Soil compaction under grazing of annual and perennial forages

Mapfumo, E.; Chanasyk, D. S.; Naeth, M. Anne; Baron, V. S.

doi:10.4141/s97-100

Cited by 53 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The pressure exerted by the trampling of heifers is lower than that of adult animals (Cantarutti et al, 2001), and the use of low stocking rates reduces the amount of trampling per unit soil surface, which in turn, reduces the impact of animal movement on soil density (Naeth et al, 1990). The probability that trampling by animal hoof occurs at the same location on the ground is increased in intensive pastoral systems with high stocking rates (Mapfumo et al, 1999), which in turn, increases the soil density values between 7 and 18% (Azenegashe et al, 1997). Second, the greater amount of litter under the tree canopy might have reduced the impact caused by animal movement in areas with intensive shade.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil bulk density and biomass partitioning of Brachiaria decumbens in a silvopastoral system

Paciullo

Castro

Gomide

et al. 2010

Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.)

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Shade in silvopastoral systems improves the thermal comfort of animals, but it may also affect the pasture productivity and can contribute to soil compaction in the shaded areas due to the increase in the number of animals looking for comfort. The effect of grazing at various distances from tree rows (under the tree canopy, at 6 and at 12 m away from the trees) on the soil bulk density and on the aerial and root biomass of Brachiaria decumbens was evaluated in both the dry and the rainy seasons. The study was carried out on an Orthic Ferralsol in a randomized block design with two replications. Tree rows were composed of Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium species, and the paddocks were submitted to a rotational stocking management, using Holstein (Bos taurus) × Zebu (Bos indicus) heifers. The shade intensity in the pasture decreased with an increasing distance from the tree row. Soil bulk density did not vary with the distance from the tree row, but varied seasonally, being greater in the rainy season (1.47 g cm -3 ) than in the dry season (1.28 g cm -3 ). Green forage and root mass, expressed as dry matter, were lower under the tree canopy and were greater in the rainy season. There were decreases of 22.3 and 41.4% in the aerial and root biomasses, respectively, in the tree rows. The greatest shoot/root ratio for B. decumbens under moderate and intensive shading indicates a modification in the forage biomass allocation pattern that favours the aerial development in detriment of the root system. Key words: forage mass, root mass, soil compaction, shading, shoot/root ratio Densidade do solo e partição de biomassa de Brachiaria decumbens em um sistema silvopastoril RESUMO: O sombreamento em sistemas silvipastoris concorre para o conforto térmico dos animais; no entanto pode afetar a produção do pasto e contribuir para a compactação do solo, pelo aumento da concentração de animais nas áreas sombreadas. Avaliou-se o efeito da distância do renque de árvores (sob a copa das árvores, 6 e 12 m de distancia das árvores) na densidade do solo e na biomassa aérea e de raízes de Brachiaria decumbens, nas épocas seca e chuvosa. O estudo foi conduzido num Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo no delineamento em blocos casualizados, com duas repetições. A faixa de árvores foi composta pelas espécies Eucalyptus grandis e Acacia mangium, e os piquetes foram manejados com novilhas Holandês (Bos taurus) × Zebu (Bos indicus) , sob lotação rotativa. A intensidade de sombreamento foi decrescente com o distanciamento do renque de árvores. A densidade do solo não variou com a distância do renque de árvores, mas sim com a época do ano, tendo sido maior na época chuvosa (1,47 g dm -3 ) do que na seca (1,28 g dm -3 ). As massas secas de forragem verde e de raízes foram menores sob a copa das árvores e maiores na época chuvosa do que na seca. Na faixa arborizada houve reduções de 22,3 e 41,4% na biomassa aérea e de raízes, respectivamente. A maior relação parte aérea/raiz da B. decumbens à sombra expressa uma modificação no padrão de aloc...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil bulk density and biomass partitioning of Brachiaria decumbens in a silvopastoral system

Paciullo

Castro

Gomide

et al. 2010

Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.)

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“…Greater amounts of fallen litter, and a lower stocking rate and density in the CG pasture may have reduced trampling effects on the soil. Other studies on Alberta pastures containing Orthic Black Chernozems with horizon sequence of Ah (> 15 cm), Bm 1 (14-35 cm), Bm 2 (35-53 cm), BCk and Ck (60 cm) (Walker et al 1991) found trampling associated with very heavy grazing caused significantly greater bulk densities in the top 7.5-cm (Naeth et al 1990;Chanasyk and Naeth 1995) and 2.5-3 cm of soil (Dormaar et al 1989;Mapfumo et al 1999). Differences in the depth of compaction in our study and others could be due to differences in soil type.…”

Section: Grazing Impacts On Soil Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Differences in the depth of compaction in our study and others could be due to differences in soil type. Soil properties such as texture, organic matter, water content and other environmental conditions govern the degree to which compaction occurs (Mapfumo et al 1999). For example, our soil was Dark Gray Luvisolic with an organic matter content of 2.1% compared to as high as 9.5% in the study area of Mapfumo et al (1999).…”

Section: Grazing Impacts On Soil Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil properties such as texture, organic matter, water content and other environmental conditions govern the degree to which compaction occurs (Mapfumo et al 1999). For example, our soil was Dark Gray Luvisolic with an organic matter content of 2.1% compared to as high as 9.5% in the study area of Mapfumo et al (1999). These characteristics, combined with a greater clay content (25% compared to 15% in others) may have resulted in greater soil water and greater potential for compaction in general.…”

