Perspectives in effects of grazing on diversity of grassland plant community and forage diseases

Grazing is one of the important ways to rational utilize, foster and improve grassland. Both grazing and grassland plant community diversity influence the incidence and severity of forage diseases. Grazing will affect forage diseases with different grazing intensities, methods and livestock. The diversity of grassland plant community including species richness and host plant density also affect forage diseases by affecting the usage of environmental resources, as well as the spread of pathogenic fungi. Meanwhile, the grazing intensities, livestock behavior, the types of rangeland, the history of grazing and grazing distribution patterns also increase or decrease the diversity of grassland plant communities. The present paper reviewed the effects of grazing on both grass plant community diversity and forage diseases and put forward the suggestions including combination of the research about the effects of grazing on diversity of grassland plant community and forage diseases in future; more deep study on genetic diversity and improvement of grazing management to reduce or control forage diseases. Thus, the goals of unifying grazing, disease management and sustainable use of grassland resources will be achieved.