Spatial and Temporal Variability Effects on different regimes on vegetation cover

Introduction Spatial and Temporal Variability resulting from agricultural practices Changes in landscape practices Vegetation Cover Different Regimes

Dredging

Chemical Weeding

Mowing

Burning

Man-Made Drainage Networks of drainage consist primarily of ditches Ditches are managed to prevent them from being filled and invaded by vegetation Examples of various techniques to manage are dredging and mowing

The observation Dead and living vegetation (type and quantity) Living vegetation corresponded to the combined cover of grass and shrub Types of ditch management operations – 58% dredged, 49% mowed, 54% burned, 28% chemically weeded

The results An increase in dead vegetation cover in ditches was observed in 2011 regardless of management regime Burning in end of winter removed almost all of the dead vegetation at the bottom of the ditches Living vegetation regardless of regime was <50% Chemically weeding had less living vegetation in the banks throughout the year Regrowth of all vegetation were limited in March 2012-May2012

Conclusion Yearly management operations had strong impact on the covers in the ditches Temporal variability in vegetation cover that varied with the pattern of ditch management operations Spatial variability in vegetation cover at a given time varied with type of regimes that was applied

Reference F. Levavasseur, et al. "Agricultural Water Management." Science Direct. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr