Effect of grazing on soil-water content in semiarid rangelands of southeast Idaho

Weber, Keith T.; Gokhale, Bhushan

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.12.009

Cited by 38 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The reduced plant basal gap and increased herbage foliar cover (and thus lower percentage bare soil) in planned grazing areas may reduce soil erosion, thereby lessening land degradation. Additionally, we propose that the higher foliar cover in planned grazing areas is likely to be associated with increased soil water infiltration, which could lead to further positive feedback on herb‐layer vegetation structure and composition (Weber & Gokhale, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation, Wildlife, and Livestock Responses to Planned Grazing Management in an African Pastoral Landscape

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Rangelands are vital for wildlife conservation and socio‐economic well‐being, but many face widespread degradation because in part of poor grazing management practices. Planned grazing management, typically involving time‐controlled rotational livestock grazing, is widely touted as a tool for promoting sustainable rangelands. However, real‐world assessments of its efficacy have been lacking in communal pastoral landscapes globally, and especially in Africa. We performed landscape‐scale assessment of the effects of planned grazing on selected vegetation, wildlife, and cattle attributes across wide‐ranging communally managed pastoral rangelands in northern Kenya. We found that planned grazing enhanced vegetation condition through a 17% increase in normalized difference vegetation index, 45–234% increases in herbaceous vegetation foliar cover, species richness and diversity, and a 70% reduction in plant basal gap. In addition, planned grazing increased the presence (44%) and species richness (53%) of wild ungulates and improved cattle weight gain (>71%) during dry periods when cattle were in relatively poor condition. These changes occurred relatively rapidly (within 5 years) and despite grazing incursion incidents and higher livestock stocking rates in planned grazing areas. These results demonstrate, for the first time in Africa, the positive effects of planned grazing implementation in communal pastoral rangelands. These improvements can have broad implications for biodiversity conservation and pastoral livelihoods. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation, Wildlife, and Livestock Responses to Planned Grazing Management in an African Pastoral Landscape

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, continuous grazing systems and 'improved' pastures, which as opposed to semi-natural pastures, are sown and require artificial inputs, can have many negative consequences (Bajželj et al, 2014). Exclusion of livestock from riparian zones (Batchelor et al, 2015) and rotational grazing that better emulates the natural migration feeding patterns of wild herbivores can increase plant biodiversity (Stinner et al, 1997), build soils, sequester carbon, increase soil nitrogen (Ciesiolka et al, 2008), increase soil water content (Weber and Gokhale, 2011), and overall potentially increase productivity and sustainability (Jacobo et al, 2006). In addition to providing food for humans, livestock provide many services within the system.…”

Section: Reintegratementioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity conservation: The key is reducing meat consumption

Machovina

Feeley

Ripple

2015

Science of The Total Environment

379

199

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…For example, large numbers of livestock can reduce plant biomass and cover because of surface soil compaction through trampling, which can decrease the soil's water infiltration capacity, resulting in increased runoff, soil erosion, and carbon losses from the soil. Management decisions with regard to length of grazing and rest periods influence the soil water content, which can vary substantially as a result of animal impact and duration of grazing, despite similar vegetation cover and soil type (Weber and Gokhale 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Different Grazing Intensities on the Spatial-Temporal Variability in Above-Ground Live Plant Biomass in North American Mixed Grasslands

Virk

Mitchell

2014

Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Areas with relatively high spatial heterogeneity generally have more biodiversity than those that are spatially homogeneous areas due to increased potential as habitat. Management practices such as controlled grazing also affect the biodiversity in grasslands, and we hypothesize that this is due in part to the impacts of variation in grazing on plant heterogeneity and its spatial patterns. Understanding these mechanisms is important for designing an effective grazing system from a livestock management point of view. We used satellite-based, above-ground, live plant biomass (ALB) estimates at a pasture scale, in an experimental area located across the border of the East Block of Grasslands National Park (GNP) and an adjacent community pasture, to assess the effects of 5 intensities of grazing on the spatiotemporal pattern of ALB in mixed grasslands. Overall, heterogeneity increased with grazing intensity, whereas the spatial range decreased, except at the highest intensity, which had no impact on heterogeneity. Résumé. Les zonesà relativement forte hétérogénéité spatiale ont généralement une plus grande biodiversité que les zones spatialement homogènes en raison de l'habitat potentiel accru. Les pratiques de gestion telles que le pâturage contrôlé influencent egalement la biodiversité dans les prairies. Nousémettons l'hypothèse que cela est dû en partieà l'impact des variations du pâturage sur l'hétérogénéité de la végétation et ses structures spatiales. La compréhension de ces mécanismes est importantepour la conception d'un système de pâturage efficace d'un point de vue de la gestion du bétail. Nous avons utilisé des estimations satellitaires de la biomasse végétale vivante aérienneà l'échelle du pâturage dans une zone expérimentale situéeà la frontière du bloc Est du parc national des Prairies «GNP» et un pâturage communautaire adjacent pourévaluer les effets de 5 intensités de pâturage sur la structure spatio-temporelle de la biomasse végétale vivante aérienne dans les prairies mixtes. Dans l'ensemble, l'hétérogénéité a augmenté avec l'intensité du pâturage tandis que la portée spatiale a diminué, saufà la plus haute intensité qui n'a eu aucune incidence sur l'hétérogénéité.

show abstract

Effect of grazing on soil-water content in semiarid rangelands of southeast Idaho

Cited by 38 publications

References 22 publications

Vegetation, Wildlife, and Livestock Responses to Planned Grazing Management in an African Pastoral Landscape

Vegetation, Wildlife, and Livestock Responses to Planned Grazing Management in an African Pastoral Landscape

Biodiversity conservation: The key is reducing meat consumption

Effect of Different Grazing Intensities on the Spatial-Temporal Variability in Above-Ground Live Plant Biomass in North American Mixed Grasslands

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About