{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T14:34:26Z","timestamp":1777127666516,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760572800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Environments"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The application of dolomitic limestone is a recommended practice for improving pastures established on acidic soils. On the other hand, pasture availability should determine the adjustment of the biotic load. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of pasture plant community composition as an indicator to assess the effects of intensification strategies in the Montado ecosystem, specifically soil pH correction and\/or increasing animal stocking rate. Forty-eight sampling areas of a biodiverse pasture were monitored on a 4-ha plot located at the Mitra farm (\u00c9vora district; southern Portugal). The experimental design included four treatments: with and without limestone application (respectively, DL and WDL) \u00d7 traditional low stocking rate (LSR, 7 sheep ha\u22121) and high stocking rate (HSR, 18 sheep ha\u22121). Floristic composition, structural parameters, and diversity metrics were recorded and analyzed using multivariate statistical tools. Pasture diversity was assessed through the computation of richness indices, with plant species identified as ecological indicators representative of each study area. The results showed Rumex pulcher, Trifolium subterraneum, Plantago lanceolata, and Lolium rigidum as botanical indicators of the four treatments of this study, respectively, LSR in untreated soil, HSR in untreated soil, HSR in treated soil, and LSR in treated soil. The results also show that soil amendment led to a more distinct and stable pasture floristic composition (PFC) compared to untreated areas. Conversely, the stocking rate (SR) played a secondary but still ecologically relevant role. Notably, HSR appears to reduce the need for lime application to achieve a balanced floristic composition and desirable plant community structure, potentially lowering soil amendment costs without compromising pasture quality. In LSR areas, the application of lime was essential to significantly improve the floristic richness, the vegetation cover, and the presence of legumes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/environments12100385","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T16:33:22Z","timestamp":1760632402000},"page":"385","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Pasture Floristic Composition as an Indicator of Soil pH Correction and Sheep Stocking Rate in Montado Ecosystem"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5178-8158","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jo\u00e3o","family":"Serrano","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"MED\u2014Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE\u2013Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Sciences and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1665-3298","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paula","family":"Matono","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MED\u2014Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE\u2013Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Sciences and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Emanuel","family":"Carreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MED\u2014Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE\u2013Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Sciences and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Shakib","family":"Shahidian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MED\u2014Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE\u2013Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Sciences and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8465-1318","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francisco J.","family":"Moral","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Expresi\u00f3n Gr\u00e1fica, Escuela de Ingenier\u00edas Industriales, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s\/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6975-0350","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds L.","family":"Paniagua","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela de Ingenier\u00edas Agrarias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida Adolfo Su\u00e1rez s\/n, 06007 Badajoz, Spain"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3597-6746","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rui","family":"Charneca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MED\u2014Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE\u2013Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Sciences and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9430-9399","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alfredo","family":"Pereira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MED\u2014Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE\u2013Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Sciences and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4699-3824","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anabela","family":"Belo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MED\u2014Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development and CHANGE\u2013Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Sciences and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Reinermann, S., Asam, S., and Kuenzer, C. (2020). Remote sensing of grassland production and management\u2014A review. Remote Sens., 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/rs12121949"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Serrano, J., Roma, L., Shahidian, S., Belo, A.D.F., Carreira, E., Paniagua, L.L., Moral, F., Paix\u00e3o, L., and Marques da Silva, J. (2022). A technological approach to support extensive livestock management in the Portuguese Montado ecosystem. Agronomy, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/agronomy12051212"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1111\/gfs.12312","article-title":"Remote sensing as a tool to assess botanical composition, structure, quantity and quality of temperate grasslands","volume":"73","author":"Wachendorf","year":"2017","journal-title":"Grass Forage Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e71333","DOI":"10.5209\/mbot.71333","article-title":"Plant conservation in Mediterranean-type ecosystems","volume":"42","author":"Lorite","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mediterr. Bot."