Grazing effects on soil water in Alberta foothills fescue grasslands
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Authors: M. A. Naeth, and D. S. Chanasyk
Date: 1995
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 48
Number: 6
Pages: 528-534
Summary of Methods: Naeth and Chanasyk monitored soil water and evapotranspiration in four grazing treatments (short duration, heavy and severe grazing treatments, and continuous, heavy and severe grazing treatments), as well as a control. Surface soil water was lowest in control and highest in continuous, severe treatments. However, total profile soil water showed the opposite trend. Soil water was generally below permanent wilting point by mid-summer and profile soil water was similar across treatments by the autumn. Soil water was near or over field capacity each spring, showing the importance of snow melt. Only summer rainstorms greater than 75mm recharged soil water to field capacity.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: soil water, grazing effects, hydrology, fescue grasslands, evapotranspiration, continuous grazing
Annotation: Heavy grazing was 2.4 AUM/hectare and severe grazing was 4.8 AUM/hectare.
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