ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY MIGRATING GEESE IN AGRICULTURAL FIELDS

Abstract

The increasing migrating goose populations seasonally feed in the agricultural fields and grasslands. Annually, farmers encounter and abide the challenges of intense winter wheat and permanent grasslands grazing pressures. In Lithuania, migrating geese caused damages initiate conflicts between farmers, conservationists and hunters. Thus, we aimed to determine the winter wheat and permanent grasslands yield reduction by observing migrating geese grazing intensity and characteristics. In three Lithuanian south-western and central regions we established 15 study areas. During the spring migration geese droppings were counted every 10-15 days. Harvested winter wheat and hay were dried and weighted, wheat ears were counted, grains extracted and weighted. Results proved that migrating geese obvously damage and reduce yield of both winter wheats and permanent grasslands. Grazing reduced winter wheat ear development and grain weight. The high grazing pressure of 7.45 droppings/m2 reduced yield by 10.8%. In the permanent grasslands high grazing pressure was 10,49±0,43SE droppings/m2. High intensity grazing in the grasslands reduced yield by 15.2%.