Stocking Rate and Riparian Vegetation Effects on Physical Characteristics of Riparian Zones of Midwestern Pastures |
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| Authors: | Douglas A. Bear James R. Russell Mustafa Tufekcioglu Thomas M. Isenhart Daniel G. Morrical John L. Kovar |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Research Assistant, Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA;2. Professor, Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA;3. Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry, Artvin Coruh University, Artvin, Turkey 08000, USA;4. Associate Professor, Natural Resource and Ecology Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA;5. Soil Scientist, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Ames, IA 50011, USA;1. School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, University of New South Wales Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, Northcott Drive, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600, Australia;2. Mars Society Australia, P.O. Box 327, Clifton Hill, VIC 3068, Australia;1. Queen Mary University of London, School of Geography, Mile End Road, E1 4NS London, United Kingdom;2. Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Biologie, Plant Ecology, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin D-14195, Germany;3. Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin D-14195, Germany;1. Program in Environmental Sciences, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, 85 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623, USA;2. Laboratory Science Technology Program, Department of Science and Mathematics, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology, 52 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623, USA |
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| Abstract: | Grazing at high stocking rates may increase sediment and nutrient loading of pasture streams through transport in precipitation runoff and bank erosion. A 3-yr (2007–2009) grazing study was conducted on 13 cool-season grass pastures to quantify effects of stocking rate and botanical composition on forage sward height, proportions of bare and manure-covered ground, and bank erosion adjacent to streams. Pastures ranged from 2 ha to 107 ha with stream reaches of 306 m to 1 778 m that drained watersheds of 253 ha to 5 660 ha. Bare and manure-covered ground were measured at a 15.2-m distance perpendicular to the stream at 30.5-m intervals at up to 30 locations on each side of the stream by the line transect method in May, July, September, and November of each year. At the midpoint of the 15.2-m line, forage sward height was measured with a falling plate meter (4.8 kg · m-2) and plant species identified. In November 2006, fiberglass pins (1.6 × 76.2 cm) were driven 73.7 cm into the stream bank at 1-m intervals from the streambed to the top of the bank along 10 equidistant transect locations on each side of the stream to measure bank erosion during spring, summer, and fall of each year. Increasing pasture stocking rates increased manure-covered ground and decreased sward height, but did not affect proportions of bare ground. The greatest, intermediate, and least net soil erosion rates occurred during the winter/early spring, late spring/early summer, and late summer/fall seasons. Stocking rates between measurements, expressed as cow-days · m-1 stream, were not related to bank erosion. Increasing stocking rates per unit of stream length will increase manure cover and decrease forage sward height, but not affect proportions of bare ground or bank erosion rates adjacent to pasture streams. Therefore, managing stocking rates may reduce nutrient loading of pasture streams. |
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