Soil Hydrological Attributes of an Integrated Crop-Livestock Agroecosystem: Increased Adaptation through Resistance to Soil Change

Abstract

Integrated crop-livestock systems have been purported to have significant agronomic and environmental benefits compared to specialized, single-enterprise production systems. However, concerns exist regarding the effect of livestock in integrated systems to cause soil compaction, thereby decreasing infiltration of water into soil. Such concerns are compounded by projections of more frequent high-intensity rainfall events from anticipated climate change, which would act to increase surface runoff and soil erosion. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of residue management, frequency of hoof traffic, season, and production system (e.g., integrated annual cropping versus perennial grass) on infiltration rates from 2001 through 2008 in central North Dakota, USA. Imposed treatments had no effect on infiltration rate at three, six, and nine years after study establishment, implying that agricultural producers should not be concerned with inhibited infiltration in integrated annual cropping systems, where winter grazing is used. The use of no-till management, coupled with annual freeze/thaw and wet/dry cycles, likely conferred an inherent resistance to change in near-surface soil properties affecting soil hydrological attributes. Accordingly, caution should be exercised in applying these results to other regions or management systems.

Diversification and ecosystem services for conservation agriculture: Outcomes from pastures and integrated crop–livestock systems

“…Soil-related outcomes associated with the integration of livestock and annual cropping systems have been variable, though limited work on the topic has been published. Soil organic C and total N have increased or stabilized with the inclusion of cattle within an annually cropped system or systems with a perennial grass phase [101][102][103][104] . Such increases in soil C and N have been associated with greater aggregate stability, labile organic matter pools and infiltration rates, thereby conferring potential benefits to soil function associated with erosion resistance, nutrient cycling and soil water relations [103][104][105][106] .…”

Forages and pastures symposium: cover crops in livestock production: whole-system approach. Can cover crops pull double duty: conservation and profitable forage production in the Midwestern United States?

“…Furthermore, grazing of cover crops did not affect subsequent corn silage yields. A long-term study (9 yr) in North Dakota observed that winter grazing of annual crop residues had no effect on water infiltration rates in the spring (Liebig et al, 2011).…”

Integrated Crop‐Livestock Systems and Water Quality in the Northern Great Plains: Review of Current Practices and Future Research Needs

“…Integrated crop‐livestock systems may provide adaptable solutions to the sustainability challenges of 21st century agriculture that include providing food and fiber for a growing global population, increasingly scarce nonrenewables (e.g., fossil fuels), and climate change (e.g., increased frequency of drought), all while considering environmental, economic, and social‐community dimensions (Allen et al, 2007; Hendrickson et al, 2008a; Liebig et al, 2011). However, more research at multiple spatial scales is still required to address the potential of integrated crop‐livestock systems to sustainably produce food for a growing global population (Allen et al, 2007).…”

“…Grazing every other year or every 2 yr may reduce risks of soil loss through water erosion (Sulc and Franzluebbers, 2014). Total suspended solids, N, and P losses with higher grazing intensity may be related to lower water infiltration rates (Liebig et al, 2011) and increased compaction (Allen et al, 2008), both of which can cause greater surface runoff and increased erosion. Infiltration and compaction impacts from grazing can be minimized by grazing when soils are dry (Maughan et al, 2009) or frozen (Liebig et al, 2011).…”

“…Total suspended solids, N, and P losses with higher grazing intensity may be related to lower water infiltration rates (Liebig et al, 2011) and increased compaction (Allen et al, 2008), both of which can cause greater surface runoff and increased erosion. Infiltration and compaction impacts from grazing can be minimized by grazing when soils are dry (Maughan et al, 2009) or frozen (Liebig et al, 2011). Reduced residue cover in grazing or baling also increased TSS, TN, TP, and NO 3 − –N losses, although baling of corn residues had a much larger effect than grazing (Blanco‐Canqui et al, 2016).…”