Get reliable rangeland science

This project was initiated in the summer of 2015 to assess the viability of increased field use frequency for in-field winter feeding on two soil types. The purpose of this project is to: a) Determine the effects of a two-in-three year bale grazing rotation and associated nutrient loading (including carbon capture) on soil, forage yield and forage quality of two Alberta pastures; b) Determine the effects of a two-in-three year bale grazing rotation on nutrient migration into a local shallow groundwater system; c) Monitor and compare soil moisture and temperature regimes of winter bale grazed sites and non-winter grazed sites; and d) Assess potential for optical sensors (drone and quad-mounted sensors) to estimate forage biomass and carbon capture Beef producers put significant time and money into winter feeding. Because the animals do most of the work (traveling to the bales; spreading the manure), in-field feeding reduces costs associated with feeding thus increasing farm profitability. It also increases the amount of nutrients that remain on the land, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. The innovation of in-field feeding can continue to expand with the development of best management practices which allow greater feeding site frequency rates and potentially higher stocking rates if the practice is backed by science that shows increased farm profitability and sustainability without increased negative environmental effects. This project will help characterize the in-field components of the nutrient cycle and the hydrologic cycle and how they respond to increased nutrient and residue loading that exceeds AAFC and provincial recommendations. An increase in nutrients combined with the other benefits of in-field winter feeding will improve pasture health through increased nutrient cycling, soil building, soil moisture retention and lower soil temperatures. The latter two parameters combined with plant residue and surface microsite creation through pugging have direct positive impacts on the hydrologic cycle.