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DOES LITTER MATTER: IMPACTS ON SOIL TEMPERATURE AND MOISTURE IN HIGH STOCK DENSITY GRAZING
Author
Schoderbek, Donald F.
Bork, Edward
Chang, Scott
Carlyle, Cameron N.
Hewins, Daniel B.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2015
Body

High stock density or “mob grazing” is an intensive grazing management technique in which animals are moved frequently (once to many times/day) from paddock to paddock. Practitioners of this technique claim improvements in grassland ecological function due to trampled vegetation and long rest periods. The objective of this study was to determine if this technique results in any measurable change to nutrient cycling (in the form of litter decomposition) or soil abiotic factors. This study was conducted at four diverse study sites in South Dakota: Quinn (West Central), Chamberlain (Central), Eureka (Northeast), and Volga (East Central). Study sites differed in stocking densities, grazing dates, vegetation composition, and climate conditions with mob grazed areas being compared within a site to ungrazed and bare-ground (litter removed) areas.  Soil sensors that measured temperature and moisture every hour were installed at a 5.1 cm (2 inch) depth. Permeable bags that contained either old litter (previously grazed vegetation) or new litter (standing vegetation that would be trampled when grazed) were placed on the soil surface in all treatments upon completion of mob grazing. Litter bags were removed at first frost to determine litter decomposition, and final temperature and moisture measurements were recorded. In 2013, litter decomposition was similar among treatments at all sites except at the Chamberlain site where ungrazed and mob grazed treatments had higher litter decomposition than the bareground treatment. Moisture and temperature data showed marginal treatment differences at all sites. Data from 2014 has also been collected and is still being analyzed. Final results will help determine the role litter plays in moisture and temperature of grassland soils post-grazing, and the effects those play on litter decomposition.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Sacramento, CA
Collection
SRM Annual Meeting Abstracts