Effects of restricted grazing management on the botanical composition of the sward in a northrhine-westfalian protected wetland area

During this experiment the development of the botanical composition of the sward in a northrhine-westfalian protected wetland area (location,,Ellewick ": Festuco-Cynosuretwn lotetosum uliginosi) due to restricted grazing manag ement since 15 years was investigated. The following results were obtained. The water balance of the soil and the intensity of landuse influenced decis evely the composition and development of the wetland vegetation. Especially eutrophic soil conditions lead to high biomass production which is just partly used by the animals for intake. The cattle preferred - depen dent on the botanical compostion of the sward - at the location,,Ellewick" inundated parts in little depressions of the ground. This selection is asso ciated with a different utilization intensity and creates a structural dive rsity in the sward which can not be achieved by cutting. During 15 years with extensive pasturing a Lolio-Cynosuretum lotetosum ulig inosi developped to a Festlico-Cynosuretum lotetosum uliginosi, which is va luable as breeeding-ground for meadow birds and because of the botanical co mposition of the sward.