The saltus is a not cultivated ground dedicated to the breeding. In the European rural landscapes, it is distinguished from the Ager (cultivated field), from the hortus (gardened spaces) and the Silva (forest).

• In first approach, the saltus generally indicates Prairies, uncultivated Steppes like some Wetlands where one makes feed the cattle. But more largely, of the wooded elements (Hedge S, isolated trees) can be constitutive of the saltus insofar as they have an agricultural vocation. If the animal feed is the finality first saltus, which justifies management by the man of it, other functions are usually associated with the saltus: shelters for the animals (wind-cutter, protection against the sun), supply of construction materials (snap rings), glazing bar of heating (hedge) even of fruits exploited on a mode of gathering.

• Functionally, the vegetation composing the saltus is able to buckle the cycles of nutrients in an autonomous way: it does not depend on external contributions to grow and perdurer in time. From this point of view, it approaches the silva basically. But its agricultural purpose distinguishes some and the pressure of pasture and various taking away gives on the saltus an open or half-open character in terms of landscapes. Without the maintenance of an agricultural and pastoral management, the saltus will evolve spontaneously to a more or less degraded forest cover. Contrary, the saltus can be the subject of an excessive pressure of pasture or a nondurable management (not maintenance or overexploitation of the hedges).

• the saltus plays a crucial role in the Transferts of fertility within the cultivated ecosystems. The biomass produced by the saltus is developed by the pets and is transferred in the form of manure carefully collected and épandu in the cultivated fields constitutive of the ager. Historically, the saltus was an essential element of the operation of the systems mixed-farming-breeding.

The appearance of the Engrais of synthesis makes it possible to do without this function of " well of fertilité" saltus, but in many contemporary systems, it continues to play a more or less important part with the supply of a biomass certainly consuming labor and to know to make, but also not consumer of inputs and fossil energy.

• overall, in an approach of ecology of the landscape, the landscape elements constitutive of the saltus will be able to accommodate birds or insects controlling the ravageurs of the cultures. The raptors nesting in the isolated hedges or trees will control the populations of campagnoles which destroy the meadows of the East of France.

internal bonds

• breeding

Random links:

Canton of Villebon-sur-Yvette | Julien Saubade | Scarperia | List Japanese castles | António Jose da Silva