Minimal soil quality impact by cold season pasture management in Vermont

Abstract

Small-scale dairy farming is economically challenging; however, management intensive grazing practices have allowed many farms to become profitable. Traditional barn housing during cold seasons is a large expense and could be adapted to further economic gains. In this study, three cold season pasture management practices, such as bedded pack (BP) compost amendment, out-wintering (OW) on pasture, and stockpiling (SP) mixed grass-legume pasture forage, were evaluated for impact to soil and forage quality within pasture. Composite soil and forage samples were collected during spring and autumn 2009-2010 for soil physical, chemical, and biological analyses (nematode community structure) and forage quality. Out-wintering favored fungal decomposition (P = 0.089), and all treatments promoted soil food web structure, with a mean structure index value of 63 ± 1.71 SE. Negative impacts to soil health, including physical structure and soil chemistry, were not detected. Impacts to forage quality included decreased degradable protein under SP (P = 0.055) and decreasing relative feed value following SP and BP treatment application (P = 0.025). The small sample size (total n = 16 or eight pairs) and high variability require cautious interpretation, yet minimal negative effects of implementing BP, OW, and SP practices were detected.