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1080\/00480169.2004.36447","article-title":"Advances in pasture management for animal productivity and health","volume":"52","author":"Lambert","year":"2004","journal-title":"N. Z. Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"612","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rama.2018.01.004","article-title":"Progress in identifying High Nature Value montados: Impacts of grazing on hardwood rangeland biodiversity","volume":"71","author":"Guiomar","year":"2018","journal-title":"Rangel. Ecol. Manag."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moscatelli, S., Pesaresi, S., Wikelski, M., Tardella, F.M., Catorci, A., and Quattrini, G. (2025). Influence of pasture diversity and NDVI on sheep foraging behavior in Central Italy. Geographies, 5.","DOI":"10.3390\/geographies5020026"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1164","DOI":"10.1002\/agj2.21346","article-title":"Precision livestock farming applied to grazingland monitoring and management\u2014A review","volume":"116","author":"Bretas","year":"2024","journal-title":"Agron. J."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101524","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecoser.2023.101524","article-title":"Farming for nature in the Montado: The application of ecosystem services in a results-based model","volume":"61","author":"Freitas","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ecosyst. Serv."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Universidade de \u00c9vora\u2014ICAM (2006). Pastures in Alentejo: Technical Basis for Characterization, Grazing and Improvement, Gr\u00e1fica Eborense. (In Portuguese)."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"518","article-title":"Manganese toxicity in Portuguese Cambisoils derived from granitic rocks: Causes, limitations of soil analyses and possible solutions","volume":"38","author":"Carvalho","year":"2015","journal-title":"Rev. Cienc. Agrar."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Serrano, J., Shahidian, S., Marques da Silva, J., Moral, F., Carvajal-Ramirez, F., Carreira, E., Pereira, A., and Carvalho, M. (2020). Evaluation of the effect of dolomitic lime application on pastures\u2014Case study in the Montado Mediterranean ecosystem. Sustainability, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/su12093758"},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"414","article-title":"Floristic and phytosociology of weeds in pastures in Maranh\u00e3o State, Northeast Brazil","volume":"47","author":"Costa","year":"2016","journal-title":"Rev. Cien. Agron."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Serrano, J., Shahidian, S., Machado, E., Paniagua, L.L., Carreira, E., Moral, F., Pereira, A., and de Carvalho, M. (2021). Floristic composition: Dynamic biodiversity indicator of tree canopy effect on dryland and improved Mediterranean pastures. Agriculture, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/agriculture11111128"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"diaa013","DOI":"10.1093\/insilicoplants\/diaa013","article-title":"Modelling seasonal pasture growth and botanical composition at the paddock scale with satellite imagery","volume":"3","author":"Ara","year":"2021","journal-title":"in silico Plants"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e12204","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.12204","article-title":"Effects of grazing intensity on forage nutritive value of dominant grass species in Borana rangelands of Southern Ethiopia","volume":"9","author":"Fenetahun","year":"2021","journal-title":"PeerJ"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1080\/15481603.2019.1675286","article-title":"Optimal season for discriminating C3 and C4 grass functional types using multi-date Sentinel 2 data","volume":"57","author":"Shoko","year":"2020","journal-title":"GISCI Remote Sens."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Serrano, J., Shahidian, S., Costa, F., Carreira, E., Pereira, A., and Carvalho, M. (2021). Can soil pH correction reduce the animal Supplementation needs in the critical autumn period in Mediterranean Montado ecosystem?. Agronomy, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/agronomy11030514"},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"IUSS Working Group WRB (2015). World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014; International Soil Classification System for Naming Soils and Creating Legends for Soil Maps; Update 2015, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). World Soil Resources Report 106."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"AOAC (2005). Official Method of Analysis of AOAC International, AOAC International. [18th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"199","article-title":"Untersuchungen \u00fcber die chemische Bodenanalyse als Grudlage f\u00fcr die Beurteilung des Nahrstoffzunstandes der Boden. II: Chemische extraktion methoden zur phosphor- und kalium-bestimmung","volume":"26","author":"Egner","year":"1960","journal-title":"K. Lantbrhogsk. Annlr."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Mueller-Dombois, D., and Ellenberg, H. (1974). Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology, Wiley."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Castroviejo, S. (1986\u20132021). Flora Iberica, Real Jard\u00edn Bot\u00e1nico, CSIC."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.2111\/REM-D-11-00133.1","article-title":"Stocking rate and riparian vegetation effects on physical characteristics of riparian zones of Midwestern Pastures","volume":"65","author":"Bear","year":"2012","journal-title":"Rangel. Ecol. Manag."