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.
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