Landscape variables affecting livestock impacts on water quality in the humid temperate zone
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Authors: E. A. Clark
Date: 1998
Journal: Canadian Journal of Plant Science
Volume: 78
Number: 2
Pages: 181-190
Summary of Methods: This is a literature review of 46 published scientific articles covering how landscape variables influence the impacts of livestock grazing on water quality in humid temperate zones.
Article Summary / Main Points: All forms of agriculture ecologically affected biodiversity of watercourses with grazing being the least damaging. Evidence suggested two main ideas associated with grazing livestock on water quality; damage due to livestock access are localized, site-specific, and manageable , and relative effects of livestock access on downstream water quality may be modest, in comparison to arable cropping and livestock confinement. Impacts vary with climatic region, landform factors (i.e. soil type and drainage), biophysical factors (i.e. tiling and channelization), flow velocity, initial vegetative cover and pasture/grazing management practices (i.e. fertilization, time-limited grazing, reinforced access points). The impact of pollution from livestock access or other sources depends on the overall health of the system.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Grazing Watersheds
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Scientific Synthesis
Keywords: riparian ecosystem, beef cattle, pasture fertility, soil and water conservation, watersheds, landscape
Annotation: Study emphasized the effect of cattle on water quality and did not focus on the impacts of grazing on other ecological factors (wildlife habitat, biodiversity).This review focused on humid temperate zones and mentioned studies done in Ohio, Nevada, Montana, Ontario, Manitoba, Oregon, and Colorado.
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