Grazing impacts on soil water in mixed prairie and fescue grassland ecosystems of Alberta
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Authors: M. A. Naeth, D. S. Chanasyk, R. L. Rothwell, and A. W. Bailey
Date: 1991
Journal: Canadian Journal of Soil Science
Volume: 71
Number:
Pages: 313-325
Summary of Methods: The authors measured soil water in several grassland ecosystems under different grazing treatments. Soil water was generally reduced at all depths by grazing, with differences between the controls and the grazed treatments less pronounced at 0-30 cm than at 30-50 or 50-80 cm. Heavy intensity and/or early season grazing had more impact on soil water than light intensity and/or late season grazing. Season of grazing affected soil water more under light grazing intensities than under heavy grazing ones. Normal soil water patterns were not affected by grazing, with increases due to spring recharge and summer declines due to evapotranspiration. Higher infiltration rates in controls compensated for higher evapotranspiration. Lower soil water on grazed treatments resulted from a combination of reduced infiltration and recharge of the soil profile and evapotranspiration.
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, rangelands, water uptake, mixed prairie, fescue grasslands
Annotation: In mixed prairie, 3 grazing treatments studied were: (1) early season grazing from May through July; (2) late season grazing from August through October; and (3) a control ungrazed since the late 1930's. The stocking rate was heavy at 0.9 AUM/ha. In parkland fescue, 5 grazing treatments studied were: (1) light June grazing from 1 to 30 June at 1.5 AUM/ha; (2) heavy June grazing from 1 to 30 June at 4.4 AUM/ha; (3) heavy autumn grazing from 15 September to 15 October at 4.4. AUM/ha; (4) light autumn grazing from 15 September to 15 October at 1.5 AUM/ha; and (5) a control ungrazed since 1942. In foothills fescue, 5 grazing treatments grazed May through September studied were: (1) severe grazing at 4.8 AUM/ha; (2)heavy grazing at 2.4 AUM/ha; (3) moderate grazing at 1.6 AUM/ha; (4) light grazing at 1.2 AUM/ha; and (5) a control comprised of permanent exclosures in each treatment.
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