Effects of goat grazing on vegetation changes in bamboo clear-cut site

Abstract

In a bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla) stand, the effects of goats grazing on current year changes of vegetation after clear-cutting were investigated. During the investigation period, the cumulative cover degrees of the bamboo kept continuously in lower level in the grazing sites, but increased largely in the ungrazing site. The cumulative cover degrees of the bamboo had the negative high correlation with diversity indices of plant species except bamboo. It was suggested that the goat grazing after clear-cutting of bamboo stand was effective to prevent the regeneration of bamboo, and to create the species-rich grassland vegetation.