Soil Morphologic Properties and Cattle Stocking Rate Affect Dynamic Soil Properties |
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| Authors: | Heidi J Schmalz Robert V Taylor Tracey N Johnson Patricia L Kennedy Sandra J DeBano Beth A Newingham Paul A McDaniel |
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| Institution: | 1. Monitoring Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy, Enterprise, OR 97828, USA;2. Regional Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Enterprise, OR 97828, USA;3. Postdoctoral Research Associate, Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA;4. Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Oregon State University, Union, OR 97883, USA;5. Associate Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Oregon State University, Hermiston, OR 97838, USA;6. Assistant Professor, Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;7. Professor, Department of Plant, Soil, and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.;1. CIRAD, Umr SELMET, Dakar, Senegal;2. SELMET, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France;3. PPZS, Pastoral Systems and Dry Lands, Dakar, Senegal;4. Pastoralisme Conseil (Pastoc), 30 chemin de jouanal, Caylus 82160, France;5. Production and Sectors Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre (CRA-W), 8 Rue de Liroux, Gembloux B-5030, Belgium;6. ISRA-LNERV, Laboratoire de Chimie, Service Alimentation – Nutrition, Dakar Hann BP 2057, Senegal;1. Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan;2. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan;3. Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan;4. Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan;5. Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan;1. Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;2. Biological Science Technician, USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;3. Hydrologist, USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;4. Graduate Student, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA;5. Range Conservationist, USDA-NRCS, Bismarck, ND 58502, USA. |
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| Abstract: | Soil properties that influence the capacity for infiltration and moisture retention are important determinants of rangeland productivity. Monitoring effects of grazing on dynamic soil properties can assist managers with stocking rate decisions, particularly if monitoring takes into account environmental variability associated with inherent soil morphological properties. On a Pacific Northwest Bunchgrass Prairie in northeast Oregon, we applied three cattle stocking rates (0.52, 1.04, and 1.56 animal unit months · ha?1) and an ungrazed control in a randomized complete block design for two 42-d grazing seasons and measured the change in four dynamic soil properties: soil penetration resistance, soil aggregate stability, bare ground, and herbaceous litter cover. To address apparent environmental heterogeneity within experimental units, we also utilized a categorical soil factor (termed Edaphic Habitat Types or EHT), determined by characterizing soil depth, texture, and rock fragment content at sample sites. Stocking rate did not affect extent of bare ground or soil aggregate stability. Stocking rate had a significant effect on penetration resistance, which was greatest at the high stocking rate (1.6 J · cm?1 ± 0.1 SE) and lowest in the control (1.1 J · cm?1 ± 0.1 SE). For litter cover, the effects of stocking rate and EHT interacted. In two rocky EHTs, litter cover was highest in the controls (60% ± 6 SE; 50% ± 3 SE) and ranged from 27% ± 3 SE to 33% ± 6 SE in the stocking rate treatments. Measures of penetration resistance, aggregate stability, and bare ground were different across EHTs regardless of stocking rate, but did not interact with stocking rate. Our study demonstrates that response of dynamic soil properties to stocking rates should be considered as a useful and accessible approach for monitoring effects of livestock management decisions on rangeland conditions. |
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