Section: Grazing Impacts On Soil Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increased soil water with removal of herbage through grazing is attributed to reduced evapotranspiration . Despite numerous studies on the effects of cattle grazing on soil physical properties (e.g., Naeth et al 1990;Mulholland and Fullen 1991;Mapfumo et al 1999), little information is available on the effect of farmed wapiti and other wildlife on soil properties. We expect differences in the effect of cattle versus wild ruminants on soil physical properties because the grazing season in the latter is longer than in the former.…”

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Impacts of grazing systems on soil compaction and pasture production in Alberta

Donkor¹,

Gedir²,

Hudson³

et al. 2002

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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systems on soil compaction and pasture production in Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 82: 1-8. Livestock trampling impacts have been assessed in many Alberta grassland ecosystems, but the impacts of animal trampling on Aspen Boreal ecosystems have not been documented. This study compared the effects of high intensity [4.16 animal unit month per ha (AUM) ha -1 ] short-duration grazing (SDG) versus moderate intensity (2.08 AUM ha -1 ) continuous grazing (CG) by wapiti (Cervus elaphus canadensis) on soil compaction as measured by bulk density at field moist condition (Db f ) and penetration resistance (PR). Herbage phytomass was also measured on grazed pastures and compared to an ungrazed control (UNG). The study was conducted at Edmonton, Alberta, on a Dark Gray Luvisolic soil of loam texture. Sampling was conducted in the spring and fall of 1997 and 1998. Soil cores were collected at 2.5-cm intervals to a depth of 15-cm for measurement of bulk density (Db f ) and moisture content. Penetration resistance to 15 cm at 2.5-cm intervals was measured with a hand-pushed cone penetrometer. The Db f and PR of the top 10-cm of soil were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater by 15 and 17% under SDG than CG, respectively, by wapiti. Generally, Db f in both grazing treatments decreased over winter at the 0-7.5 cm and 12.5-15 cm depths, suggesting that freeze-thaw cycles over the winter alleviated compaction. Soil water content under SDG was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than CG. Total standing crop and fallen litter were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater in CG treatment than the SDG. The SDG treatment had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) less pasture herbage than CG areas in the spring (16%) and fall (26%) of 1997, and in the spring (22%) and fall (24%) of 1998, respectively. The SDG did not show any advantage over CG in improving soil physical characteristics and herbage production. Les auteurs ont aussi mesuré la phytomasse des herbages dans les parcelles pâturées et les parcelles intactes servant de témoin. L'étude s'est déroulée à Edmonton (Alberta) sur des luvisols gris foncés à texture loameuse. L'échantillonnage a eu lieu au printemps et à l'automne 1997 et 1998. Pour cela, les auteurs ont prélevé des carottes de sol jusqu'à une profondeur de 15 cm, à intervalles de 2,5 cm, et en ont établi le poids volumique apparent (Db f ) et la teneur en eau. Ils ont mesuré la résistance à la pénétration à la même profondeur, également à intervalles de 2,5 cm, avec un pénétromètre manuel à pointe conique. Dans la couche supérieure de 10 cm, le Db f et la RP sont sensiblement plus élevés (P ≤ 0,05) avec la PCD que la PC par les wapitis (de 15 % et de 17 %, respectivement). En général, aux profondeurs de 0 à 7,5 cm et de 12,5 à 15 cm, le Db f diminue pendant l'hiver pour les deux régimes, signe que la succession de gels et de dégels durant cette période atténue le compactage. En régime PCD, le sol renferme sensiblement moins d'eau (P < 0,05) qu'avec la PC. Au total, les peuplements sur pied et les débris végétaux au sol sont sensiblement plus nombreux ...

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Annual forage impacts on dryland wheat farming in the Great Plains

et al. 2021

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Wheat (Triticum spp.) dominates dryland grain crop production in the North American Great Plains and other regions with semi‐arid steppe climates. A common practice is to alternate winter or spring wheat with a 14‐ to 21‐mo fallow period to allow for soil‐water recharge, despite economic inefficiencies and environmental degradation. Replacing fallow with non‐cereal grain and seed crops often reduces future wheat yields due to increased water stress during grain fill. The use of annual forages may not have the disadvantages associated with grain and seed crops. The objective of this review was to determine benefits and challenges of incorporating annual forages into dryland wheat systems in semi‐arid steppe climates, using the Great Plains within the United States as a model system. Results indicate that: (a) cool‐ and warm‐season, annual grass and broadleaf species can be grown for forage across the region; (b) forage production will be less risky than grain and seed crop production under predicted climate‐change scenarios; (c) grazing annual forages may offer advantages (e.g., nutrient cycling, improved soil structure, added revenue from livestock) over mechanically harvesting annual forages; (d) the lack of infrastructure and local markets impede the use of annual forages to diversify wheat‐based cropping systems in the region; and (e) limited networking among researchers hinders the advancement in knowledge on how annual forages can be used to improve dryland wheat system resilience.

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Soil compaction under grazing of annual and perennial forages

Cited by 53 publications

References 11 publications

Soil bulk density and biomass partitioning of Brachiaria decumbens in a silvopastoral system

Soil bulk density and biomass partitioning of Brachiaria decumbens in a silvopastoral system

Impacts of grazing systems on soil compaction and pasture production in Alberta

Annual forage impacts on dryland wheat farming in the Great Plains

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