Naeth and Chanasyk measured surface soil water, soil water at a depth of 50 cm, and evapotranspiration in grasslands exposed to no grazing, heavy, or severe grazing for one week in June (short duration) or continuously grazed from May to October. Surface soil water was lowest in ungrazed pastures and highest in the severe, short duration treatment; whereas soil water at a depth of 50 cm was greatest in ungrazed plots and lowest in severe, continuously grazed plots. Evapotranspiration was lowest in the continuous, severely grazed treatment and highest in the short duration, heavily grazed treatment. Differences in soil water were most likely due to the amount of litter present and the amount of infiltration from snowmelt, while the differences in evapotranspiration were most likely due to soil water availability and amount of plant biomass present. The data collected in this study suggests that Alberta grasslands are limited by water availability and that managing grazing to maintain some litter cover throughout the year will enhance soil water infiltration and rangeland productivity.
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