Neff et al. studied three sites (one that was never grazed and two that were historically grazed), in southwestern Utah. Their results show that erosion of nutrient-rich soil fine materials results in depletion of rock-derived nutrient content, and suggests that historical grazing in this area was responsible for a period of soil loss, that continues to impact current soil biogeochemical characteristics three decades after the cessation of grazing. In this study, the depletion of magnetite associated with the soil fine fraction in historically grazed sites serves as a useful proxy for the erosion of this previously stabilized eolian material. The fine fraction of these soils is the dominant reservoir for rock-derived nutrients in this region and that loss of the soil fine fraction due to erosion following disturbance appears to be an important mechanism leading to nutrient depletion in disturbed sites. Changes in soil C, N, and other biological properties may be influenced by soil erosion but are likely also related to vegetation and soil crust cover changes with rangeland use.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.