Effects of grazing intensity on the small-scale pattern in a Dactylis glomerata-Trifolium sward

Effects of grazing, cutting and decapitating on grass populations on the artificial grassland in the in subtropical region of China were studied. The results showed that moderate grazing and cutting could increase the adaptability of Dactylis glomerata and Lolium prenne due to decapitating. Decapitating could reduce the apical dominance and reproductive growth of grass, so the ecological effects grazing and cutting on grass could be realized by decapitating, and the population density, caloric value and energy accumulation of D. glomerata and L. prenne increased obviously. Apical dominance of grasses could lower the population density, energy accumulation and intra population competitive ability.