On-farm Assessments of Pasture Rejuvenation Methods on Soil Quality Indicators in Northern Alberta (Canada)

Abstract

The study was aimed at providing livestock producers with options on practical methods to improve soil quality of pastures for improved forage production and livestock carrying capacity. The study was carried out on-farm from 2015 to 2017 at two sites in northern Alberta, Canada. The methods of rejuvenation (treatments) evaluated were: sub-soiling, break & re-seed (pasture renewal), a combination of manure application plus subsoiling, pasture rest, inorganic fertilizer application, high stock density grazing and bale grazing. A check/control treatment was included for comparison. For break & re-seed, the forage mixture seeded (16.8 kg ha -1 ) consisted of 60% grasses and 40% legumes. Overall, bale grazing improved soil organic matter (SOM) by up to 3.80% over other methods including check. In terms of soil compaction penetration resistance, water infiltration rate, water content and nutrients particularly N, P and K, bale grazing system as a method of rejuvenating old pastures significantly showed higher values than check at both sites. Without having to break and re-seed old pastures, the first option that livestock producers would have success with in improving soil quality for better pasture productivity would be bale grazing. The next two methods or rejuvenation strategies with great potential for improving soil conditions for pastures would be a combination of manure application plus subsoil in fall and high stock density grazing.

Forage Production and Economic Performance of Pasture Rejuvenation Methods in Northern Alberta, Canada

“…Except for Treatments 2 (M+S) and 3 (SSF), which were done in the fall of 2015, and treatment 7 (BG), which was done during the winter of 2015/2016, all other treatments were implemented in the summer of 2015. More details on the methods of rejuvenation are given in Omokanye et al (2018). In 2015, after initial base data collection, all treatments plots [except pasture rest treatment method (treatment 4) and B&R (treatment 5)] were either grazed before treatment implementation (BG, M+S, FA, SS, SF) or during treatment implementation (HSDG) as required.…”

“…Site 2 was at Grovedale (55°02′ S, 118° 09′ W; altitude 676 m above sea level) on gleyed solonetzic gray luvisol soil type. The soil characteristics of the surface (0-15 cm) and sub-surface (15-30 cm) soil profiles at both experimental sites have been provided by Omokanye et al (2018) in an earlier paper, which emanated from parts of this study.…”

“…The economic value of pastures for optimum livestock carrying capacity is dependent on both its yield and feeding value. Recently as part of a just completed study on how to manage degraded soil under grazing systems with minimal environmental effects, Omokanye et al (2018) indicated that without a producer having to break and reseed (pasture renewal) old pastures, bale grazing, manure application plus subsoiling, high stock density grazing and inorganic fertilizer application, in that order would be preferred methods of pasture rejuvenation for improving soil quality indicators.…”

“…This paper is the second part in the two part series of methods of rejuvenation of pastures studies. In the first paper, on-farm performance of pasture rejuvenation methods on soil quality indicators in northern Alberta (Canada) methods have been discussed (Omokanye et al, 2018).…”

“…As indicated earlier by Omokanye et al (2018), pasture paddocks at both sites were planted to a mixture of meadow bromegrass (Bromopsis biebersteinii, variety-Fleet), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa, variety name was not known) 15 years before the start of the experiment. At site 1, the pasture paddock out of which a section was used for this experiment was 30 ha.…”