Livestock exclusion and belowground ecosystem responses in riparian meadows of eastern Oregon
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Authors: J. B. Kauffman, A. S. Thorpe, and E. N. J. Brookshire
Date: 2004
Journal: Ecological Applications
Volume: 14
Number: 6
Pages: 1671-1679
Summary of Methods: Since many studies fail to include belowground analysis, the effects of livestock exclusion on soil properties and below ground vegetative production were examined along the Middle Fork of the John Day River in northeastern Oregon. Bulk density, porosity, soil organic matter, nitrate-N, ammonium-N, potential N mineralization, infiltration rates, total aboveground biomass, and belowground biomass were measured in six wet meadow – dry meadow pairs. Three of the meadow pairs had livestock grazing, while the other three were livestock exclusions that were free of livestock 9 to 18 years prior to the study. One grazed site had a deferred early summer, late summer rotation, while the other two sites had season-long grazing from July 1 until September 15. Soil and vegetation measurements were made at peak aboveground biomass for two years.
Article Summary / Main Points: Aboveground and belowground biomass was greater in the exclosed meadows than in the grazed meadows for both the wet and dry meadows. The majority of the belowground biomass was in the first 10 cm of soil. Bulk density increased considerably in the grazed meadows while infiltration rates were much higher in the exclosed meadows. Pore space was greater in the exclosed meadows as was the nitrification, and mineralization rates. There was no difference between nitrate and ammonium availability between the grazed and exclosed meadows. Excluding livestock improves soil properties and nutrient cycling in both wet and dry meadows increasing belowground ecosystem function and structure.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 10 Central Rocky and Blue Mountain Foothills 43C Blue and Seven Devils Mountains
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Grazing
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: ecological resilience, ecological restoration, infiltration rates, livestock effects, nitrogen dynamics, oregon meadow communities, riparian zones, root biomass, soil properties
Annotation: These results are applicable to wet-dry meadow complexes in many different regions. They also suggest that belowground recovery from overgrazing is possible, but it may require more than a decade or two to achieve.
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