Pasture management influences on soil properties in the Northern Great Plains

ABSTRACT:

The effect of management practices associated with livestock grazing on soil properties are largely unknown. Several physical, chemical, and biological soil properties were compared for soil from a native vegetation exclosure, a moderately razed native vegetation pasture stocked at 2.6 ha (64 ac) steer⁻¹, a heavily grazed native vegetation pasture stocked at 0.9 ha steer⁻¹, and a fertilized crested wheatgrass (Agrpyron cristatum L. Gaertn.) pasture stocked at 0.9 ha steer⁻¹ near Mandan, North Dakota. The three native vegetation pastures were established in 1916 and the crested wheatgrass pasture was seeded in 1932. Soil properties varied in sensitivity to the management practices. Measures of vegetation and animal production, combined with assessment of soil properties suggest that moderate grazing and fertilization of crested wheatgrass are viable management options that appear to be sustainable while providing good and services needed by society. Range and pasture assessment should include soil assessment to more completely determine management effects on pastoral ecosystems.