Premium
Soil Response to Trampling Under Intensive Rotation Grazing
Author(s) -
Warren S. D.,
Nevill M. B.,
Blackburn W. H.,
Garza N. E.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1986.03615995005000050050x
Subject(s) - trampling , grazing , pasture , environmental science , soil compaction , agronomy , stocking , soil water , soil science , biology , zoology
The impact of short‐term, high intensity livestock trampling on selected properties of a silty clay soil was determined at the Texas Agriculture Experiment Station located near Sonora, TX. Intensive livestock trampling typical of multi‐pasture rotational grazing systems had a negative impact on soil physical properties. The deleterious effects tended to increase as stocking rate increased. Trampling on dry soil caused disruption of naturally occurring aggregates and compaction of the surface soil layer. Trampling on moist soil deformed existing aggregates and led to the creation of a flat, comparatively impermeable surface layer composed of dense, unstable clods.