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Overgrazing and soil erosion on hill pastures with particular reference to the Peak District
Author(s) -
EVANS R.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1977.tb01415.x
Subject(s) - overgrazing , agrostis , vegetation (pathology) , erosion , grazing , environmental science , lawn , peat , moorland , population , agronomy , hydrology (agriculture) , ecology , geology , biology , poaceae , medicine , demography , geotechnical engineering , pathology , sociology , paleontology
In a small drainage basin in the Peak District rates of soil erosion were measured between October 1966 and September 1968. The vegetated margins of ground denuded of vegetation (scars) were retreating by 9.3 mm per annum and rills and sheet wash removed annually from these scars up to 34 t ha −1 soil. Erosion was taking place primarily within Agrostis‐Festuca swards and also in heather moor, but not on peat‐covered slopes under cotton grass ( Eriophorum vaginatum ) moor. The Agrostis‐Festuca sward supported a higher sheep population than did the other vegetation types. In May 1974 most scars had been colonized by vegetation; this was related to a marked decrease in sheep numbers in 1969 and not to climatic factors.