Assessing optimal configurations of multi-paddock grazing strategies in tallgrass prairie using a simulation model

Grant, Bill; Wang, Hsiao‐Hsuan

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.09.027

Cited by 40 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…We did not directly measure pasture biomass because a pilot study showed an effect on SOC (Waters et al, 2015), but others have reported clear relationships between increasing biomass and rotational grazing (R 2 = 0·52) across a rainfall gradients (Sanderman et al, 2015). This suggests an increased feedbase which has been shown to result in high enterprise profitability (Teague et al, 2015). The higher perennial cover achieved in almost all our rotational grazing treatments, accompanied by lower utilization rates, suggests higher biomass under rotational grazing compared with continuous grazing or no management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Grazing may therefore be important in creating vertical and structural complexities capable of supporting greater biodiversity (Peco et al, 2006;Dumont et al, 2007;Wallis De Vries et al, 2007). At low intensities, grazing may increase plant diversity (Lunt et al, 2007;Borer et al, 2014) but the incorporation of periods of rest has been shown to have neutral or positive effects on plant diversity (Fensham et al, 2014;Chillo et al, 2015;Teague et al, 2015). Some reports of short duration grazing followed by long periods of pasture rest have shown increases in SOC, reduced soil compaction and the risk of erosion even within relatively short periods (<5 years; Sanjari et al, 2008;Teague et al, 2011;McSherry & Ritchie, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Management of Grazing Intensity in the Semi‐Arid Rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on Soil and Biodiversity

et al. 2016

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Overgrazing contributes to rangeland degradation altering plant community composition, erosion and biodiversity. Little unanimity in the literature exists on the effects of livestock grazing on soil carbon and biodiversity, in part, due to uncontrolled grazing pressure from native and feral animals. Paired paddock contrasts at three, long‐term (>8 years) study locations in the southern Australian rangelands were used to examine the effects of managing grazing intensity through the use of exclusion fencing and rotational grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC), soil nitrogen (TN), ground cover and biodiversity (flora and invertebrates). Grazing management had no effect on SOC or TN on grey soils (Vertisols), but for red soils (Lixisols), significantly higher levels of SOC were found for both the 0 to 5 and 5 to 10‐cm soil depths (0·3% and 0·27% respectively) and associated with increased TN. We found strong and consistent relationships among SOC and higher perennial (p < 0·001), higher litter (p < 0·05) cover and close proximity to trees (p < 0·05). Managing grazing intensity resulted in significantly higher perennial ground cover (p < 0·001) on Vertisols (8·9 to 11%) and Lixisols (12·5 to 15%) and higher plant diversity (both native and exotic) but negatively impacted invertebrate diversity, indicating trade‐offs between production and resources. We provide evidence that the effects of grazing management on SOC are mediated by ground cover and increased organic matter supply and/or reduced soil carbon redistribution (erosion), which indicates that the management of grazing intensity may provide a tool to avoid soil carbon loss in rangelands. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of Grazing Intensity in the Semi‐Arid Rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on Soil and Biodiversity

et al. 2016

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“…Hart et al 1988;McCollum et al 1999;Briske et al 2008Briske et al , 2011Tainton et al 2013) and popular literature (e.g. Hawkins 2016), but is supported by others (Teague et al 2011(Teague et al , 2013(Teague et al , 2015. The claim that HPG can reverse climate change through the sequestration of carbon into complex, stable organocarbons and grass roots (Savory 2013a;Sacks et al 2014) is also controversial.…”

Section: Department Of Biologicalmentioning

confidence: 99%

A global assessment of Holistic Planned Grazing™ compared with season-long, continuous grazing: meta-analysis findings

Hawkins

2017

African Journal of Range & Forage Science

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It has been claimed that Holistic Planned Grazing™ (HPG), a type of rotational grazing, can increase productivity in rangelands and reverse climate change while doubling the stocking rate, mainly through the impact of densely bunched animals on primary production. Previous reviews have found similar or greater plant and animal production in continuous (season-long) compared with rotational grazing. Here season-long continuous grazing is compared with HPG alone to explore the evidence for animal impact. Three quantitative meta-analysis models were used to assess data sets from literature between 1972 and 2016. Weighted mean differences (effect sizes) between HPG and continuous grazing showed that there was no difference in plant basal cover, plant biomass and animal gain responses (p > 0.05). Thus, from the balance of studies, if animal impact is occurring during HPG, it has no effect on production. As interesting as the overall result is the significant between-study heterogeneity assessed using Cochran's Q (p = 0.007 to <0.0001). Studies with positive effect sizes tended to have higher precipitation (p < 0.05), suggesting that only some rangelands have the resources to support HPG. Furthermore, there is scope for investigating the impact of HPG on socio-ecological aspects of rangelands, such as management.

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“…There is published and anecdotal evidence from producers that, if applied appropriately to produce most advantageous results, rotational grazing can lead to improved forage and livestock production [5][6][7][8]. Simulation modeling also indicates that there tend to be larger profit margins and restoration of ecological condition with rotational grazing compared to traditional grazing [9,10]. However, few studies have been conducted to compare GHG emissions and C sequestration relations among different grazing strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on Teague et al [15], three grazing management alternatives on neighboring commercial ranches in three proximate counties in north Texas tall grass prairie are considered, including: (1) continuous grazing with light stocking (LC), representing the best-case scenario for continuous grazing; (2) traditional heavily stocked continuous grazing (HC), representing the most commonly used grazing management; and (3) adaptively managed and stocked rotational grazing, or multi-paddock grazing (MP), representing the best case scenario for rotational grazing [6,8,10]. GHG emissions were evaluated for the cow-calf farms under the three different grazing strategies using LCA approach.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GHG Mitigation Potential of Different Grazing Strategies in the United States Southern Great Plains

Wang

Teague²,

Park³

et al. 2015

Sustainability

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Abstract:The possibility of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by ruminants using improved grazing is investigated by estimating GHG emissions for cow-calf farms under light continuous (LC), heavy continuous (HC) and rotational grazing, also known as multi-paddock (MP), management strategies in Southern Great Plain (SGP) using life cycle assessment (LCA). Our results indicated a GHG emission with these grazing treatments of 8034.90 kg·CO2e·calffor cow-calf farms in SGP region, which is high, compared to that for other regions, due to the high percentage (79.6%) of enteric CH4 emissions caused by relatively lower feed quality on the unfertilized rangeland. Sensitivity analyses on MP grazing strategy showed that an increase in grass quality and digestibility could potentially reduce GHG emission by 30%. Despite higher GHG emissions on a per calf basis, net GHG emissions in SGP region are potentially negative when carbon (C) sequestration is taken into account. With net C emission rates of −2002.8, −1731.6 and −89.5 kg C ha −1 ·year −1 after converting from HC to MP, HC to LC and from LC to MP, our analysis indicated cow-calf farms converting from continuous to MP grazing in SGP region are likely net carbon sinks for decades.

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Assessing optimal configurations of multi-paddock grazing strategies in tallgrass prairie using a simulation model

Cited by 40 publications

References 44 publications

Management of Grazing Intensity in the Semi‐Arid Rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on Soil and Biodiversity

Management of Grazing Intensity in the Semi‐Arid Rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on Soil and Biodiversity

A global assessment of Holistic Planned Grazing™ compared with season-long, continuous grazing: meta-analysis findings

GHG Mitigation Potential of Different Grazing Strategies in the United States Southern Great Plains

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