The experimental assessment of goose damage to agricultural crops

摘要: Abstract The interaction of British agriculture and wild geese is considered, with particular reference to the problem whether grazing damage caused cereals grass. Clipping experiments indicated that loss winter foliage was not detrimental harvest yield silage grass, winter-wheat, spring-barley, but information further sought on effects trampling crop soil while feeding. Difficulties encountered in running trials geese, or captive Scotland, made it more useful employ a tame flock controlled test series at an Experimental Farm near Hereford, England. Plots winter-wheat winter-oats were subjected very high goose usage 11,000 hours per acre ( 24,000 hectare) for three days month from December April, spring-barley May, young grass October. ran years checked by season's tests Scotland. At time no significant grain losses attributable treatments could be found.