Influence of off-stream supplements on streambanks of riparian pastures
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Authors: M. L. McInnis, and J. McIver
Date: 2001
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 54
Number: 6
Pages: 648-652
Summary of Methods: The influence of off-stream water and salt on streambanks on the Hall Ranch unit of the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center near Union Oregon (45Ëš 7' 41" N, 117Ëš 42' 45" W) was investigated. Three treatments were examined: on-grazed-control, grazed with off-stream water and trace mineralized salt, grazed with no off-stream water or salt. Treatments were replicated with three pastures and grazing occurred from mid-July to mid-Auust. Each grazed pasture was stocked to achieve moderate grazing intensity of key forages. Before and after grazing, estimates of streambank covered or uncovered and stable or unstable were taken along the greenline. The number of plots with hoof prints was also noted.
Article Summary / Main Points: The percent of stream-bank plots having cattle hoof prints averaged 0 percent in ungrazed control pastures, 26 percent in grazed pastures with off-stream water and salt, and 31 percent in grazed pastures without off-stream water or salt. Providing off-stream water and salt reduced the loss of streambank cover in grazed pastures. The grazed pastures without off-stream water or salt had more streambank in the uncovered/unstable class compared to pastures with off-stream water and salt. There was no difference in erosion potential between the grazing strategies suggesting that off-stream water and salt supplement may not alter the probability of accelerated erosion.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 9 Palouse and Nez Perce Prairies
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Grazing Livestock
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: grazing, greenline, water quality, livestock, off-stream water
Annotation: This was a replicated study conducted over two years and the findings can therefore be generally applied to most moderately grazed pastures in western North America. It should be noted that pastures were grazed in mid-summer so the effects of off-stream water and salt may have different effects on streambanks in pastures grazed in different seasons. As is true for all grazing research, the results apply most directly to similar landscapes, seasons, livestock types and weather conditions.
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