planning. The reciprocal effects of land degradation and climate change is reported as a complex scenario with direct and indirect impact on land surface processes (IPCC, 2023). The purpose of this work is to simulate the water fluxes and states under the anthopogenic influence (control - CTRL) and natural evergreen (EBF) conditions using the hydrological model WRF-Hydro with NoahMP as the Land Surface Model (LSM). The change in the temporal and spatial patterns is evaluated in terms of the potential impact associated with preserving the natural land cover in WA. To achieve this, the offline mode of WRF-Hydro is forced with meteorological dataset from ERA5-land for the two land cover scenarios at ~11km spatial resolution between 2011 and 2023. The water budget outputs are post-processed with the R package “rwrfhydro” which computes the total precipitation partitioning into surface runoff, evaporation, and water storage in the surface and subsurface components. The water budget terms are analysed with Man-Kendall’s statistics and the difference between the two scenarios evaluated using multivariate techniques (Principal component analysis - PCA and Canonical correlation analysis - CCA), and Wavelet analysis.The results show that whatever the land cover scenario the leading temporal variations of the total precipitation (PC1) have a strong relationship with the water storage (groundwater, total soil moisture, and canopy water) while lags in the signals are more likely to have higher correlation with the surface and subsurface runoff. Further, the canonical loadings of the CCA modes of the water storage terms, evaporation terms and total precipitation indicate a shift towards the dry northern part (Sahel) of the study area. Compared to the CTRL simulation, the EBF scenario decreases the runoff fraction while increases the evaporation and storage change fractions. The natural land cover scenario simulated in this study provide considerable insight into the potential benefits of land reforestation actions in West Africa and offers opportunities for better decision making.

How to cite: Oussou, F. E., Sy, S., Bliefernicht, J., Kunstmann, H., Rummler, T., Yalo, N., and Asiwaju-Bello, Y. A.: What if the deforestation stops: impact on water budget components in West Africa, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-19961, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19961, 2024.

In a context of global change, the mountains of southern Europe have suffered in recent decades processes of land abandonment, leading to the loss of cultural mosaic landscapes, with negative effects on ecological and economic sustainability of agroecosystems. In the framework of the MIDMACC Project (LIFE18 CCA/ES/001099), landscape management measures to adapt marginal areas of Spanish mid-mountain to the impacts of global change have been tested. In this regard, experiences of forest management measures (thinning and undergrowth scrub clearing) followed by grazing with native cattle breeds have been conducted in two reforested areas in “La Garcipollera” valley (Huesca, Spain) to create and maintain herbaceous pastures under tree canopy (one area with Pinus nigra and the other with Populus x canadensis). The effects of forest management and grazing on the floristic composition and production of the herbaceous pasture were analysed in both areas separately. For this purpose, three replicates per each of three typologies of monitoring plots with a surface of 400 m² were established: i) control plots (without neither forest management nor livestock), ii) managed plots without livestock and iii) managed plots with livestock (2 cows per plot for 48 hours and twice a year). Vegetation surveys were conducted every spring from 2020 in the pine area and 2021 in the poplar area to 2023. In those, the coverage of the bare soil and every plant species growing within four 1m² subplots per plot were recorded. Additionally, in order to estimate dry biomass (production of the pasture) for the initial and final stage of the experiment, at each plot we collected the plants growing within four 0,5m² subplots adjacent to the previous. Our results indicated that, after three years of experimentation, forest management decreased the bare soil cover, increased the cover, richness and biomass of herbaceous species and reduced the cover and richness of woody species compared to the control plots. This trend was common for both the pine and poplar areas. In the case of grazing effects, we found that the entry of livestock in the plots in the managed pine areas increased the bare soil cover and herbaceous plants cover and richness but reduced the biomass production and the woody species cover (thus controlling scrub encroachment). Regarding plots in the managed poplar areas, grazing affects differently from pine areas since no significant effects on herbaceous nor woody species cover and richness were found compared to control plots (shorter study period). Nevertheless, a positive effect of grazing was found since bare soil cover was reduced and herbaceous biomass production was increased compared to the plots with no livestock entry. Although in the mid-term (three/two years after the measures) the whole expected effects of grazing are not yet evident, the improvement of the herbaceous species and the control of scrub encroachment by cattle are apparent.

Acknowledgements: This research was supported by the LIFE MIDMACC (LIFE18 CCA/ES/001099), funded by the EC.

How to cite: Foronda Vazquez, A. M., Lafora, H., Barrantes, O., Pueyo, Y., Ferrer, J., and Reiné, R.: Restoration of pastures under tree canopy: effects of the undergrowth clearing and grazing in the maintenance of herbaceous species diversity and production , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-16826, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16826, 2024.