Impact of Grazing Livestock and Distance from Water Source on Soil Fertility in Southern Mongolia

Stumpp, Markus; Wesche, Karsten; Retzer, Vroni; Miehe, Georg

doi:10.1659/0276-4741(2005)025[0244:ioglad]2.0.co;2

Cited by 83 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Many studies proved that livestock density (i.e., grazing pressure) is usually highest close to water sources or settlements and decreases with distance away from such localities (Andrew and Lange, 1986;FernandezGimenez and Allen-Diaz, 2001;Landsberg et al, 2003;Sasaki et al, 2008;Cheng et al, 2011). According to Stumpp et al (2005) the livestock spatial densities were higher in the first 300 m of the transects from the local centers. This finding of the heavy grazing with a radial gradient was also found at our study site (Cheng et al, 2011), which spots a trampling-active area.…”

Section: Experimental Area Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic dust emissions due to livestock trampling in a Mongolian temperate grassland

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Mongolian grasslands are a natural dust source region and they contribute to anthropogenic dust due to the long tradition of raising livestock there. Past decades of abrupt changes in a nomadic society necessitate a study on the effects of livestock trampling on dust emissions, so that research studies may help maintain a sustainable ecosystem and well-conditioned atmospheric environment. In this study, we conducted a mini wind tunnel experiment (using a PI-SWERL ® device) to measure dust emissions fluxes from trampling (at three disturbance levels of livestock density, N) and zero trampling (natural as the background level) at test areas in a Mongolian temperate grassland. Moreover, we scaled anthropogenic dust emissions to natural dust emissions as a relative consequence of livestock trampling. We found a substantial increase in dust emissions due to livestock trampling. This effect of trampling on dust emissions was persistent throughout all wind friction velocities, u * (varying from 0.44 to 0.82 m s −1 ). Significantly higher dust loading occurs after a certain disturbance level has been reached by the livestock trampling. Our results suggest that both friction velocity (u * ) and disturbance level of livestock density (N) have an enormous combinational effect on dust emissions from the trampling test surface. This means that the effect of livestock trampling on dust emissions can be seen or revealed when wind is strong. Our results also emphasize that better management for livestock allocation coupled with strategies to prevent anthropogenic dust loads are needed. However, there are many uncertainties and assumptions to be improved on in this study.

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Section: Experimental Area Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic dust emissions due to livestock trampling in a Mongolian temperate grassland

et al. 2017

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“…Distance-dependent effects including declines in perennial plants and species richness as well as structural diversity of perennial plants have been observed (Brooks et al 2006;Landman et al 2012). Further, their influence on soil nutrients (Stumpp et al 2005), landscape degradation (James et al 1999), soil compaction and erosion (Mugerwa et al 2014), and variation in biomass defoliation and trampling (Shahriary et al 2012) has been observed. Also, changes in forage species composition with increased presence of unpalatable perennial shrubs beyond the zone of extreme degradation coupled with a decrease in the abundance of palatable native perennial grasses have been documented (James et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Piospheric influence on forage species composition and abundance in semi-arid Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

et al. 2015

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Piospheres in semi-arid areas are gradients of animal impacts around watering holes. Few studies have examined the impact dynamics of herbaceous and woody species composition and abundance in relation to piospheres in East Africa. In this study, we identified the trend in piosphere development, assessed piosphere use and change indicators, and identified herbaceous and woody plant structure in relation to piospheres in the Karamoja sub-region, Uganda. Results revealed that piosphere development has been reactionary to drought and/or insecurity events and increased rapidly in the last decade. A diversity of herbaceous and woody plants exists around the piospheres. Use and change indicators revealed high trampling and grazing intensity, high presence of erosion signs and low litter cover. Gradient distance had both positive and negative effects on trampling intensity, percent exposure and plant height, respectively. A negative and positive effect of gradient distance was also observed on different herbaceous and woody forage species leading to the identification of both increaser and decreaser species around the piospheres. Therefore, as concentrated use of the piospheres continues unabated, an outward ripple effect leading to loss and/or increase of undesirable herbaceous and woody species will be felt. This will have an impact on the composition and abundance dynamics of desirable forage species in the sub-region.

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“…As such, defecation and urination by these animals could have enhanced nutrient deposition and accumulation leading to soil organic carbon and nitrogen augmentation. Stumpp et al (2005) reported high dung deposits around the Mongolian piospheres. Smet and Ward (2006) and Shahriary et al (2012) also reported high soil organic carbon and total nitrogen around the piospheres of South Africa and Iran, respectively.…”

Section: Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of piospheres on physio-chemical soil properties in the Southern Rangelands of Kenya

et al. 2017

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Introduction: Water-based interventions haphazardly introduced in the drylands of Kenya have led to the introduction of piospheres used as concentration mounts. Not much is known about the effect of these piospheres on soil physio-chemical properties, especially in the Kenyan rangelands where the government and other development agencies have created piospheres aimed at curbing water shortages and sustaining livestock production. The study assessed the effect of piospheres on soil physio-chemical characteristics in the southern rangelands of Kajiado, Kenya, in order to provide evidence-based insights that will be useful in guiding future water interventions. Methods: Soil samples were collected within 0.25-m 2 plots at 20-m intervals along 100-m transects from three piospheres (a dam, a trough, and a seasonal river). Two-way ANOVA was used to determine if there were significant differences in soil parameters between piospheric distances. Results: Soil bulk density significantly different between piospheric distances (F = 22.25, P = 0.001) and piospheres (F = 13.10, P = 0.002), being highest at 20 m from the trough (1.1-1.21 gcm

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Impact of Grazing Livestock and Distance from Water Source on Soil Fertility in Southern Mongolia

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 83 publications

References 18 publications

Anthropogenic dust emissions due to livestock trampling in a Mongolian temperate grassland

Anthropogenic dust emissions due to livestock trampling in a Mongolian temperate grassland

Piospheric influence on forage species composition and abundance in semi-arid Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

Effect of piospheres on physio-chemical soil properties in the Southern Rangelands of Kenya

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