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Xiao, X., Zhang, T., Angerer, J.P., and Hou, F. (2020). Grazing seasons and stocking rates affects the relationship between herbage traits of Alpine meadow and grazing behaviors of Tibetan sheep in the Qinghai\u2013Tibetan plateau. Animals, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10030488"},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"235","article-title":"The floristic composition of the natural pastures in massive of Novob\u00ebrba","volume":"64","author":"Avdiu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Agric. For."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"494","DOI":"10.1080\/11263504.2015.1040483","article-title":"Best management practices to face degraded territories occupied by Cistus ladanifer shrublands\u2014Portugal case study","volume":"149","author":"Mendes","year":"2015","journal-title":"Plant Biosyst."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gra\u00df, R., Malec, S., and Wachendorf, M. (2020). Biomass performance and competition effects in an established temperate agroforestry system of willow and grassland\u2014Results of the 2nd rotation. Agronomy, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/agronomy10111819"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pa\u00e7o, A., da-Silva, J.R., Torres, D.P., Glick, B.R., and Br\u00edgido, C. (2020). Exogenous ACC Deaminase is key to improving the performance of pasture legume-rhizobial symbioses in the presence of a high manganese concentration. Plants, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants9121630"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"657","DOI":"10.1007\/s00442-008-1017-y","article-title":"Beals smoothing revisited","volume":"156","author":"Legendre","year":"2008","journal-title":"Oecologia"},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"345","article-title":"Species assemblages and indicator species: The need for a flexible asymmetrical approach","volume":"67","author":"Legendre","year":"1997","journal-title":"Ecol. Monogr."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Halim, N., Abdullah, R., Karsani, S., Osman, N., Panhwar, Q., and Ishak, C. (2018). Influence of soil amendments on the growth and yield of rice in acidic soil. Agronomy, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/agronomy8090165"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"236","DOI":"10.1016\/j.geoderma.2018.12.003","article-title":"Long-term surface application of lime ameliorates subsurface soil acidity in the mixed farming zone of south-eastern Australia","volume":"338","author":"Li","year":"2019","journal-title":"Geoderma"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"284","DOI":"10.1016\/j.japb.2018.03.005","article-title":"Factors determining floristic composition and functional diversity of plant communities of Mount Oku forests, Cameroon","volume":"11","author":"Solefack","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Asia Pac. Biodiver."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1186\/s13570-023-00287-3","article-title":"Tracking free-ranging sheep to evaluate interrelations between selective grazing, movement patterns and the botanical composition of alpine summer pastures in northern Italy","volume":"13","author":"Wild","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pastor. Res. Policy Pract."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"3","article-title":"The role of grasslands in the less favoured areas of Mediterranean Europe","volume":"22","author":"Porqueddu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Grassl. Sci. Eur."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.2111\/REM-D-12-00016.1","article-title":"Understanding Mediterranean pasture dynamics: General tree cover vs. specific effects of individual trees","volume":"66","year":"2013","journal-title":"Rangel. Ecol. Manage."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, Y., Guerschman, J., Shendryk, Y., Henry, D., and Harrison, M.T. (2021). Estimating pasture biomass using Sentinel-2 imagery and machine learning. Remote Sens., 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/rs13040603"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Monteiro, A.T., Alves, P., Carvalho-Santos, C., Lucas, R., Cunha, M., Marques da Costa, E., and Fava, F. (2022). Monitoring plant diversity to support Agri-environmental schemes: Evaluating statistical models informed by satellite and local factors in Southern European Mountain pastoral systems. Diversity, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/d14010008"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yang, M., Chen, A., Zhang, M., Gu, Q., Wang, Y., Guo, J., Yang, D., Zhao, Y., Huang, Q., and Ma, L. (2023). Relationship between plant species diversity and aboveground biomass in alpine grasslands on the Qinghai\u2013Tibet Plateau: Spatial patterns and the factors driving them. Front. Ecol. Evol., 11.","DOI":"10.3389\/fevo.2023.1138884"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhao, X., Wu, B., Xue, J., Shi, Y., Zhao, M., Geng, X., Yan, Z., Shen, H., and Fang, J. (2023). Mapping forage biomass and quality of the Inner Mongolia grasslands by combining field measurements and Sentinel-2 observations. Remote Sens., 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/rs15081973"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e71829","DOI":"10.1002\/ece3.71829","article-title":"Remote sensing of grassland plant biodiversity and functional traits","volume":"15","author":"Hayes","year":"2025","journal-title":"Ecol. Evol."}],"container-title":["Environments"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3298\/12\/10\/385\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,18]],"date-time":"2025-10-18T04:26:02Z","timestamp":1760761562000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3298\/12\/10\/385"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]}},"alternative-id":["environments12100385"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/environments12100385","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-3298"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-3298","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]]}}}